Advanced SVG File 3D Print - Ten Minutes

 

Challenge: For a student to use a freely available SVG file and modify it for another purpose.

Background: This is another variation from a range of recent prints and projects that have been detailed on this blog.   The essence of all these prints is that they have started with a free .SVG file that was either selected for the students or located by safe searching online.

Students then imported the design into the Tinkercad design interface and altered the image and changing an element of it.  In this instance the student took the silhouette of the cat as shown and then added a potential keyring hole in the top left corner.  Obviously they also further personalised the name in the bottom right hand corner.

As noted in the rather convoluted description the process from start to finish took ten minutes and was completed independently by a cohort two student who is eight years old.  There was no input from the classroom teacher during the process.    

Resources used to complete this project: iPad, Tinkercad App, Bambu P1S, Regular PLA.

Level of Difficulty: Low - Using SVG was a simple introduction for our students however it is fair to say that after two weeks of afternoon sessions that they have mastered the process.

Size: As it stands at the moment the project is somewhat oversized being 140mm wide 170mm high and is currently 5mm thick.   Realistically if this was to be a more manageable size these dimensions would be reduced.

Cost/Price: The print uses 31g of regular PLA to produce this print.  This has a price point for the project of $0.79 and there is no 'rafting' or waste plastic associated with this design.

Timeframe: The printer has the standard six minute warm up and preparation time and a further forty six minutes of project printing to complete the project took a combined total of fifty two minutes.

What would we do differently/Next steps for the students: Other than resize this design to a more manageable size there are no plans to adapt this print.  The student has considered the possibility of using it for a bowl feeding identification system at home (ie when the cat is fed the badge is then removed or taken off the hook).

3D Fish and Kitchen Block

 

Challenge: For a student to create a unique design that involves an aspect of linking.

Background: Recently we explained that we have been looking at a range of prints that in particular have focussed on a students ability to identify and then unpack the process - they are essentially using the same linking on this post as an insert for a range of products and are experimenting with what looks positive with this linking.

The example shown left was an idea that student had when they felt that the linking would look good or work well as part of the body of a fish.  When this had been designed the student then considered what accessory might also work in conjunction with the item and choose the kitchen block or chopping board.

As shown left the design could be worked with a range of accessories or remain independent.   

The student responsible for this design is a nine year old student however as discussed this particular student is shown a creativity and desire to push themselves with a range of challenges and creations.   They were able to complete this independently without any teacher input or supervision.

Resources used with this print: iPad, Tinkercad App,  Bambu P1S, PLA.

Level of Difficulty: Hard - while the key elements of the design look straightforward the most challenging part of the process is the linking which is unique and created by the student in a process that took several months to master.

Size: The fish measures 130mm in length and was 40mm high.   The print has a width of 5mm.   The board measures 130mm across and was 70mm high.

Cost/Price: The print used 42g of PLA to complete the print.   There was no 'rafting' or support PLA that was required for this print.   The print has a price point of $1.06c.

Timeframe: To complete the print (of both pieces of this project) there was a six minute warm up of the machine and a fifty five minute print time for a completed project of just over one hour.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students:   The purpose of the print was to again highlight the linking that this student has designed and this did so extremely well.   The linking is quite 'chunky' which means it has maintained a degree of both flexibility and being robust enough to be handled constantly.

3D Printed Tractor Accessories

 

Challenge: To create an additional piece of machinery to work with a 3D Printed tractor.

Background: Last year one of the students located and found a 3D Printed tractor (stl) design which they were able to print out.  This tractor has survived over a calendar year and maintained its shape and features.  The student who owned the tractor brought it into the classroom and said that they wanted to develop something more for it.   On discussion they wanted to produce the machinery to go at the back of the tractor to dig fields.    They reasoned that by using Tinkercad they would be able to produce a piece.

The idea was to produce a rotary hoe attachment for the back of the tractor.   The first part of the design was to create something for the machinery - in this case the students located a wheel which they could invert and have attached the main body of the design which was a generic shape.

This was the first attempt to look at the bar connecting the two items.    

Resources used to complete this project: iPad, Tinkercad App, P1S Printer, PLA.

Level of Difficulty: Medium.   The design is going to undergo a number of revisions until the students are happy with this, this is the first in a potential series of prints designed and shaped by the students.

Size: The design at present is 110mm long at the base is 30mm wide and is sitting currently 20mm off the ground.   The beam to connect to the tractor is currently a rectangle that is 50mm long 10mm wide and 5mm thick.  Crucial to the success of this print is ensuring that the print can attach to the tractor.

Cost/Price: The print used 18g of PLA and a further 9g of PLA to support the print (in the form of the base).   This had a combined total of 27g and a cost point to produce this of $0.68c.

Timeframe: This project had a total print time of one hour and twenty six minutes.  This consisted of a six minute timeframe to put together the printer (ie warm it up) and a further one hour twenty to print the design.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: The students are going to spend time working out ways to add additional details towards the machinery, they are actively looking for additional parts that they feel could either be used as a imitation piece or be modified by themselves to add to the design.

3D Printing Linking - Remix 2025

  

Challenge:For a student to master the concept of ball and socket linking.

Background: This is a project that was first attempted in 2025.   In it the student involved who was seven and eight during the year spent a considerable amount of their own time attempting to master the concept of 'linking' by producing a unique and original ball and socket design in Tinkercad.

This is a summary of the projects involving linking prior to this.

It was a long term progress that started with video and flipped learning content created by a previous student.   Once this had been completed the student applied their design thinking and  learning to a range of tasks - ultimately producing a range of prints that were used for the 2025 School Market Day for a Christmas range of designs.

One of the most positive aspects of using Tinkercad is the classroom interface and the ability to monitor and access designs, creations and work collaboratively.  As we have a number of classrooms over the years with a bank of designs, having historically access to them at times can allow us to revisit projects.

In the last few years a number of improvements in the quality of 3D Printing has meant that projects that could not be completed due to lack or detail, or too much rafting are now possible.   This linking was revised by the student recently and the print shown left, which was attempted last year but ultimately did not succeed was successfully reprinted.   The student concerned is now returning to a range of 2025 historical designs to see what can be rework, resized and redesigned.

Resources used to complete this project: iPad, Tinkercad App, Bambu P1S Printer, PLA

Level of Difficulty: High - this print is based around two concepts firstly is the basic outline of the cat.   The crucial part of the design that is the most challenging is the linking, the ball and socket work.   This requires a high degree of engineering to complete successfully.

Size: The print measures 100mm across and is 130mm high.  It has a thickness/width of 10mm.   This is larger for this type of print however it was intended to check the improvement to the linking - if it was going to be produced in larger numbers it would be reduced in size.

Cost/Price: Using regular PLA filament the print used 28g of PLA to complete the print.  This had a price point for $0.70c.   There was no rafting associated with this print.

Timeframe: Bambu Labs (the software that is associated with Bambu printers) has developed further information about the printing process now separating the warm up time and the actual print time.   We can use this information to determine that the print had a total of 59 minutes consisting of six minutes to start the printer operating and a total of 53 minutes of printing time.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students:

As noted this was an independent project worked on by the student looking at their designs from last year - they have already used the process to look at a range of potential prints and designs.  They also have the linking (shown left) as a seperate design which they can then import/apply to a range of designs.  Early testing from this print (ie the student testing it) would appear to show that it is extremely robust. 

3D Printing: Name Font

 

Challenge: For student to experiment with their unique linking.

Background: This post has been detailed about the students experimentation with linking and looking tat different ways to complete it or use it.   In this application the student wanted to create a unique version of their name with stylised lettering - which then featured only the linking and nothing else.   The idea was that the letters if planned carefully and space and created in this was would create a naturally standing set of display letters.

The student who designed, created and published this work is a Y5 student in New Zealand, that is they are nine turning ten years old.   They are now in another classroom at the school but they spent two years with with Tinkercad on their CAD design and proved to be an exceptionally skilled designer.  This was completed in the students own time.

Resources used to complete this project: The students involved used the Tinkercad App to design the lettering (with a focus on 'scribble' and the 'linking' both of which we've described in detail previously on this blog.    

Level of Difficulty: High - this is a student who is extremely capable working on a challenging project that appears simplistic but needs to have balance, linking (which they spent several months working on perfecting the design, process and engineering) and also needs to look visually appealing.   Subtle details like the balance created by the shape and weight of the lettering and the different elements touching the ground in different locations to ensure that it works.

Size: The print is 188mm wide and 90mm high.    

The lettering was under 5mm width and 10mm deep.  These sizes worked really well and in addition it should be pointed out that this print generated no rafting.

Cost/Price:  Although this was a relatively larger print the amount of PLA generated for the job was minimal 13g - this had a price point for the print of $0.32.

Timeframe: The print project took a combined time of thirty fives minutes to complete the project.   This consisted of twenty nine minutes to print and six minutes to warm the printer up in preparation.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: The student could potentially create some form of tutorial video or instruct other students but this is completed and successfully so.

3D Printed Pencil Sharpener Holder 2026 Edition

 

Challenge: To combine a physical object with a 3D Printed original student design to challenge the students design and thinking skills.

Background: We've been able to have a number of projects that we've touched base with or revisited from year to year.    This has allowed a range of students to complete the same challenge and we've been able to use resources and ideas for the students from year to year.   

This challenge is based around a standard purchase from a dollar store, a pencil sharpener.   The challenge is to take the sharpener and then build a 3D design around it to work in conjunction with it.

Some past examples (finished) of this process include this cartoon figure from 2019, the top hat design from 2024 or the tractor design from 2019.   In each of these instances the students took an exisiting figure and modified it or created their own figure from scratch.   Recently we've been working with SVG figures and this would be a good example that could do so.

In this early example shown here students worked with a pair (collaboratively as it is possible to do with both students using the Tinkecad app).

Students used the knowledge that they have previously developed to insert a hole into the side of the design to feature their names, a hole for the insertion of the pencil and a location to hold the pencil shavings once sharpening is complete.

Resources used to complete this project: The Tinkecad App, iPad, standard pencil sharpener, Bambu P1S, regular PLA.

Level of Difficulty: Medium/High.  This challenge, which is not yet completed is going to really test the students as ultimately we would like a hinge and either a small door or a simple addition so that the shavings can be contained before being emptied into another location such as the bin.

Size: The print in its current state measures 70mm across at the front is 120mm long and 40mm high.  If anything these dimensions could be reduced to make the print more 'tight'.   However at this stage this is a demonstration and discussion point with the students.

Cost/Price: The unit as it stands at the moment uses 45g of filament and this has a price point of $1.12c.  Adaptions of this print including a lid have already been produced and are awaiting printing - these additional features are increasing the print time and cost, although not substantially.   

Timeframe: The print as it currently stands take one hour and ten minutes to complete.   Again as noted this has already been refined to include a more detailed design, a lid and a working hinge.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students:  The lettering on the left had side photograph as shown needs some attention as the hole could be more refined.   The pencil sharpener has been put in place with blue tac to hold it in place.  If you observe carefully the circle for the insert of the pencil is not aligned correctly with the base of the print.   The pencil sharpener in this situation would sit below the level of the circle and therefore not sit flush or easily fit, so this too will also need to be adjusted.

Auroa Primary School - Virtual Pinball 2026 Qualifying!

 

This year for the first time in three years we are having another Auroa Primary School Virtual Pinball competition! The tournament is fast approaching and today we held final qualifying! Two teams had to get through the qualifying and make the main draw - this was filmed at our school today!

You can follow a link to our Pinball highlights by clicking on this link here! Or you can follow Mr Bloors amazing work by heading to his incredible Youtube page which features so many of our great Auroa Primary School events by clicking on the link here.