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.

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.