Lore #8 - You don't need to be an engineer to 3D Print

There's a new poster coming to create a series of 'talking points' based around 3D Printing in the Classroom and while its from the perspective of our small rural school in South Taranaki New Zealand - we've already posted a series of talking points about this - which you can click on the link below about each topic for further information or details about how it applies to us.

#1 You don't need more than one printer at your school to print your student projects.

#2 All of your 3D Printing projects don't need to be 3D Printed - there are other options!

#3 There's a range of non-standard filaments that are available to enhance your prints

#4 Juniors can create, design and develop a range of 3D Projects 

#5 The teacher doesn't need to be an expert in 3D Printing

#6 You have options to enhance your printing projects with options

#7 Engage with the wider community with your projects and resources

#8 - You don't need to be an engineer to troubleshoot 3D Printing projects.

We've been tracking our 3D Printing over a number of years with the first printer at our school operating in 2014.   The early machines that we had were complex and 'relatively' reliable.   When we had problems with the printing with the machines (when they would print incorrectly) it could at times require significant teacher input to correct the machines.

Following our early machines we went to a series of other branded machines that were significantly more reliable Ultimakers (2015-2022) in various version and updates.  We went to Snapmakers in 2022 and then last year 2025 we switched to (primarily) Bambu.

It has never been our intention to endorse any particular products or processes via this site - however we would like to point out that everything here is created by students and staff (where noted) and the intention is simply to share what we do so that other people can get inspired and have a think about how that might apply to themselves or their school.

With that in mind the Bambu H2D that we are using has taken things to another level.   Since August last year essentially everything on this blog has been printed off the one machine.   The machine itself has had to be greased (the axel) however this was relatively simple.   The inbuilt protection against a miss print has stopped it a handful of times.   The changing of the filament etc is extremely simple.  We have yet after seven months to have any significant issues with the use of the machine with prints ranging from 30 minutes to forty hours.

The print shown with this post took forty minutes but crucially the print itself is how it came off the machine - the sunk in lettering that is visible was completed without any support or material needed to be removed.  If you note the smallest name, Penelope, this has been completed and is currently 3mm in height.   This is something that we have seen with this machine.   It is also noticeable that the amount of rafting or support plastic with this machine for general prints (such as the cow) this has been greatly reduced.

As the technology has evolved with the 3D Printing the scope, accuracy, reliability and potential has continued to improve the outcome for students using the tools available.

3D Printing for Photography Forced Perspective

 

Challenge: To produce an object as a 3D Print that could be used in a forced perspective photography task.

Background: This task was pretty self explanatory - we were looking for some basic 3D printed shapes that we could combine with the use of the iPads camera to carry out some 'trick' or size forced perspective photography.

The object in question that we used to start the process rolling was located online and was identified as a vase.   We deliberately choose something that was small, functional (as we have shown in evidence before 3D Prints are water proof) and in this case was a design available online.

Level of Difficulty: Low - this task was about using an object to create a photograph task, although in later versions we are wanting the students to potentially design their own miniatures for use in the process.

Size: The entire reasoning behind the process was the size of the object.  As it stands at the moment it measures 70mm high and is 20mm wide at the base.

Cost/Price: The print used 4.75g of PLA plastic.   This has a price point using the Bambu Lab software of $0.12. 

Timeframe:   Given its dimensions the print time was thirty minutes (which included the machine warning up).   To produce a series of these for the classroom would be relatively straight forward.

What we would do differently/next steps for the students: This task was all about the digital photography task - which is detailed in the Apple Books Everyone Can Create (Digital).   The next logical steps is for the students to produce the objects and then apply the digital photography task to the object.   We would be wanting to give the students a set of specific measurements to work with.

Central to the success of the task is also thinking about the location (around our school or our playground) such as example that came in early work from the students in bark on the school program.

The iPad focus on the object at the front (in this case of course the vase) takes the focus and the contrast between this and the background has plenty of scope for experimentation, development and the creation of ideas.

Using Tinkercad to AR/VR School Improvements

 

This challenge has combined the use of Tinkercad as a design tool with students and their iPads and the Tinkercad App with its ability to project students designs into an AR/VR setting (essentially anywhere, without the need to green screen).

Our students focus with this task is to look around our school for potential improvement, details or ways that we could enhance the presentation of the school, 

 Once the students have identified an area and a solution or improvement the students were tasked with using Tinkercad to create an object that we could then place in the location to use as a discussion point.  At this stage the students are beginning this task with discussion points - the example shown above is the students have identified that the sandpit tools for the school could be stored close to the sandpit for easy access.   The box design shown is rudimentary at the moment, the challenge will develop for the students to create something with more detail, improve how it might function, add detail and then present this to the schools management.

We had a very short timeframe for the beginning of this task - students had a ten minute countdown timer set on their iPads and this included the design part of the task, taking the photo and identifying a potential problem.

An early attempt to create a unique vegetable garden is shown left, the students are going to add depth and more details to their virtual garden (as we have done with examples such as the virtual Christmas Tree from last year, linked here)

Other students have identified areas such as the school flagpole, the walls of some of the classrooms (where they want to create or bring murals to the fore) and improvements to the playground.  Each of these areas has potential development and skills required to introduce a concept and think about its composition, display and the ability to AR/VR the scene.  This is not always as easy as it seems - we have discovered that while Tinkercad works extremely well from a ground basis as it is raised it can be particularly challenging to raise above ground level significantly as we discovered when working on the students bird blockers project.

This is a process that is in its very early stages with our classroom - it will be contributed to and developed over the coming school weeks.

If you would like additional examples of our students using the Tinkercad App and web browser with its AR/VR feature from the Tinkercad App you can use the search bar top right hand corner of this site.

3D Printed Original Fantasy Creature

 

Challenge: Make something unique, in your own time.

Background: Its about creatine something different, creating something original and in a lot of cases at the moment something that is created in the students own time.

In this instance this student took their knowledge of Tinkercad, applied the basic learning that we've covered in class and created a creature that was all based around the Tinkercad main interface.   A crocodile was combined with a pair of wings and a crown and the entire combination was put together as a group.  The student was thrilled with the result of this process and we were able to take their design and successfully print it.

The student involved in this design was an eight year old students with limited experience in design.

Level of Difficulty: Low - this is an independent activity from a student getting into design by combing elements and being encouraged.

Size: The print measures 150mm in length, the wings extend 130mm wide from the trunk of the crocodile which is 20mm high.

Cost/Price: The print uses 38g of PLA filament to complete the printing which has a calculated cost of $0.94c for the print.   A regular print was used that is described as 'glass orange' but this was not significantly more expensive than regular PLA.

Timeframe: The print took two hours and twenty five minutes to complete using the standard Bambu Lab studio.  There was considerable rafting under the wings.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students:  The student could of course refined the design by adding additional features to the creatures design.   This could have formed the basis for a piece of narrative writing.   The wings of the creature are slightly askew - they could be centred more.   The crown look a little unrealistic and could be replaced with something.

3D Printed Junior Novelty Cat

 

Challenge: For student to create something unique, special and innovative in their own time.

Background: We are now moving towards the end of the term one in New Zealand.  As part of the challenge we are balancing the time between school events and commitments and creativity.

Our students have been encouraged to create innovative and creative designs which has required the students to work in their own time.   This project came out as a result of this process.

The student concerned is eight years old and was part of the second. cohort of students this year that is student who worked and used Tinkercad last year - there was no input into the project the student was responsible for it.

One of the opportunities we want to take is to encourage students when they are being pro-active.  Normally we pose questions such as 'what is the purpose of this print?' 'why have you designed it?" and we have a list of prompts to work through.

In this instance the purpose is simply to encourage the student with their design.   The design strictly speaking doesn't have an absolute purpose at this point, however once the student has the physical print their ideas should develop more.  Already its been compared to a 'tumbling monkeys' game because of the tail. 

Level of Difficulty: Low - the main components of this design are available and recognisable from the main Tinkercad interface are easily accessible.

Size: As shown in the diagram (which is the ruler feature of Tinkercad the design measures 80mm long and as 50mm wide.  

Cost Price: The print used 22g of filament to complete its printing.   This had a price point of $0.55.

Timeframe: The completed print took forty eight minutes to complete.

What we would differently/Next steps for the students: The student could have put more design into the piece - there are claws/paws available that could have been added the student managed to get a level of expression but could have had more details such as the ears or defining the back leg.  The biggest thought process would be the purpose of the print and what it could be used for.

Junior Engineering Challenge: Table Legs Caps

Challenge: To solve an engineering problem - how to make accurate table leg caps for a home made table.

Background: This was set for a group of student who are working on this project collectively - it is a good practical task that will have a clear outcome that will end up in use moving forward.

Students have had to consider ensuring that the completed design is suitable to work with a specific table and can protect the legs of the table from interacting with the (concrete) floor.  As a laser cutter is going to be mounted on the table the stability of the table.

On a side note this teacher has seen chair legs to raise a piece of furniture for a child with a disability.   The chair legs need to be adaptable for height, need to be balanced and stable - and in some cases to a specific height: this project, this idea, this media and the would work exactly the same way.

Students worked to use Tinkercad to complete the design and refine it based around the table which it is working in conjunction with.   They were seven and eight year olds designing independently using Tinkercad for the design and creation.

Level of Difficulty: Medium - this is a basic design but is has required precision otherwise it won't meet its purpose.  The students have refined the design already several times to ensure that it fits perfectly.

Size: The present prototype is 130mm long 110mm wide and has a 5mm base.  The centrepiece of the design is a further 10mm high.   This will need to be extremely snug around the feet of the table to ensure that it works as intended.   

Cost/Price: The print as it stands is using 44g of PLA filament and this has a cost price of $1.12.

Timeframe: Using the regular (default) settings for a Bambu H2D Machine this print took exactly one hour to complete.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: The students are going to refine the design with the teacher concerned to ensure that they meet the brief successfully.

2026 Classroom Technology Project: The Kitchen

 

Last year we had a significant design project which we detailed during the course of the year based around a Dolls House.  This was detailed extensively and you can view the project in its entirety here.

When looking around various events and community fundraisers occasionally an object can be located which has potential to engage the students in the process of making it or adapting using the technology that we have at our school such as our 3D Printers, Laser Cutter or Sticker Machine.

This item shown left was located today.  It cost the princely sum of $10.00 to purchase it.   It is a students kitchen and is 1.1m long, 1.1m high and 0.5m wide.   The condition of the object overall could be described as fair.

On first inspection the wood for the base of the design is not warped, damaged or needing replacing.   The sink is obviously missing, however this could be replaced as a 3D Print.   The panels all could respond really well to be cleaned and have a decal sheet from the sticker machine applied to them.  This would really make the whole unit pop.

All the doors on all of the cupboards, the oven and fridge are all functioning really well.   Students could potentially create items for a number of these places using some of our technology.   It is conceivable with a bit of work that students could bring this back to near as good as new and potentially use it as a gift to our junior school or as a fundraiser as part of the school events later in the year.

First and foremost we need to get this item to the students so they can inspect it, start to formulate some plans and look at potential designs and resourcing that we can use to complete the project.