3D Printing: Micro Scale

 

This print is something that we have attempted in the past, however it has been made possible to be completed using our P1S Printer.   In this instance the printer was able to produce this detailed print, which features a significant amount of technical difficulty, was printed in 26 minutes (which of course includes a six minute printer warm up time).    A number of options could be involving this print moving forward - the most obvious is that the student could design and create other farming or design related items to add to the scene.   There are a number of freely available designs and suitable other creations that could be used for this purpose.

The design here measures 70mm long (including the scoop) and is 30mm wide.   The design is 20mm high and the top of the scoop is slightly higher at 30mm.   This print uses 10g of PLA and had a price point of $0.25c.

3D Printed SVG Modified Dog

 

Challenge: To take an SVG file and convert or adapt it into something different using Tinkercad.

Background: This file was previously taken and adapted by another student as detailed on this post on May 31st.   This student also used the file however they changed it in a number of different ways as can be seen in the example left - the changes made by the student are in red.   

In this instance the student wanted to use blocks to surround the feet, to provide more balance, the head which was identified as seperate from the body (in the original SVG file in this case was linked via a collar with the name 'Bob' spelt out on it.   Emphasis was placed on the eye and finally a space was introduced into the middle of the shape, sunk into a box.   The intention at this point was to have the name 'Sponge bob' at this location but the font was too small and the detailed appeared blur not only in the original file but also the physical print.

This work was completed independently by an eight year old student who was from cohort two having two years experience of working on Tinkercad projects.  It required no assistance from the teacher.

The student was also able to use the Tinkercad App to project an AR/VR image of the design into and onto a variety of locations around the classroom and school as demonstrated in third photograph in this post.

Resources Used: iPad, Tinkercad App, 3D Printer and regular PLA.

Level of Difficulty: Low - as detailed in a number of previous prints that came from this series of designs and prints the students were used a pre-generated image and/or shape and looking at modifying something that was freely available.  The students in the class were all able to complete this independently.

Size: The print measured 99mm across from tip to tip and was 81mm high.  In this instance the student decided to complete the print with a width of 10mm.

Cost/Price: The print with the dimensions shown used 20g of filament to complete and had a price point of $0.51c.

Timeframe: To complete the print the printer took 42 minutes to complete (on a P1S).    The printer had a six minute warm up time an da thirty six minute to complete the printing.   There was minimal rafting that was associated with the print which consisted of the blocks around the base of the feet.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: The students design challenges focussed on the box at the centre of the design - the students idea for the words 'Sponge-bob' was not possible given the size of the space and the font.   The student has been asked to look at something else to replace this with and to develop another idea that would be more achievable.   

Developing Junior Linking: 3D Prints

 

We have detailed previously how the students of our school have developed a number of engineering skills related to their use of Tinkercad for CAD design and creation. A key engineering concept of use for the 3D Printing is some form of linking.   Our students have just started the journey - where they are experimenting with using a ball and socket design with their creations.   The first attempts are shown in the top left of this post.   While this may appear to have been successful the attempt to do so needs work.

The ball and socket combination requires the width to be able to manipulate the different sections and robust enough to be moved out of position and back into position again.

The student who has worked on this design has now started conferencing with the student who was responsible for the linking from the Market Day 2026 work.    This student while no longer in the classroom has the skill and the ability to help tutor the student to complete the process.

The linking example shown above as a first prototype measures 170mm long is 20mm high and currently 5mm thick/wide.   The print used 9g of PLA to complete the project and had a price point of $0.22c.

3D Printed SVG - basic shape: tank

 

Challenge: To use an SVG file to create and then modify a 3D Print.

Background: We have detailed this process extensively in the past and if you would like to see an explanation of the process please click on the link here.

In this example the student located a cartoon tank which they felt would convert positively to a 3D Print.   While there is detail in the print each element of the print is joined together so the entire print is essentially one piece - the student also determined (correctly so) that this could be printed successfully by the P1S Bambu printer and also that the detail that was seen in the SVG would transfer to the print.

Resources used to complete this project: SVG file (sourced online from a free site), iPad, Tinkercad App, 

Level of Difficulty: Low as shown by the time the student took to complete the task.  This was about the file selection and the import into Tinkercad.   The design itself was a straight forward port with no adjustment required.

Size: The print measures 170mm long was 80mm high and was 10mm thick.   Given the intended purpose for this print was some form of badge or keychain this is almost too long for this purpose.

Cost Price: This information has been sourced from the Bambu labs information page (a screenshot of which is shown above that details information about the print.  This print used 32g of PLA filament and had a price point of $0.82c.   There was no rafting or waste plastic associated with this project.\

Timeframe: The software above has precise timestamps for all print information.   Using this data we can determine that it has the usual six minutes warm up and a print time of 115minutes so a total run time to fully complete the project on default settings of one hour and twenty minutes.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students:  The student believes that this completes the expected brief and they have moved onto other projects.

3D Vehicle - Nine Year Old Masterclass

 

Challenge: To make a working vehicle.

Background: The detail that has gone into this work isn't represented by the photographs that show it.   The student who is concerned is an extremely talented design student and wanted to make something that wheels, could roll and in addition to that wanted to have doors with hinges - something that a number of students have found challenging.

The student concerned used the Tinkercad design app and there own time to complete this project.   They presented the final print to the teacher for printing

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

Level of Difficulty: Extreme - this sort of print is something that is extremely challenging and is outside of the regular wheel-house.   This has required considerable practise, expertise and foresight (from a nine year old student) to complete this project.

Size:  The print is 70mm wide and 90mm long.   The main cabin of the design is 80mm high.    Each of wheels is 20mm high.

Cost/Price - The model had two sections to it, one of which is not shown.   The student created three figures that would fit into the seats of the machine.   The machine itself used 58g of PLA to produce which included 28g of support PLA as it had a number of details that required support - this gave it a total of 86g.  This gave the main print a total price point of $2.16.

Timeframe: Using the Bambu P1S the machine took six minutes to warm up and prepare for printing, a four hour and twenty three minutes print time for a combined time of just under four and a half hours.

What we would do differently/next steps for the students:   The student concerned has already acknowledge that the front of the vehicle needs to be extended to make it more realistic looking, the doors have a latch and open and close and the wheels have a axel in place.   The student is aware that there is different PLA available and they are looking at ways in which they can use different PLA to improve the presentation.    

Knowing this student in all likelihood the student will develop this print completely again in the next few days to make it more realistic and have more working features.

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.