3D Printed Book Stand: 2026 Edition

 

This project has resulted from a student coming up with a problem related to their storage of library books - they have looked into producing a box for their library books to be stored.

The box itself is large, and is going to require significant discussion with regards to producing it, based on its size, although we will investigate the possibility of laser cutting it potentially.

In the meantime following discussions with the students we looked at locating pre-designed examples, and this one was located on Thingiverse.   We copied the .stl and then printed it for the student to have an example to develop ideas from.

As it currently stands the print measures 120mm across and is 130mm high.   It is 10mm wide at the base.   According to the Bambu Lab Software the print uses 136g of filament and had a price point/cost of $3.40.

We used this print as a discussion point - how could we personalise or name it for the school library? the classroom? How could we adapt this design further?

While this design is clearly intended as a book stand it already has been tested and is successful as a iPad stand and an iPad holder securely allowing both a regular large iPad and an iPad that was in a shatter proof/life proof case.

Although there are also variations to this design including versions that we have featured on the blog in the past.   This book stand from 2018 featured a 'horse' theme.   This design from 2018 focussed on a book stand for shared reading.

As it also functions as an iPad stand relevant additional posts include this stand and storage container from 2018 (an exemplar at the time)we also have our 2025 Market Day that included a business based around creating at iPad stand including this exemplar from the event.

Finally as a point of reference there was this example from 2019 based around multiple storage space.

The Problems with Chickens

 

We've detailed in a previous post about how the students are looking at creating various scenarios where we are improving the quality of what is on display at our school - one of the aspects that students believe to be viable is the potential to have chickens. This has also been proposed by the Enviro-Group working with the school and we know that various schools in our area have done so.

We have created a concept of ideas based around the students knowledge, which in this instance is high as a number of students raise chickens or collect eggs regularly where they live.   While these do tend to be a bit more free range than a school would require there is a significant knowledge with the students.

To help complete this project the students are looking to produce a conceptual model, based on the AR/VR creation that might show what an area could look like.  To that end we printed the chickens shown in the AR/VR mock up, as shown left.

The print used 11g of PLA filament to complete, the figure had a price point of $0.26c and the print took 42 minutes to complete on the regular default settings.

The student who was completing the AR/VR design   was able to locate the .stl file for this creation by a simple search, which was then transferred to the Bambu Printer for completion.

The model as shown was 70mm high and 50mm wide.   Once the model has been completed these figures will be supplied to a farm set that is currently in a junior classroom.

Misc. 3D Details as the Term comes to an end...

We completed our 'cow' themed table centre piece for the community dinner - using a combination of different filament and some spray painting to produce a run of 15 different cows, one for each table!

These cows were detailed in a previous print on this blog - which you can access by clicking on the link here.

We have detailed this process including talking about the importance of involving the community and supporting community events as one of our 'lore of 3D printing talking points'. 

We recently 'discovered' an amazing New Zealand based company that are doing amazing things with PLA including recycling and producing unique PLA including one that is combined with wool.   

KiwiFil

This site and their story is incredible and we can't wait to spread the word about this far and wide.   We will start printing with the amazing samples that they shared with us and will share them as soon as possible.   In the meantime we would strongly encourage you to check our their amazing story on their Facebook page which you can click on by accessing the link here.

Our students who have been working on their own designs, in their own time to develop their Tinkercad schools are continuing to do so.   We are undertaking to print as many of these projects as we can between times and will continue to feature them on this blog.

A reminder that you can use the 'search' bar on this blog to search our student/school archives and look at or examine 11 years of 3D Printing projects, ideas and student work.   Every project has a specific tag related to its posting on the blog such as 'badge' for something like the new example produced this week.

We are continuing to focus on AR/VR projects and looking at ways to utilise Tinkercad and the Tinkercad App to produce authentic tasks with the students iPads.   Students are now refiing their original ideas having to research and develop their ideas so that we can present these ideas to the school for further consideration.  You can read about the original post on this blog here.

3D Printed Full Sized Vase

 

Challenge: For student to make a unique, individualised vase that is functional.

Background: We detailed in a previous post about how a student had started working on the original design for a vase inspired by locating a range of them online.  The first one, the miniature became a forced perspective lesson involving digital photography.

The student then located a range of designs which were described as an 'ornate range of jugs'.   

In the design shown left the student used the examples of the designs to create their own version and then used their knowledge of Tinkercad to apply a personal message on the base of the vase.

Level of Difficulty: Low -  the student was working on a timeframe to turn this around in a short space of time.   There are a few features on display in the design but clearly more could have been developed or designed.

Size: The student wanted to push the dimension of the design and the measurements reflected this.   The design measured 200mm high and was 100mm wide at the bae (and the top).

Cost/Price: Using the Bambu Lab Studio software we can determine that the print used 255g of PLA plastic to produce and this had a cost price of $6.40.  The cost point for this price meant that we would be limited with what we would be producing at this size.

Timeframe: With the dimensions of this print, the regular settings that the Bambu H2D meant that it took seven hours to complete.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: The way that the vase has been personalised was done quickly however this could have been done with more precision, including potentially putting the lettering into the base of the design.  There was nothing personalised other than at the location shown is something that could be addressed as it could have been done with more creativity.   

Original Tinkercad Design Tinkering

 

We've approaching the end of term one already and we've had a term, nearly ten weeks of students working on various designs.   While we might have only a short space of time to create specifically with Tinkercad there have been a number of (seven and eight year old students) working on ideas and refiing ideas in their own time.  

The series of designs in this range are created uniquely by the students and the purpose was to create something that could be recognised.  Tinkercad as a design tool has a range of shapes available which the students have used as a basis for the design.  

The train shown above was created using a range of basic shapes and then manipulated by the student using their iPad and the Tinkercad app.   Once completed the design was then tested by AR/VR it into different locations.  

The sharing of these ideas is to allow students to give each other feedback on how they might develop their ideas and designs.   Students are able to comment on how you might add layers to a particular design or make something have an increased recognition factor.

There are a large number of designs that fit into this category.   On the corresponding Facebook page for this site there are additional ideas and creations.

You can click on the Facebook page by clicking on the link here or searching for 3DPrintSchoolNZ which is the name of the page.

Using Tinkercad as a VR/AR Tool For Sketching Out School Improvements

 

This is a continuation of the task from last week where we asked students to consider using Tinkercad to create improvements around the school.   Students used their iPads to locate an area needing improvement, then went back to Tinkercad as a CAD design tool to create something that could improve, enhance or make the area look more creative.

They returned with their design and used the AR/VR function from the App to 'project' the improvement in place.  The final step was to take a screenshot of the improvement, now in place in the location where it has been created.  In the example shown above you can see the front entrance to the school where a student has used Tinkercad to create the colourful mat that has been placed in front of the door.

We also asked students to consider placing a before and after shot side by side.  This student chose to look at the flagpole next to the schools main entrance, which has not been functional for several years.   The student in this case opted to design a new flag for the school and then project it in place in the second image next to the first, where you can clearly seen the difference between the two images.

We also used these examples to allow students to think about their own ideas and what they might need to consider.   

This was quite evident when students started looking at designs like the chicken area.   The current student line of thought is that the chickens are going to lay their eggs directly into the box - they didn't have a run or another area for them to be contained but also exercise.   There was no thought to feeding the chickens or the water that chickens might need to be viable.

This was a consideration and also bear in the mind that the student concerned has a chicken area on his farm, so it is imagined that a discussion might lead to an adjustment of the design so that it might be more considerate and also a bit more realistic! 

KiwiFil - Recycling PLA

 

Over the years we have been very careful on this site not to endorse anything in terms of products but also at the same time we like to let other schools and educators know what we are operating with and how our systems work to encourage and inspire others with their projects and ideas.

We are also very conscious of not creating too much waste and have been looking at ways to deal with issues such as that.   We recently were able to find a location of a business that is doing a lot of these things already to an extremely high level.

KiwiFil is a New Zealand based business - the ethos behind the recycling and the story of the products is something that is resonated with ourselves to a high standard in the short time that we have been aware of their operations in details.

We are ordering a bunch of filament from them and intend to start creating projects using their PLA with New Zealand wool in it and their recycled product.   The best explanation for this site and business needs to be left to them, and you can check out their website and amazing story by clicking on this link here.

Once we start the process of printing with the new source of PLA we will post here with the details.