First 3D Prints of 2017: Name Plates #2

Design Two - shown to scale.

Challenge: For students to create an original 3D Print design (the students first 3D Print).
Background: This has been detailed in a previous post but with the New Zealand School year running from February to December this is the first project of new school year for a new group of students, their first 3D printing projects in the classroom.  One student designed the name plate featured on the 29th March print.   These two students were inspired by that to produce their own versions for thier first 3D Print.  
Task: Produce an original 3D print, with design from scratch having some purpose/use.

Above: Design One: - name plate.

Level of Difficulty: Low - this was the students first project and print and as a result the print was created using some of the default/basic settings on Tinkercad.   The students were able to produce something like this within a ten minute time frame.
Issues: None - both prints worked from the plan without any issues.
Size: Both prints were similar with their dimensions - 'Mum and Dad' was 80mm by 50mm with a depth of 20mm.   'Connor' had a length of 100mm by 50mm with a depth of 20mm.  On reflection both prints could have been a depth of 10mm and this would have had a considerable impact on the print time (see below). Timeframe: Design one 'Connor' eight hours and design two 'Mum and Dad' was a six hour print.
Process: The students first original designs, with the idea that this will act as a springboard to more detailed projects.   It was an introduction to show the student what would be possible.

3D Printing - 'join' challenge 2017

Above: the laser cut wood with holes

Challenge: Set by our school Principal the students were asked to create a 3D printed join to link together two pieces of wood manufactured by the schools laser cutter.  The task was relatively small in design and size however the design had to be specific to link the two pieces of laser cut wood at a right angle, and had to fit the specific hole detailed right.  This was also the second outright task this group of students had completed having the previous name plate.

Above: Original design on the right 

Background: For the school year (2017) the school has purchased a new laser cutter.  The idea is to integrate this machine with the schools 3D Printers to produce material and projects that use both.   Having just started the school year the tasks are relatively basic but reflect first use of the printer.   As a reminder the Ultimaker 2 printers at our school have been upgraded to Ultimaker2+ which is reflected in a faster than expected print time.
Task: Students were supplied with the wood, with the inserted holes cut into the wood.  This allowed students to determine the shape and design of the 'join'.  The first print on the right was created without an attempt to measure the join, therefore the students were estimating without measuring.  The second version was designed with measuring as part of the process, the students grasping the concept of measuring and then transferring the measurements to the Tinkercad program.

Above: joint featured in the 

Level of Difficulty: Low - it appeared straight forward, however this task was slighly more complex than it seemed as the 'join' did not fit and required additional work.  As well as this the base of the 3D print left some residual PLA while this was normally not an issue in this case it prevented the join from being able to fit into the hole for it.
Issues: As noted as the fit was extremely tight anything that would create additional material would hinder the fit.  The extra PLA at the base of the join caused it to require sandpaper to remove it.
Size: This varied depending on the print run.  The first was 2cm by 2cm (as shown).  The reprint was 1.5cm by 1.5cm and this completed the task as expected.
Timeframe: There were eight protoypes that were printed in one go - a combined time of 90 minutes.
Process: This was a challenge that was set by the Principal of our school as a follow up to the name plate challenge.  Students were supplied with the wood for the join which they would eventually use to measure an exact size.
What we would do differently: This was again a simple introductry task that relied on the students ability to create and problem solve a practical task, it reinforced the students to measure accurately and then translate this measuring to 3D Printing.