3D Printing Flying Challenge

 

Challenge: To use Tinkercad to create something that flies.   

Equipment Used: iPad, Tinkercad App, Bambu H2D, Bambu PLA (orange)

Background: At the end of last term (its the last day of the term one break in New Zealand, our students are going to be back this coming Monday in regular class) we set the students a challenge.   Initially we were looking at ways to create movement using 3D Printing.   The intention was to look at some basic movement and using either the 'motion' feature of the Tinkercad simulation including the potential for some basic wheel movement.    One of the students in the classroom, who is eight years old, wanted to make something that instead of rolling could be flicked.

The rational was that they could easily produce a disc and that this could be measured for distance based on the design.  After discussions with the teacher the student was able to produce a prototype (this is in the region of five minutes after the discussion).

While there are some elements that are reminiscent from the classroom project earlier this term that was a donut the student felt that it would be worth experimenting.    Now that the print has been completing from a teacher perspective thoughts have shifted to how can the students use this? What data might they be able to create? How might this data be displayed? If similar ideas are developed - what ways can another design be created to compare? (such as something with designs on both top and bottom of the design?

The next step will be putting this design in the hands of the students to ensure that they can develop their ideas, bounce ideas off each other and create some prototypes for comparison to think about whats next.  The focus will be on the data collection, how to measure it and what conclusions that the students can make from experimenting and working with the print.

Level of Difficulty: Low - this design was created in a short space of time by a student who is confident in their CAD design.  The shapes and the additions are all from the basic interface.

Size: The print measures 150mm diameter across.   The sides of the design are 40mm across and the design is 10mm wide overall,  The spheres that are across the top of the design extend upwards from the design up to 10mm.    

Cost/Price: The print in its current form uses 56g of filament to complete this print and that has a price point of $1.38 for the print.  As the intention is to complete several prints and then compare the size we would expect this to be adjusted accordingly.

Timeframe: Using the Bambu H2D on regular settings this print took four hours and twelve minutes to complete.

What we would do differently/Next Steps for the students: The data that comes out of testing this 3D Printed object is going to be important not only in terms of how it is collected but also how it is displayed.  There is a huge scope for this and also to consider how then this might be applied to Mathematics lessons and thinking about scale, flight and how an object might travel (including for instance altering the infill of the print rather than using simply the standard).  We also have some traditional frisbee for the students to compare this design to.

3D Printing - Projects that need revision

 

Challenge: To revise a print to ensure that it is successful.

Background: We've mentioned a number of times that this years students are two groups those who have experienced using their iPads and Tinkercad in the past year and a second group of students who are working for Tinkercad for the first time.

In this instance this design and print came from a student that 'slipped through the net' that is that it was printed on the assumption that it had been checked, that it looks at first glance to be a successful print however it is going to be used as a teaching point as it needs some adjustment.

The print shown here has some raised areas that are designed to be broken away - their is rafting that is located in two parts of this design.   The name 'Hazel' is raised 2-3mm from the base of the design and is not attached to the base of the design.   What this means, and can be seen from the following photo is that the letter will detach as it is not permanently attached.

The second area needing adjustment is the base of the design, as the heart that is on the top side of the print is not flat underneath the design.   Both these locations of the print contain rafting - which is designed to be broken away.

In essence the student needs to refine the design by firstly ensure that the name part of the badge is directly attached to the base of the design and not 'floating'.   Secondly the underside of the design needs to be flattened to ensure it is printed as a single piece.

In this example we removed the rafting under the lettering by taking each of the letters off and then using superglue (the teacher completed this, not the students) to reattach them to the print.   The bottom of the print is more problematic as removal of the rafting still means that both the heart and the oval are on the underside - and therefore it is not balanced.

Level of Difficulty: Low - we have talked and provided many examples of this kind of design in the past on how it is an introductory task for students to complete independently as a way to print a design to share that is practical and will have an obvious purpose.  There are many examples on this blog which you can search for by using the 'Search this blog' icon from the top right hand corner.

Size: The print as it stands is 135mm by 135mm and has a width of 5mm.   This makes the design quite large and would be typical of something such as a large keyring rather than a smaller badge.  One of the revisions of this design is potentially the size as it stands it could be described as 'over-sized' at present.   

Cost/Price: Using the software associated with Bambu Labs studio the print uses at present 88g of PLA for the print and this had a price point of $2.20.

Timeframe: The print as it stands including the rafting that is not required is six and a half hours.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students:   The print shown left and indeed the entire process and purpose of this print will be to hand it to the student show them how it needs to be refined and adjustments made.   The version shown left can be seen to include residue from the superglue from the re-gluing of the letters and also the oval that is above the name could be changed to include an alternative shape of an image.  

3D Printing with WoolyFil PLA V2

We've been experimenting with a range of PLA over the year but have previously posted about our excitement in discovering the range of WoolyFil filament and in particular the ability to essentially be able to recycle nearly all of 3D Printed material via a New Zealand company KiwiFil.

We have always been extremely careful not to endorse of promote anything to do with this site as we are simply trying to highlight what works for our students and staff however the values of being sustainable and also producing unique and interesting prints to capture the imagination of the students is something that we are very much always looking to achieve.

In the example shown above we have conducted another test print using WoolyFil Filament.   The print has been completed using this and the Bambu H2D.   The machine needed to have the PLA set to 'generic' rather than the automatic selected Bambu PLA that we are predominantly using.

We decided to produce this figure as the eyes were the only part of the print not completed using the combination of recycled PLA and wool blend was the eyes.

The contrast with the Suffolk sheep shown left was that this used a fair degree of regular PLA to complete for the feet and the face (although this was also recycled PLA).

This is a design that was sourced from the Bambu Lab Online portal by using the search phrase 'wool animal' to narrow down the elements.   While there were a very large range of potential designs the Elephant was selected as the print was nearly entirely completed using the WoolyFil Filament.

The print measures 60mm across is 50mm deep and 70mm high.   The print took three hours and thirty minutes to complete using the Bambu H2D.   The print used 24g of filament to complete this had a price point of $0.60.

As we have mentioned in the past while the students aren't designing the print the idea is to get the students familiar with the material, the concepts and the idea of using different PLA to encourage them to think laterally about the designs that they could use.

Tinkercad V Minecraft 2026 Project Summary

As we complete the project for 2026 we have recorded a short video showing the physical prints created by our students using their iPads and the Tinkercad App.

This has been added as the final slide at present to our 2026 Slideshow - you can click on the link here to view that original post or view the video directly below.   

A reminder that the students in New Zealand are on the second week of the school holidays and we will be returning to the classroom next Monday.
 

3D Printed Phone Stand - Adapted

 

Challenge: For a student, who is seven years old to independently create their own iPhone/phone stand.

Background: As term one has come to an end student were given various tasks relating to creating an item of their own choice.   This student decided that they wanted to create a stand for their cellphone to ensure that it had a dedicated and personalised space.

The student used their iPad and the Tinkercad design app to create the shape that they felt would work.   This task was one where it was straight forward to print it, and it was obvious that it would require some attention however it was going to lead the students potentially in another direction.

The design as it stands is going to require revision from the student.   Currently while the idea, the shape and the dimensions the phone itself needs to have a way to hook it into place or have it static as in basic testing it is sliding.   However - we have also taken some basic shapes of figures and placed them on the shape (which the student has stated is a couch) and tried it with different combinations.

This is similar to what the students were involved with last year when our students were involved in producing the furniture for the Dolls House - you can read about this detailed year long project here.

This is also potentially going to involve the resizing of figures depending on what it needs to interact with.  In the case of Lego sized figures the current dimensions are too large.

Level of Difficulty: Low at present.  This will require additional refining to meet the brief and be revised by the student who is working on the project.

Size: The print at present measures 130mm wide, 70mm deep and 60mm at the back of the design.   As noted this is going to need revision depending on a more refined project once the decision has been made.

Cost/Price as we are printing this on a Bambu H2D we are able to use the software with the printer (Bambu Studio Lab) to determine that this print as it stands uses 87g for regular PLA and has a price point of $1.75.   Obvious revisions of this print either upwards or smaller would adjust this price point.

Timeframe: This print took two hours and ten minutes to complete this print.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the student:   As evidenced by the photograph shown left if the student makes the decision to move in a Lego sized direction.   There is additional refiing for this design, such as details on the front, the seat or the bottom of the design.  If the decision is made to complete the print as a phone stand they will need to adjust it to hold the phone in place.

We have a significant number of examples with this theme here on this blog.  You can view examples from the past such as this example from 2023 here.  Further examples can be viewed here from 2024.

This was also one of our Market Day businesses from 2025 and you can follow their project and product here.   Finally you can of course use the search option on this blog which contains an entire volume of examples of projects based around this theme by clicking the link in the top right hand corner and using the keyword 'stand' or 'phone stand or iPad stand' as there are many more available examples.   All of these have been produced by students in range of seven to twelve years old using Tinkercad and their iPads.

3D Printed Stand with storage

 

Challenge: For student to create a unique, original and workable storage unit.

Background: This was an open challenge to students to come up with a storage idea that they could personalise and create themselves that was original.   The student in this case came up with the concept, the idea and the execution of the design.  This was completed by a eight year old student using Tinkercad working independently without any teacher input.   

The student used the Tinkercad App, the Tinkercad scribble tool for the skateboard design.

Level of Difficulty: Low - the student was able to do this in a short space of time because they were confident it could easily be completed.   There were some small issues to be resolved (see below) but the student was able to complete this easily.

Size: The main box that is the centrepiece of the design was 110mm wide, 125mm high and 20mm thick.  The insert into the top of the design was 50mm by 110mm.

Cost/Price: Using the Bambu Studios Software prior to printing we are able to determine that the print uses 122g of PLA to complete and this has a price point of $3.06.

Timeframe: On the regular settings for the Bambu H2D to complete this print the print took three hours and fifty one minutes.   The main storage area and the supports were printed as a single print, the student could have reduced the amount of support required by printing both of these separately and then gluing after completion.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students:

The student could have spent more time on the design on the Skateboard which is the centrepiece for the design.   The supports needed some attention - while they certainly tilted the design and had it on a clear slope, as shown in the above photograph the connection between them and the storage needed to be more robust.

As the storage is on an angle the student needs to experiment with filling it with different objects to see what works in terms of storage.   

We have started the process of the students examining and working out ways to complete and design hinges, bases and support and this is another design that would fall into this category.

The reverse of the box/storage currently doesn't have any decoration or design and this is something were additional detail could easily be added.

3D Printed Teacher Project: Earrings - Updated 2026

 

The slideshow, shown below, is the updated version of the earrings step by step guide to 3D Printing.  It was designed last year with its intention being it could be used to show a teacher how to work a classroom program or project from a very basic level moving forward.

It has now been updated, and will be updated with further material from 2026.

If you want to access a powerpoint version of this post you can do so by visiting the Facebook page which is associated with this page - this has powerpoint versions of each of the project work (such as the Minecraft Slideshow) you can access that page by searching for 3DPrintSchoolNZ or clicking on the link here.