3D Printed Display Butterfly

 

Challenge: For students to produce a unique and original design of an insect to work in conjunction with an art display (for our calf day).

Background: As per the description that was posted about this yesterday and detailed our students creations focussing on the idea of an insect.

One of the key design features that are available via Tinkercad is the wings.   This pair of wings is accessible from the main menu.  For most students including out eight and nine year olds it is a very easy move from this design to start adding details and features that further develop the features.  We also have a somewhat limited timeframe with this activity.  We were looking for students to complete the activity in the region of thirty minutes to make designs such as this one available for the first printing run to allow us to have a series of printed examples to show the class.   We also wanted to ensure that the students had an opportunity to use Tinkercads AR/VR function.

When printed as shown left some of the details from the design were able to more distinct.  The six different spikes that were included for texture at the base of the wings was able to survive the printing process.    

Resources used to complete this print: Chat GPT sheet, Tinkercad App, Bambu PLA (blue), Bambu H2D Printer

Level of Difficulty: Medium - by using the wings as the basis for the design the students were able to complete it quickly, there is more details and additions to be added the intention was to produce a physical print that could be reflected on in a physical sense.

Size:  The print is 90mm across from tip to tip of the wings and 100mm tall in length.   The width of the wings is 5mm and the thorax and the abdomen are slightly thicker although smaller.  The print was completed with rafting with was located underneath the wings which created the 'bow' or bend in them which is visible.

Cost/Price: To complete this print the printer used 20g of PLA.   This has a price point of $0.40c.

Timeframe:  To complete this print the printer was operating on the standard default settings and was operating for one hour and forty minutes.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students:  When discussing butterflies one of the key features that we have talked about with students is the symmetry.  In this example here while the student has attempted to introduce some to this design it is not symmetrical and for it to be correct it needs some slight adjustments.   The colour that has been used here is a base colour, spray painting and decoration is a strong idea, using potentially glitter and also spray paints and other tools to enhance its presentation.

The six threads/spikes at the put of the wings are in position and remaining in place however they are very fragile and must have minimal handling for them to remain.   Also the students need to consider how to display this piece with a static tin car - such as a stick or prop and how this might look and how it could successfully be supported.

3D Printed Insect: Pet Day 2026

Challenge: For a junior school students to create a unique and original 3D CAD model of an insect, suitable for an art display.

Background:   We are a school of 170 students in rural South Taranaki, New Zealand,.  One of the biggest events that we have each year at our school is our Pet Day.   On these days the students are able to bring calves and lambs for show and we also have additional sections including 'Most Loved Pet'.   As well as all of these events, detailed in Mr Bloor's amazing school videos we also have our art displays in each of the classrooms.  It was these displays that we've also used in the past for 'Tinkercad Hunt', which you can view by clicking on the link here.

Each of students has a range of art based activities to complete - one of the junior ones is to turn a tin can into a creation.   To complement this the students have to create an original insect to be part of this display.   The students were using Tinkercad and the Tinkercad app to complete this process.  This is a classroom challenge our students making these designs are eight and nine years old.  

For our English writing this term we have been focussed on information report writing and one of the categories that we investigated and the students wrote about was insects, where they spent time researching the characteristics and features of an insect.   We used 'chat GPT' as a resource generated which created the sheet top left, cross referencing Tinkercad and creation, this generated a checklist and ideas to support students.

We also used as a reference point some images of insects that had been 3D generated and created from a range of sources - we looked at examples online, what was available as a Tinkercad research and examples that have previously featured on this blog.

The students were encouraged to use the Tinkercad main interface and the shapes that were available form there.

One highlighted is the example of the ant shown left.  The student was able to create this in a single session by working and manipulating basic shapes.   We had spoken to the students about the criteria that we wanted to see on the designs from the antenna to the thorax, head and abdomen - and this was check listed via the chatGPT resource.

When the design was completed we also tasked the students with AR/VR of their design into an outside location and an inside classroom location in the school.   We have detailed this in the past and explained how with our classroom of twenty five students this allows all students the opportunity to publish something, without having to wait for a potential delay while the prints might be accessed.

The image shown left is the AR/VR via the Tinkercad App of the ant super sized and placed on the school playground to provide it with a scale.

Once this had been completed and the students had been given the opportunity to review their print and design, check against the checklist and receive some peer feedback we then moved to the process of starting to print a selection of the designs.

Resources used to complete this print: Tinkercad App, iPad, Bambu H2D, Blue Bambu PLA

Level of Difficulty: Medium.   This task challenged the students, this examples is one of the earliest stand out ones to come from a class of twenty five students and was used as a way to encourage others to think about the design.   Further details of course could and will be added but it was also important to have a student complete the process to use as a talking point for others.

Size: The print as it stands measures 70mm in length, is 30mm wide and currently stands 60mm high being 50mm in length from the foot to the shoulder.

Cost/Price:  The print as it stands uses 16g of PLA to complete the print - this has a price point of $0.40c.

Timeframe: To complete this print the printer was operating for one hour and six minutes, which included a six minute machine warm up time.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: The leg at the front left, facing the ant, did not survive the removal of the rafting, it needs to be repositioned.   The ant itself could benefit form more details on the face.   The ant could of course be spray painted to represent a particular colour or kind of ant and then a paint pen or similar item could be used to create additional detail.

Bambu Studios: NRL Coater Set

 

We've been continuing to look for examples that we would use, examples that generate attention and examples that we can illustrate to our students designs and creations.

While in the past as we've previously detailed we have used sites such as Thingiverse for public domain designs our recent switching to Bambu Printers has led us to look at the creativity and projects available on the Bambu Labs website.   This is one such example that was located from here.   

It represents the NRL Warriors logo and were able to look at printing a range of these off.    As we have a Bambu H2D one of the options that we are lucky enough to have with the machines is the colour matching for the different filament - so in this example we went with a glow in the dark for the logo and the badge and a purple for the background.

This photograph, left shows the design when it is charged and illuminating in a darkened room.

This design has a diameter of 100mm.   It has a print time of two hours and forty six minutes however this was to complete four on the print bed - the take for each of the individual prints is forty five minutes per print.   The print has a width 4mm.

The price point of the print is $0.58c for each individual coaster.   By having four of coasters placed on plate at one time producing a significant number of the coasters is possible.   The other issue is the back of the coaster or the inclusion of a laser cut to complement it.   In the example shown top left the coaster has been placed onto an MDF laser cut that is slightly larger than the coaster itself.    This has not been stained or treated and was produced on the school laser cutter. 

Project Revisited: Non 3D Printing Tinkercad related projects

 

Recently we've been publishing a series of revisions from project work from the past that has proven to be popular or has involved work over stages and time.

This is because we've had two significant events in the past two weeks, the NZAIMS Games in Tauranga and an additional week of being unavailable.

Next week, which is the last week of school for Term Three, 2026 we will be back in the classroom working on ongoing projects.   

The final showcase that we wanted to highlight was our Non-3D Printing, 3D Printing slideshow.   The idea is that we apply the same context, the same design ideas but the end result would not necessarily result in a physical 3D Print to go with the work.

Primarily we are using Tinkercad and its apps' AR/VR function for this purpose.   In each case we have a highlighted link to another post about the project with further details and information.    In nearly every case these are activities that have been carried out with the classroom here in Auroa, New Zealand.  Thank you for your visit.

Project Revisited: Christmas 3D Printed Slideshow Ideas

 

We have a single term remaining in New Zealand after next week, that is we're about to finish term three shortly.   Next term we have our school production and there's going to be a range of material and projects completed for the end of the year.

As we're currently taking a regular project printing break, and normal service resumes next week, we've been looking back at some of our most popular projects that have been featured on this blog.

Its quite seasonal but next term we'll be completing a range of festive activities as this site has been running now for over ten years we've got a range of activities that have been produced, developed and created by our students.   

This slideshow was updated at the end of last year and featured a range of activities which then double back to various posts on this blog.   We will be updating this again in 2026 however the aim is to have our students create a range of festive themed personalised decorations.

If you have any questions about any of this work you are more than welcome to drop us a line and we're happy to help with guidance.  Merry Christmas everyone.

If you would like a Powerpoint version of this slideshow and a downloadable file you can access this by visiting our 'Facebook Page' which is the companion site to this blog.

Using Tinkercad to create Virtual CAD Designs

 

Last Friday we posted about using Chat GPT to create a teaching resource/challenge information sheet so students could use Tinkercad to design some storage/housing for a Kaibot.

The challenge was to create storage for a Kaibot to also include space in the design for storage of cards.   At this stage of the design challenge the concept and the ideas are virtual - we are not 3D Printing any of the designs until they have had some revision and checking.  If you look at the first example shown left the students have not built a floor or base for this design, although the other aspects of the design are here.

In the example shown left the dimensions of the print will need careful measuring and checking, particularly for the cards that are going to be stored on top of the storage.

The storage itself could potentially be personalised for further details.     Once the exact dimensions of the robot have been identified some consideration to storage such as either a door or a bay to hold the robot in place.

Allowing this to be completed by the students in this capacity means that the entire classroom can be involved in the design process and these examples (which are shared via Seesaw) allow students to view all the examples and consider making adjustments to their own designs and ideas.   

Once this feedback opportunity has been provided we will then be selecting several of the projects and moving forward with the printing process.   Once the physical examples are provided the final step will be looking at the prints and making further adjustments.

Dance Dance Revoultion: Auroa Primary's Special Machine

Thank you for our visit, we are on a mini-break at the moment - we are back to our regular publishing schedule next week, in the meantime we've been revisiting some of our most favourite Auroa Primary School related technology, project and special events.

If there's one piece of technology that we love to highlight which always produces amazement its our full sized DDR Machine! Create by Mr Bloor and the students of our school its a piece of technology that we're constantly adding to! Our students make the music videos media for the machine.   We also hold regular competitions for our students such as last years 'K-Pop Demon Hunters Special'

We've also live streamed the competition which involves our students competing against each other and a range of competitors.  You can view one of our amazing events here.  As always we need to acknowledge Mr Bloor and Sonic Vision Studios and his fantastic work - you can click on the link to his page here.