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.

3D Printing in Micro Scale: P1S Bambu

 

Challenge: For a junior student (Y4 seven years old) to create an original design and print.  This print was to be produced on a miniature scale - to test the details of the 'new' school printer.

Background: As noted we have spent nearly a calendar exclusively using the Bambu H2D to print an entire range of prints (with a goal of using the single machine for the entire year) however we recently as a school purchased two additional printers which we have switched to using while the Bambu H2D is currently under repairs.

This print was created by one of our students as an independent project and was presented to the teacher in its completed state - ready to be printed.

Resources To Complete this Project: iPad, Tinkercad App, Bambu P1S, PLA.

Level of Difficulty; Low - this is a basic entry level task that could be completed easily and independently in a brief session - of not here was the size.

Size; This was the focus for this print - the print measured 40mm across was 40mm high and was 10mm wide/thick.

Cost/Price: The print used 4.2g of regular PLA to complete the print and this had a price point of $0.10c.

Timeframe: The printer took six minutes to warm up - had nine minutes of printing time so the entire process from start to finish was fifteen minutes.

What we would do differently/Next Steps for the students:   We would choose carefully the PLA used for the print as we would suspect spraying it could loose its definition otherwise completed as hoped.  The timeframe for this is especially something to consider as it would mean potentially a class could be completed in a relatively short timeframe.

3D Printed Flower Design - SVG

 

Challenge: Independent activity - student driven.

Background: We encourage our students as much as possible to be creating, designing and making things in their own time and we try and print these out when the students are able to create something individualised and could potentially be used for another purpose.

This design features a 'flower' shape and has the initials of the student who created it placed in the centre of the design.   

The design came out of our SVG challenge when the student found this image and then felt that it would be a piece that could have a number of practical functions as it had the space in-between the different petals.   Therefore it could be used to tie or loop string or other material through it.   The student has completed the print and is now 'road testing' the print to find out how it might be able to be used for different roles or tasks.   

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

Level of Difficulty: Low - the most challenging aspect of the task was to locate an SVG file to complete the project.  This was completed by an eight year old student from cohort one and was completed independently without teacher input.

Size: The print measures 80mm across, is 110 high and is 10mm wide.  The petals are obviously not filled out which helped significantly reduce the printing time.

Cost/Price: The print uses 18g of PLA to complete the task.  There was no 'rafting' or waste produced by the project.   The price point for the print was $0.45c.

Timeframe: To complete the print the printer took six minutes to warm up and reach the printing settings and took thirty six minutes to complete the task for a combined total of forty two minutes.  

What we would do differently/Next steps for the student: This project is one where the print is completed and the student is making sure that they can find out a purpose for it.    Potentially the design will have multiple purposes depending on what the student decides.

Virtual Pinball Auroa School - Tournament Week

 

Its tournament week at Auroa Primary School! We are very excited to have our first phase of the tournament with our 'bottom six' shootout - we drew the teams at School Assembly on Friday and this week they will battle each other with the chance to make the main draw!

If you would like to see a summary post about the tournament this year have a look at this special preview of our competition machine this year - then click on the link this video here.  If you would like to see a summary of the competitions that we have had in the past including our previous grand finals and full live streamed competitions then click on this link here.

We will be updating the site this week with the full tournament information detailing the competition and the viewing details.

Modified SVG - Reworking a SVG

 

Challenge: Student locate an SVG file and adapt it significantly.   As note from a number of recent prints this project started with an SVG file.

Background: As noted this came as an extension project as part of our students sourcing of SVG files.  In this instance this student wanted to have an animal from another country to represent themselves and then convert it into having a stand.

The student then created base and featured their name on it prominently.   They were working as part of cohort one (having used Tinkercad since the start of the year) and are seven years old.  They were able to complete task independently without teachers input.

Resources used to complete the task: Tinkercad App, iPad, Bambu Printer (P1P) and Bambu PLA, Pic Collage was used for the AR/VR imaging.  

The design was then put into the Tinkercad App and the iPad was used to AR/VR the image.   This image was then put through a further filter being an AR/VR filter which was a 'Magic Camera' option from the Pic Collage App.

Level of Difficulty: Medium - the design was repeatedly reworked by the student until they were happy with it and adding the AR/VR element to the presentation.

Size: The print measured 140mm across at the front of the base, the height of the base was 50mm high and 20mm wide.  The deer itself 110mm across and 120mm high.  the silhouette of the print was 10mm wide.

Cost/Price: The price of the print was two dollars and fifty cents based on the use of the PLA that was 83g of PLA for the print and 17g for the support of the print.

Timeframe: Six minutes of print time and three hours and seventeen minutes of project print time.  This print was completed during the basic settings for the printer including the speed and infill on the print.

What we would do differently/Next Steps for the students:   The front leg of the print as can be seen in the picture is bent - this proved to be challenging for the printer to complete as essentially it was a curve.  While this did not appear obvious when looking at the virtual image on the iPad however it became a challenge in practical terms when printing it.   

It is going to involve a resolution between the design and the practical creation process of the printer.

3D Printed SVG - Extra Details

 

Challenge: To take an SVG file and modify it for a purpose by altering the original file.

Background: We have detailed this process in a range of prints and descriptions on this blog.  In some of the process the files that our students located needed to be modified for a purpose or to make them more 'useable'.

The file shown left is a good example of this.   The original SVG file which was sourced online from a popular SVG site was two seperate pieces being the body and the head.   The student was able to resolve this by creating a collar for the log which link the two pieces of the print.   

The student also personalised the design by putting the name on the base of the animal.  Finally the issue of the purpose of the design was resolved by the student inserting a hole into the leg of the dog.  Hence the design could be converted into a name badge for the animal or a keyring.

This selection, conversion and entire process was completed by a student who is seven years old independently of the teacher.

Resources Used: Tinkercad App, SVG file (located online this is one of the first files that comes up with a general search), iPad, Bambu Printer (P1P).   

Level of Difficulty: Low - the student used the design, modified it themselves and was able to complete the entire task from start to finish, including experimenting with various potential colour - in under thirty minutes.   There could be more details potentially added to this to increase the difficulty.

The student was also able to use the AR/VR function that is available with Tinkercad to project an altered version of the image with additions to the design.   The student decided not to go with the additions (such as the blocks by the feet or the relocation of the hole) however it also allowed them to look at the dimensions of the print.

Size: The final print was 100mm across and 100mm high from the base of the feet to the ears and top of the tail.  The print was 10mm wide/thick.  It was printed using regular PLA.

Cost/Price: The print used 18g of regular PLA to complete the print.  Based on the Bambu Lab studio software calculation the print cost $0.67 to produce.    This used regular PLA to complete the print.

Timeframe: The print time for the print was six minutes preparation time from the pinter and then twenty seven minutes to complete the print - a total time of thirty three minutes.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: We choose to print this using the P1P printer and as a result it was completed in a single colour - we could have expanded it to the H2D and would have had the option (which we have only used occasionally of mixing two different colours).  The next obvious step would be to consider spray painting or further decoration.   Otherwise the print is complete.