3D Printed Fidget Spinner Progressions

 

Challenge: For a nine year old student to be able to produce their own unique or personalised version of a fidget spinner.

Background: This is a recent task that has undergone a number of changes and development with one of our students who is nine years old, they have been using Tinkercad for two years and have shown a degree of thinking and creativity with their designs.

In this instance we had a recent challenge around producing a gift for another person but ensure that it was original and also was personalised.   The student knew that 3D Printed Fidget Spinners had been produced and wanted to start the process themselves.   Their first version was completed in Tinkercad - it also used a template located in Tinkercad which they adapted.   The print measured 70mm wide, was 70mm high and had a thickness of 10m.   This had a thirty minute print time.

In this instance the print didn't allow the fidget to easily operate as it required a blade to remove the rafting around the base of the design.    We spoke to the student and brainstormed various ideas - and they came up with the idea of using ChatpGPT to create the .stl file for the project.

This produced the file shown left - obviously in this example the shape was there and the student was able to 'spin' the spinner by placing it on their finger but the design was lacking the depth and the detail that the student wanted to have.   They were able to take this design and look at functionality of it.

This example was 60mm across in diameter.   It had a width of 5mm and took just under thirty minutes to complete the print.  We discussed with the student using another more detailed AI prompt to produce a better finish however the student also thought at this point that they might like to develop the design further using the base as the starting point.

The next version was located by accessing the online portal that is available with Bambu Studio Labs.

We have detailed our schools 3D Printing journey starting with the various machines and combinations over time which has currently been focussed on our use of Bambu 3D Printers.

In this example shown left is labelled online as the 'Original Fidget Spinner'.   It comes in two pages of design the first is the shown in the photograph on the left, assembled.    It comes as a base plate two hinges and an insert that clicks into place.   When this is assembled it provides a robust spinner that has exceptional function.

This spinner measures 70mm across.   It is currently incomplete the base shown here has a forty seven minute print time and uses 10g of regular PLA this has a price point for the print of $0.21c.

While this provides the student to the solution of the engineering problem there is still the scope to measure, design and test the inserts that can go into the design.   One of the aspects that has been identified is the potential to use filament such as the glow-in-the dark filament.   As the fidget has three different portions for insert we want to allow the students to consider what they might design for this space - do they opt for the letters for instance of a students name or the initials or other sequence or group of letters.   

The relative small cost and print time for this design means that it would be easily to produce.  Also of note this would appear to have potential as a Market Day Item of the future as it would allow a small price point have a particular interest to students (with the movement) and the student could contribute to the design with the disc to be inserted.

Finally the fact that the print can also be produced in four seperate component pieces allows the design to be taken apart and the engineering aspect of the design looked at and further discussed.

3D Printed Christmas Tree Angel - Progression

 

Challenge: To produce an original, unique Christmas ornament that is suitable to hang from a festive tree.

Background: This came out of the range of designs that have been produced by students in the classroom.  In this case we wanted to guide a student into further innovations by providing them with feedback with the process.   For this example the student used the 'waving' figure from the Tinkercad template and combined it with the wings from the same design space (these are the wings that have featured in some of our students butterfly designs from the insect series.

The student who completed this designs and revision is a nine year old student who has been working on their CAD designs as part of classroom program this year.   We gave them verbal feedback about the design and they undertook some revisions.

It was obvious from version one that the decoration needed to hang from the tree so the student was able to make this adjustment easily by creating the loop shown left.   The student was also tasked with providing some personalisation with the design.  They choose to introduce the phrase "Merry Christmas" to the design.   As the size of the print (see below) did not allow space for the detail to be fully realised this part of the design did not print - it was also suggested to the student that they could provide additional features to the design.

They opted to rephrase the writing shortening the phrase from 'Merry Christmas' to 'Merry Xmas'.   They also opted to introduce the 'snowflake design' that is also part of the Tinkercad design library as this had been produced to excellent use on another classroom student project.  You can see the results of this third stage of design in the third photo on this page.

Resources used to complete this project: iPad, Tinkercad App,  Tinkercad Online Resource Library, Bambu H2D Printer, Bambu Bronze PLA (regular)

Size: The print despite undergoing a series of revisions has essentially maintained the same dimensions.  The print measures 60mm from wing to wing.   The print measures 60mm high including the addition of the loop to hang the print from the tree easily.   The figure has a width of 20mm is 40mm high and 20mm deep.   

Cost/Price:  One of the main reasons that we were able to reprint this project several times was that the price point was $0.18c this was based on the entire project using 9g of PLA to be completed.  There was minimal rafting on the print.

Timeframe: As with the cost and use of PLA the printing was relatively straightforward to produce one of units took half an hour and that included only twenty four minutes of printing time as the remainder was taken up in the printing warming up.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students:   The student added in the 'snowflake' detail onto the wings and while it is visible they were a little disappointed with the outcome, although they have considered shifting this.    The student could look at different filament - with glow-in-the-dark being the most obvious one, as it would allow the print to glow continually during the night as it would 'charged' by light during the day.

Senior Student: Laser Cut Project

 

At Auroa Primary School we have Year Seven and Eight students.   We have a skills development program which is an optional time for our students to work on a project and develop their design skills.

In this instance the student opted to create and design an earring stand, which was personalised with a number of additional details and then put together on display by the student.

The student used a combination of Sketch Up and our Aeon Laser Cutter to design and create the project.   It was printed using MDF.   The jewellery that is on display was a mixture of purchases from the student and original creations which were contributed to the project.

We have previously posted on this blog about earrings that have been created by students using Tinkercad and 3D printing a number of times, including a student who made an entire project for our Market Day from 2023 when they were Y4.    We also have had a seperate student create an entire project and small mini business based around the use of the laser cutter in 2024.

This was acknowledge at our school assembly and put on display at our office for the community to view.

You can click on this sub-page here to see examples of how our (mainly senior) students are using the school Laser Cutter on a range of projects.

We have a dedicated summary presentation/slide for earrings and earrings related projects - including a beginners guide to (teachers) 3D Printing 101.  You can read this by clicking on the link here,

Finally as always you can use the search box here on this blog to look back over the previous years posts.  As we have been publishing ideas and examples of students work since 2014 you can see that we have particular themes and summaries that are published and you can use the keyword 'earring' for your search.

Roland Versa Sign Maker: Leavers Hoodies

 

The 'sticker machine' that we are lucky enough to have at Auroa Primary School.  This versatile machine which is the Roland Versa Sign Maker is responsible for a range of designs and creations at our school.

In the example shown left is for our Y8 students who are leaving our wonderful school as Y8 students and heading to High Schools (in different locations in Taranaki).    

One of the things that we want to be able to do is to give the students something that is unique to our school - in this instance it is the emblem/mascot for our school Piri the Pukekohe.    There is also an element of ChatGPT for the design as the school values and AKO circle has been created virtually.   From here we will be using the school hot press machine to attach the design to the clothing item.

This allows us to produce something ourselves for our students and involve them in the process.

3D Printed Reindeer - The Start of the Process

 

Challenge: Use an online file to create a scene or additional designs.   In this instance it was the comical reindeer file shown left.

Background:  The idea was to find something to print that would encourage the students to think about what might go with this? Can I design this or something similar to it? What shapes can be used to break down this design?

We've explained before on this blog how we've taken designs such as this and printed them as starting points for the conversation about 'where to next'.

What we needed to complete this project: The .stl file (available freely online), Tinkercad App (for modification of the print although in this case it wasn't significant), Bambu P1S Printer, Cotton Candy Bambu PLA.

Size: The print dimensions as it stands are 60mm long, 60mm (excluding the tips of the antlers).   The oversized head is a 30mm in diameter sphere and the body is a 20mm by 30mm.   The legs are 15mm high.  The antlers are between 1mm and 2mm wide and are 40mm high from the head to the top of the design.

Cost/Price: The reason that we have been able to print multiple copies of the project is primarily down to its dimension.   It has 18g of PLA that is used to complete the print.  That has a price point of $0.36.  That means the group of three shown left can be produced for just over one dollar $1.00.

Timeframe: To complete the print the printer is operating for fifty three minutes and this includes a six minute printer warm up time.

What we would do differently/Next Steps for the students:  This print and the associated project is all about the follow up and what this print might be used for.   What comes yet, what can be developed from this print.   Of note the antlers are an extremely fragile and the design would not suit being handled repeatedly or particularly if it was dropped onto the floor from a desk or a small height.   If that was the case that would leave the print needing to be repeated.

3D Printed Christmas Tree - Phase Two

 

Challenge: For a student to design, create and then print their own original festive tree.

Background: We've detailed this process and a number of these prints and explained how our students have designed and shared their ideas.  We are not intending to print and showcase every print in this series as each student is producing a tree there are twenty five that need to be printed prior to the end of the school year.

Each of the design is based upon some of the basic generic shapes that are from the main design page.  The individualised presents that are at the base of the tree have been personalised for the members of the students family who designed it.   Each of these elements have been selected from the search bar from the Tinkercad main design page.

This print was completed independently by a nine year old student who is using Tinkercad and the Tinkercad App for the first time this calendar year.

Resources used to complete this print: iPad, Tinkercad App, Bambu P1S Printer, Bambu Cotton Candy PLA, Tinkercad design page.

Size:  The base of the design is 60mm wide and 70mm long.   The print has a height of 90mm high.   The start at the top of the tree is 50mm long and 10mm wide.   As a decoration that is designed to sit flush on a base or a table.

Cost/Price: The print uses 51g of PLA to complete the print.   On this basis the print has a price point of $1.01.  This was based on the infill percentage of the print being the default 15%.   We are also using a standard large 20mm nozzle on the printer instead of a finer 4mm nozzle.

Timeframe: To complete this print the printer was running for two hours and seventeen minutes.   There is some adaptions to this print to be made, as noted below.

What we would do differently/Next Steps for the students:  Each of the ledges created by the shape of the trees has support/rafting underneath.   The Bambu rafting being in the shape of trees when removed with this PLA left some residue on the edge of the print which can be seen in the photograph.

The angle of the tree can be seen here on the left, which is slightly off but this makes the tree look more realistic.   The baubles that are on the tree look a little oversized and could be refined - there is a balance between putting too much detail on a print like this and making the design too busy.

The unique aspect of this tree and one that we wanted to highlight was this students ideas to create the personalised nature of the presents at the base.  The star that tops the tree is somewhat oversized and could be further adjusted - although having 'Merry Christmas' on the top would be a challenge if it was reduced in size any smaller, although it has been suggested that the lettering is changed to include the calendar year or that the names of the family members be included in the base of the tree.

There is scope here for further detail and also of note features such as the keys on the piano on the base of the tree.

As a reminder for further ideas that are related to this topic you can use the search box in the top right hand corner of the blog.   Everything that is Christmas related has been tagged, there are pages and pages of example which date back a number of years.   

3D Printed Christmas Decoration: Modified Cow

 

Challenge: For students to create, design or modify a decoration that would be suitable to hang from a Christmas/Festive Tree.

Background: As per other posts in this series - the intention is to start a limited print run focussing on designs that will catch attention and designs that will have students thinking about the possibilities of what next or what they might be able to do.

In this instance the file that was available online was located by a students and as it was adaptable the student 

Resources to complete this print: Tinkercad App, .stl file design, Bambu H2D, Banbu branded (regular) silver filament, 

Size: The print measures 100mm in length and is 90mm high.  The main body of the animal is 50mm by 40mm by 50mm.   The head which is oversized is 40mm by 40mm.

Cost Price:   The print as its stands uses 58g of filament.   This means that the print has a nn active price point of $1.16c.  There was a degree of rafting underneath the base of the cow but it was not excessive.

Timeframe: To print this project the printer had an actual print time of just over two hours with a standard warm up time.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: The students input into the design was limited it would be something that would be possible for a student to either duplicate or create their own version of.   The lettering on the design is somewhat generic and it would be easy for this to be modified and personalised further.   The colour matching resulted from another planned project, the print could have completed with either mire festive colours or could be spray painted.   

Finally the issue of how the decoration is hung from the tree is probably the most obvious example of something that looks fine in idea but however needs to be adapted in execution.   The students idea was that the ring through the nose of the bull would be ideal to string an attachment through.   While this in theory would work in a practical sense when this was attempted the design hangs funny in a way that diminishes its presentation.