Misc. 3D Prints: Basic Designs - Further Development in 2021

Left: A recent variation of the 'name badge/name plate design'.   In this case the student decided to use a shout out/speech bubble as the background for the name of the person that it was designed for.    The design was a first for this student who was creating something independently (using video tutorials).   The basic design is low level introduction to 3D Printing. The design measured 170mm across and was 75mm high.   The width of the design was 10mm for the base and the lettering was 10mm further extending outside of the print.   The student is being challenged to produce/add to the print by using spray paint or other design aspects to complete the process.   One aspect of the design that could be further investigated in terms of use is to use the speech marks aspects of helping students with speaking prompts.   The time of the print is related to the use of the printer was four hours.   This was relative to the size - however the base of the speech bubble has a point to it as shown in the photograph, it will be interesting to monitor the length of time that it remains on the print.

Left: Another 'stationary holder' unit designed by a student who is developing their 3D Printing skills.   The student was wanting to developing a significant print and spend time decorating it and developing it further with the use of LED lights and spray painting.  The student designd a print that took thirteen hours to print, and there is an error in the design of the print - the tower at the front left has not been linked to the entire print, this means that this part of the holder will detach from the main print.   When the students has an opportunity they will break the tower off and then create an innovative way to connect it to the main print.    Otherwise the student has been wanting to print this for several weeks prior to be being completed.   While the design of the print is straightforward it has provided a link to more complicated and challenging prints.   This will be updated when the student has completed the decoration and presentation of the unit fully.

Left: Another variation of the basic design - this in particular is for a younger family member which was specifically designed with this in mind - however the biggest question will be over the lettering which would be more resilant if the lettering had been reduceded in height.

This project will require to an addition of painting and other decoration before it is completed.   It currently has dimension of 140mm across 120mm high and had a thickness (width) of 20mm.

 Further additions to this print will be made and documented.

Combining the 3D Printer and the Laser Cutter

One of the technologies that we have been always intending to integrate together has been the 3D Printer at the Laser Cutter.  At our school we are very lucky in addition to having mulitple 3D Printers we have a significantly large laser cutter at our school.   

One of the challenges that we have made to the students is can the laser cutter use MDF to cut and then we complete the project by using a 3D Printer to complete it.

This example has taken a theme that the students have frequently used and designed a stationary holder for the students work tools.    In this example the box has been made using the laser cutter and cut out of MDF.  The box shape has been designed to hold the students pen and pencils and the name plate then glued to the outside.  In the example the student has used a 3D Print of a name plate, one of the basic introductory tasks that the students complete when they first join the classroom.

The design in use can be shown on the left while in use.   The instructions for the plate printing follow very similar instructions that we have printed elsewhere on this blog, essentially following the badge/keyring/name plate template and instructions so we will note repeat them here.

One issue discussed with the student is how to finish the presentation - spray painting is the obvious example a layer of spray painting applied to the entire design would provide a seal for the MDF and in addition to this would combine both the laser cut and the 3D Print together.

This is a further development of a print that we have been developing and has previously been detailed on this blog.   The blog design featured a 3D Print that was a blue base - the intention with this has always been to use the 3D Print to produce the print but spend time creating and developing the art aspect of the print - spray painting it and adding additional features.    There are further elements to be added to this print before it is completed and it will be updated here further.

3D Printing and Adapting: Feedback

Challenge: For novice 3D printing students to create something unique

Background: Following on from the previous print on this blog the students concerned wanted to create a personalised 3D Print for one of the members of staff.   The staff member had particular design ideas and composition ideas that were bounced back between her and the students.   The group of students having successfully completing the design of the print were then able to repeatedly meet with the person that it was designed for and receive feedback about its composition and design.   This feedback was invaluable because it challenged the students to rework their design, check that they had completed the component pieces that were required and that their deisgn was sound.    One of the key elements in Tinkercad for 3D Printing is to group elements of an object and this group of students twice printed letter that was not group requiring it to be redone.   They also didn't think about the composition of the design, initially having universal lettering that didn't offer any variation as the final design did.

An example of not preparing the print correctly is shown on the left, as the 'McCarthy' part of the lettering is shown is disconnected from the main print.   This would have an extremely short timeframe before you would expcet to be considerable damage to the lettering.   

The intention in having the three different holes in the base of the design was to represent the three members of the particular whanau (family) that this is designed for.   This print needs to undergo further work with that being focussed on spray painting and some affects.   Again the person that the print has been designed for has specific ideas about this.

Level of Difficulty: Low - there are many versions of this project on this blog and many have been completed during the past few years, there is some difference, inclduding putting the holes into the design.   The students involved in this project were Year Five students who were working on their 3D Print on the second attempt.

Size: The final design was 100mm across, 80mm high and 10mm high.    The surname in the lettering was 7mm higher than the base and the Girls was 5mm above the base.   The subtle difference between the two fonts created a significance point of difference with the lettering.    

Timeframe: Two hours - about right for this print given that it was a two hour time frame.   Given the overall purpose of the print the size of the print was determined by this.    

What we would do differently: Nothing for this project.  It allowed a group of students to create something specific for someone who is able to given them detailed feedback about the print meaning the students were able to rework and adapt the print.