3D Printed Marble Maze: Junior

 

Challenge: For students to create a unique project that involves movement and engineering challenges.

Background: We have been posting about this project as it developed from a idea based around movement and morphed into a challenge for the students to develop their own marble mazes.   We have a range of designs created from student producing their own unique mazes to taking and adapting existing models, such as the one shown left.

In this example the design aspects of the project are focussed around the student creating the 'traps' for the ball, which range from a simple hole to be placed into the design to the addition of ramps and blocks which can be seen in green on the design shown left.   The student had to also consider the size of the gap between the walls of the maze and then think about a ball to run through it - would Tthey use a marble? a smaller 3D Printed ball?

Again as we have mentioned the purpose of this project is not to create a 3D Print for everyone in the classroom it is to engineer ideas and solutions to meet the design brief provided by the challenge.

Resources to complete this print: Tinkercad, Maze Template .stl file, iPad, Bambu H2D, Lime green PLA.

Level of Difficulty: Medium - obviously this maze plan has been adapted.  To create an original maze from scratch with all of the working parts would increase the difficulty level of this task significantly.

Size: The print is 190mm wide and 190mm long.  It has a height of 20mm.  The walls are 5mm thick.

Cost/Price: Despite its dimensions the print uses 190g of PLA to complete the print.  This created a price point for the print of $3.81.

Timeframe:  This print took five hours and five minutes to complete.   There was minimal rafting.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students:  There was a small gap underneath the design between the left hand side and the edge of the design.    This was only 1mm or so wide and was not easily visible but would need to be addressed to tidy the print up.   The blocks that created the ramps served a purpose but could have been more refined.

3D Printing: Ooshies and Maze Development

We are continuing to develop our range of Ooshie stands.   We've produced some larger scale stands and also some smaller ones such as the one shown left.

The smaller versions shown left suits two of the figures standing on a basic platform - the potential is for some degree of personalisation.

The stand previously featured in a post on the blog and since then the student has revisited and reconfigured the design - adjusting the name of the person that is on display and correcting some of the division aspects of the stand.

We printed the stand in a lime green version - we want to introduce some differentiation with the height of the stand and variation that it provides and also significant reducing the print time associated with this design.

Our 'Maze' challenge which was created by the example shown yesterday on the blog has led to the classroom working on their own versions and problem solving.

Our first step in the process is the creation followed by AR/VR project onto different surfaces to compare designs and creations - thinking critically about what might work, what needs to be adjusted and what we could do differently.   We are going to then choose as a class some of the best examples and print them and then provide physical examples for the students to test and experiment which should then again refine their designs.

3D Printed Mini Maze - Junior Designed

 

Challenge: Students to create a unique print that has a moveable parts.

Background: This print was part of the challenge that was put the students in the classroom - could they they produce something that involved movement.   In previous examples from this range they utilised cogs and stands to allow the objects to be turned.

In this example the student wanted to create a small or short mini maze that would have a ball that would be manipulated by the person holding the activity.   There were elements introduced into the maze to increase the level of difficulty.

We have previously explained how we have created larger scale versions of these in the past - including Mr Bloor's amazing Star Wars Tilt table located here.

This print is an early attempt and it is anticipated that with testing and developing ideas that a variety of modifications will be made for this activity.

Resources used to complete this print: iPad, Tinkercad App, Bambu P1P, Regular Blue Bambu PLA.

Level of Difficulty: Medium - in the example here the student has created several obstacles- however the example will be developed and in doing so the difficulty is potentially increased.

Size: The print at present measures 120mm across and is 90mm high.   The sides of the maze are 20mm high and the sides are 3mm thick.   The two 3D Printed balls are 20mm across.

Cost/Price: To complete this print the printer used 54g of PLA to complete the print.  This has a price point of $10.7 to complete the print.   This includes the two balls used to navigate the maze.   The student is going to attempt to complete the maze with a variety of objects - marbles and small rubber 'bouncy' balls.

Timeframe: This print was completed on the Bambu P1P machine.  To complete the print it took one hour and thirty eight minutes.

What we would do differently/Next steps to the students:  The first prototype for the students is designed to inspire and encourage the students to create their own versions or develop this version sooner when feedback is provided.   There is also potential for personalisation on the outside of the maze.   The biggest part of the design will come in the form of the engineering of different challenges to complete the maze.   This will be probably determined by opening up the idea to the classroom and see what the students can design or work into this print.     

H2D Comparison Vs. P1S Comparsion

 

We've spoken recently about using the different machines that are available for our students to use.   Recently we completed a run of prints that were for a local sports teams prize giving when we produced unique and individualised trophies for each members of the sports team.

In the photograph shown left the two prints are produced by two different machines.   The larger Bambu H2D produced the print on the right, the left hand print was completed on the P1P Bambu Printer.

The two machines have a considerable price point difference - where the difference between the prints is negligible if you didn't know which print had been printed if would nearly be impossible to tell.   The timeframe is nearly identical and the finish is essentially the same.    If someone was spending money on the machines either would work for a context of the projects on this blog - however the capital output on the machines is considerably different.

Weekly Project: Using Tinkercad for Five Days

 

As we've mentioned many times on this blog we don't always end of with 3D Printing as a final project.  We're currently providing a range of activities that include using AR/VR to produce a range of images and then apply

This process at times can stretch out over a range of days and activities.   In the example shown left the SVG image of the dinosaur was used across multiple ranges of situations from a classroom image, to a posed classroom scene based on a classroom item or toy - to a giant sized version on the school field.

In this instance the shape shown left made it into a 3D Print, and we managed to print several versions and turn it into a storage and name maker - however it was always conceived as an SVG file that was used across a range of locations.

Typically we complete our digital design work in a small window which takes place after lunch.  Time varies, and also depends on other curriculum interruptions or challenges.   At present we are preparing for our School Cross Country.   The students therefore have less than half an hour to prepare, produce, edit and put together this sort of work.

The full non-printing 3D Printing slideshow is available below.  It is also available as a downloaded file in the form a powerpoint presentation from our Facebook account which you can click on here.

3D Printing Rugby Kicking Tee - Prototype

 

Challenge: To produce a useable kicking tee for use in rugby.

Background: This task came about from a student recognising that they could take a current item, in this case a kicking tee and replicate it using Tinkercad and then personalise it.   There is a copy of a similar type item in the Tinkercad interface although it is a kicking tee for American Football.

The first stage of the testing was to take the existing design, to start to modify it and then test it using a regular rugby ball.  The students found that the tee held the ball a particular way easily however they were interested in modifying it so that it would be easier to adjust the degree that the ball was leaning.

The personalisation of the item was very straight forward.   The student put the name of his club on one side of the design and the other side of the design they put their name so that they had an individualised item.

Since the first version shown above the student has already reworked the various lettering and wording around the outside of the design.

Resources used to complete this print: iPad, Tinkercad, regular PLA, Bambu H2D.

Level of Difficulty: Medium: this print started as a regular design found from the main Tinkercad interface search page.   As it was originally from an American Football design the students needed to modify it to ensure suitable for a ruby union football which has slightly different dimensions.   This requires some reworking and adaption of the base design.  The students also are now completing some testing to ensure it can travel and be kicked like a regular tee.

Size: The print currently measures 120mm long and is 93mm wide.   The print is 34mm high mid point.  With revision of the design there will be obviously be some adjustments.

Cost/Price: The print as it stands uses 120g of PLA to complete the print and this currently have a price point of $1.87.

Timeframe: The print as it stands takes two and a half hours to complete including warm up time of six minutes.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: The students have really enjoyed the process of getting involved with something that will help with a sport that they are very enthusiastic about.   We have also considered that we might want to complete the print using another form of plastic for the printer to make it more robust such as PETG.

3D Printed Projects in Action: Weekly Summary

 

Five and six year olds at Auroa Primary School are 3D Printing, well they are with the assistance of the experts in our classroom.   We are continuing to buddy up with a range of younger students and start the CAD design and creation process with these 'new' students.    Our students are taking on a mentoring role and starting with the basics.   The students are of course using Tinkercad combined with the Tinkercad App and either our Bambu H2D or P1S to complete a range of short term original projects such as the one shown above - with a thirty minute print time and a $0.35c price point using regular PLA.

We've also starting exposing students to using AI in a positive way as a filter - by taking the Tinkercad design of students, AR/VR the design and then posing with a photo, of the design before the final touches are applied using a filter, in this case Pic Collage however of course Chat GPT is also a viable alternative.

In the example shown left the 'hearts' featured in the design is the 3D CAD Design via Tinkercad.  It has then been projected into the arms of the student who is on the slide in the playground.  Of the playground the only part of the image that has remained is the slide and the poles either side of it.  This is the same slide that was featured in another range of AR/VR work that featured the Ooshie stand although in this example the background was completely different.

We also have set our students another design concept or challenge one that involves the school laser cutter.  Our senior students (Year 7/Year 8) have their Design Education Production (DPE) and as part of it produce this Monster Box.   the print has space for an insert and so the challenge for our students is to use their 3D Design skills to create something that can form storage or an inside of a box.  It needs to be obviously measured accurately and carefully.

It could potentially used to store smaller objects and items (currently thinking is based around jewellery, Ooshies or earrings).

Our students have the MDF chest and will be again using Tinkercad, the Tinkercad App and their iPads for the design.

Finally we're always encouraging the students to bring in objects that we might be able to personalise or adapt not just because they make interesting projects but we also have in mind our upcoming School Market Day (which will be held next in 2027)

One such project under consideration is the moment in replicating this rugby kicking tee - as it is plastic it is close in composition to PLA however the students of course have realised that they can produce their own kicking tee with their individual players name - designed into the side of it.  Further updates for all of these projects will follow.