3D Printed Name Design

Challenge: For a student with minimal experience to produce a customised name.

Background: This student had limited experience with 3D Printing and design although was in a class with a number of experts.  She wanted to design something that was simple, practical and could be used as an individualised personal gift.  To come up with the idea she wanted to use the letter tool from Tinkercad (the basic interface).

This was a simple design created by the student in a very short time frame - she did require some basic assistance from another student, which was related to the best way to link the letters, which has a chain effect but this was minimal.

Size: The letter is 20mm wide, 40mm tall and 5mm thick.  This allows the lettering to be posed and stand on its own.   Obviously the person had a name with three letters so the size was relative.

Timeframe: 55 minutes to complete the print

What we would do differently/next step for the students - nothing this was the novelty the student was looking for.

PLEASE NOTE: It is currently the school holidays in New Zealand - we will be returning to our regular posting schedule (ie more frequently) when school resumes in February 2023.

Junior Printing Resource: Original Design Updated

Challenge: To produce a 3D Printed object to assist students to count.

Background: We have been working on this print for some time, looking at ways to use a 3D Printer to create a unique resource to target counting of objects for our junior school.

Our original version of this project featured a caterpillar shape so that the students could focus on the numbers from one to ten.    The next part of the project was to identify a resource that could be used and applied to junior students who were using a number sequence to rote count and skip count in twos, threes and then other number combination.

The teacher concerned had identified some other aspects that she wanted.   With the original numbers from one to ten the caterpillar had a single foot with each segment.   The teacher wanted a pair of feet with the two skip version so that they would be able to count one on one to ensure that the skip counting could be correct.

In the original design the segments were 20mm by 20mm however these of course represented a single digit.  In the two skip count version the segments were 20mm across by their size increased to 30mm allowing the two digit numbers to be displayed.   

The intention is to also produce other skip counting versions in this series - with a three and five of particular focus.    We are now doing to deploy a set of these counting devices next year within a junior (five year old) classroom and have the class and students test and see how robust there is.

Size: The entire two skip counting version measures 290mm across and each of the segments are 30mm high.  There are of course 11 in total (the linking is responsible for additional length and a head is at the start of the caterpillar.    The junior school teacher feels that the size is perfect for the five year old class.

Timeframe: Four hours for the extended version.   We are viewing these prints as long term resources that we are expecting to have a high level of use.  We don't want to make the designs any smaller or less robust than they are and this will also depend on how they last in the classroom.   We believe they will last long term with constant use.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the student: The student who is responsible for doing this design has been constantly refining it under the direction of a (junior) teacher.   They have done an outstanding job of responding to feedback and specific direction from the teacher to resolve any issues that are apparent and to get the design 'right'.   This will be an ongoing project with input from the teacher concerned, the student who has designed the print, and the junior school students involved moving into the testing phase in 2023.

3D Printed Unicorn - Flexi-Animal

Challenge: To produce a working flexi-animal of a unicorn.

Background: This design has come from a student whose work has featured extensively on this site.  The student has consistently demonstrated innovation and creativity to complete these designs.   She has 'cracked the code' with regards to their creation.  Initially she saw the originals that featured in our 'market day" projects.  By linking a video via Youtube - that is from Eunny entitled 'Ball Hinge with Tinkercad' she was able to understand the engineering principal and process behind it.

The other issue is the location of the image for the animal.  The student in this case is using a free site - freesvg.org to locate images and then convert them into an .stl file.   Once they have been then imported in Tinkercad the files are then sized, and the linking is applied.

The student concerned here has the process sorted and is able to complete these prints in a very short time-frame to produce a professionally looking quality print.

Level of Difficulty - For the student doing this work it would be low however this is a skilful student who has shown ability and been able to produce a range of prints so if that is considered it is perhaps not as easily as it seems.

Size: The print measures 170mm across from the tip of the horn to the tail, is 100mm high at the shoulder of the animal and was printed 7mm thick.   This produced a print that was perfect for the purpose of a student or an adult holding it.

Timeframe: Two and a half hours, on regular setttings for the printer.

Next Steps for the Student/What we would do differently: Nil - this ticks all the boxes from the student input (which is 100%) to the design shape and functionality.   

Advanced Marble Run: Engineered Parts

Challenge: To create unique pieces for a marble run.

As part of our school we are always looking for extension activities for our students, sometimes created by our staff.   

One example is that in recent years our students have produce a pinball machine.  This machine has been full scale and is digital.  The parts of the machine have been made and engineered by students and each year the school has a Pinball Competition featuring the students, which is streamed on Youtube.    This is a major undertaking for our school 

The project which is the teacher is now involved in, which is estimated to take a year is a marble run.  As part of it there are are number of unique and individual parts that are being engineered.    The first of which is shown above.

The print is designed as a corner to allow a large ball bearing to drop down into another section of the marble run - this is a design from an adult which took eleven hours to print.   It will allow for a permanent part of the machine to be built, to potentially be modified using screws and tools.

The eleven hour time from is considerable however this part is unique to the design. The video below features the Pinball Machine - you can see the broadcast from 2022, which starts at the eight minute mark.  The competition proper starts at the twenty two minute mark.

Refining and Redesigning the Christmas Tree

Challenge: Students 3D Printed a Christmas Tree can they use the example and redesign it to improve its features and presentation.

We mentioned this design briefly - the student wanted to create a unique Christmas Tree design using Tinkercad and did so.   When they had completed it we got them to think critically about the final print, what they had produced, its dimensions, lettering and other details.   Our challenge to the students was how can this be improved? What can we adapt from this design?

The students first task was to look at the dimensions - the original was 60mm wide and the lettering as a result was clustered and hard to read.  By increasing the base size to 120mm the lettering could be doubled which made it much clearly and easy to read.   The other change was the presentation of the lettering.  

In the original on the left the lettering extended out from the print this lacked the clarity and detail which was achieved by placing the lettering inside the design as shown on the right.   

The original design was 120mm high the redesign was 140mm but it was the width of the design where the improvement in scale was made.

The link at the top of the design was significantly increased as well - we had the ability to have the original looped however we increase the size of it.   Finally the last aspect of it was the baubles.  

There was a consequence increase in the length of the print time - the improve tree took four hours to print which would be near the top end for this piece given the intentions of it.

Extension Student Project: Next Level Boxes

Box Shown above in profile

Challenge: Student wants a creative challenge that will extend themselves.

Background: The student has created a number of projects during the year and would consider themselves to be be a confident student who is capable of design and creation (it should be pointed out the student is an eleven year old).   For the final week of the school year they wanted to complete a project that would have a number of aspects to it.   The first stage with the box was to design the base as shown.   The challenge for the student was for the box to be personalised in some way and be able to have a clear purpose that it would be easily recognised as its main use.    The student opted to include their name on the side of the box and to include the name/title 'lollies' on the other side of the box.    The student wanted to ensure that the lettering worked in the best possible way so the lettering was sunk into the design, rather than having it stick out externally which at times can cause the lettering to fall off.

The student concerned was able to complete the entire design without any input from the teacher using their individual student Tinkercad account.   We have mentioned this previously but one of the reasons that we still use Tinkercad is the fact that the teaching interface/classroom organisation is exceptionally easy to use and effective.

Level of Difficulty: Low - its a basic design that looks impressive but the student was able to complete this without previous experience in box design or input from the teacher so that makes it the best kind of print.  The student was confident of the dimensions and the design and extremely pleased/proud of the finished product.   The next challenge for the student is to link this to a lid that is functional and fits perfectly with the base - this has been completed before but it increases the difficulty quite considerably.

Size: The base of the box measures 120mm across is 120mm long and is 40mm high.  The sides are 5mm think meaning that the box is quite robust and this, also considering the fact that the lettering is internal means there are no concerns about how strong it is.

Timeframe: Four hours to print on the standard default settings.  Given the intention/purpose of the box and what was required this would be correct - any scaling either smaller or larger wasn't really required.

Next Step for the Students/What we would do differently: We have already identified or targeted the fact that the success of the lid will be crucial to this design.  This will require exact measurements and a lid that interacts perfectly with the main box - in our experience as shown on this blog this is going to be a challenge...

Ongoing Projects: December 2022

 

Left - A basic badge design.   Its been covered so much on this blog we won't repeat the details again although in the past we've covered the simplicity of these designs from examples through to step by step tutorial videos.

This student is using these as Christmas tags for a family member, with the master complete its simply a matter of duplicating the same design and printing them off.  This design is 40mm wide, 20mm high and is 5mm thick.  The print time for this design is extremely short, forty minutes and works well given the size and the combination with the Snapmaker printer, wouldn't recommend doing this with an older machine, potentially you would look at doing a class set as an introductory task it wouldn't take long and you'd be able to mass produce them in quick succession.

Original Christmas Designs - are a focus for a number of students.   We have been challenging the students to complete these so they are unique (hence if you view the 'tree' to the left you can see that it is not balanced as one might expect with the sides), asking the students to create something that is personalised and unique.   The designs have varied but again the final print tends to be something that is not too large and hence has a realistic printing time.

The tree shown left is 70mm high is 45mm wide and 10mm thick.  The student has already been re-working these dimensions, they have not been satisfied with the results.   They have reduced the thickness of the design opting for a 5mm print and the lettering has been increased so that it will be more obvious with the final design.   The student is happy with the imbalance created and shown by the print as a result of which they have left that in the design to make it unique.

A current printing time of three hours has been reduced as result.

This is another present design - that is intended to accomplish the goal of creating a present label but in this case making the design 3D printed, with the intention of it to be later spray painted.

The student has worked on this with minimal experience with Tinkercad and this is their first individual, independent print,  They have forgotten to have an insert of a hole into the design to allow someone to easily insert ribbon into the design to attach it.   They also made it only 3mm thick and while this means that it works (just) it also is extremely thin, while it is not likely to break unless pressure is applied it could be broken easily.   The design measured 70mm across and was 60mm high as noted the thickness was only 3mm which needs to be addressed.

Left - the original Tinsel design.  We have seen many versions of this print since it was first created.   The student simply used three sphere shapes, a ring (which then was joined to the main design).  To get the affect of having tinsel on the design the student used the 'scribble' command.  All of these are available via Tinkercad.   The total design time took under three minutes, independently, the print which was 70mm across, 60mm high and was 10mm thick.  This was a combination that worked perfectly and has inspired a range of variations and copies from other students who have subsequently created their own versions.  

3D Printed Mini Cactus Holder/Tray

Challenge: Student wanted to create a unique holder for a cactus cutting.

Background: The student wanted a simple design, they had started to develop an interest in cactus growing and had started to propagate various plants.  To do so she wanted to be able to create and make a mini version of a pot plant holder to grow small versions to establish the plants.   Obviously this design would be easily accomplished so after further discussions with the student the student decided to add their name to the work, ensure that there was potential drainage for the propagation and create a dish to go with the design so that any excess water would be confined.    As a teacher the size of the project proved to be a bonus as it had a very reasonable print time for a two stage print, under two hours.

Level of Difficulty: Low - this was created in a series of simple steps by the student using Tinkercad and was produced quickly, other than challenging the student for additional details the print was perfected essentially on the second time that it was worked on.

Size: The plate measured 50mm across.   The contained was slightly smaller at 40mm and had 10mm thick sides and was 20mm high.   To identify the print the student sunk their name into the side of the print so it did not require any additional printing.

Timeframe: Given the dimensions the print came in at under two hours.    The student is planning to resize the print on the basis that this will be too small, however it would also appear from researching online that these dimensions would not be impossible to start the propagation process (and at some locations are suggested) so we will have the student start the process and modify the size as needed.

Next Steps for the Student/What we would do differently: As noted size and potential to use this to scale up suitable for other plants, other than cacti.   Given the dimensions this would potentially work as a class project - given that you could produce a range of prints for a class and it wouldn't be impossible to do so given the time scale.