3D Printed Flexi-Animals: Juniors

Challenge: For students to create an original flexi-animal

Background: Previously one of the students had produced a long series of flexi animals that were featured on this blog.   The student is still present at our school, as a senior and we looking for ways for her to pass her skills on other students including the Y3 and Y4 students (seven year olds and eight year olds) in my classroom.

While the process potentially was a bit daunting by providing flipped video content (which we intend to potentially to make available to the wider community) the students were able to follow a process.   The process was a little complicated however the end process as shown in the photographs with this post are considered to be extremely successfully, with a student who is a Y4 student able to independently produce a range of prints.

A rabbit was chosen by the student for the first attempt and also allowing the student to question their design, the second version is shown to the right, so the student was able to complete the first print, evaluate it, discuss it and then look at creating the second print shown next to it.    Details changed included the adding of linking into the ears and shortening the distance between the links.

Size: The print is currently standing at 100mm long, has a main height of 50mm and a height from the foot to the ears at the front of 100mm.   The current design has been made 10mm thick.    

Timeframe: Two hours - there is some potential to modify this slightly however the basis between the size of the project, being able to play and manipulate the pieces and have the shape retained.

Level of Difficulty: High - this is not for the faint hearted.   The details of the print and the ability to have the joints and the sockets is something that took the students several attempts to master involving repeatedly referring to the videos that had been created and also sought the advice of the student who designed the original series.

What we would do differently/next steps for the students: The student is keen to continue to refine this basic (rabbit) design and then move onto other more challenging animal shapes.  She wants to further refine her linking until she considers that it is mastered.   This is an ongoing challenge for her (and a small group of students in the classroom as it is providing a viable opportunity to print 3D originals at a reasonable and creative level).

3D Printed Keyring - Extending students with challenges

Challenge: To develop and improve on a students original design 

Background: This student was previously in the classroom, she has been independently working during a 'genius hour' type program of working.  She decided that she wanted to revisit some of her 3D Printing ideas and projects from last year.   As part of this she looked at creating a key ring that had more detail to it than some of her previous efforts.   As a Y7 student who is eleven years old she was able to create and design the project herself and undertake the printing.

The teachers role in this situation was simply to give the student feedback on her design and look at ways that she might improve it.   The dimensions of the print where as such that the print time was just over half an house.

In the first version of the print, shown left, she had designed the guitar with only three strings, and the dimensions while charming were not as accurate as they could be.   It was unknown as to wether or not the strings themselves would be successfully printed as they were only 2mm or so wide.   There was no 'rafting' or waste plastic with this print it was able to be removed easily from the Snapmaker machine when it was completed.   

The student was then tasked with thinking about ways to make the print look more realistic and think about the design aspect of it, while still maintaining its ability to be workable as a key ring or similar item.

As shown left the progression with the design is clear to see.   This version featured five strings and further details like the ability for it to be tuned.   The student has been asked again to think about additional details to determine what else can be modified so that this print can be further worked on.

Details of the Project: It currently sits at being 80mm long, is 20mm high and only 5mm thick - the print time is coming in at under one hour (around forty minutes at present) and as mentioned this has been completed as a 'one and done' print, the teacher having no input at all into the process instead being simply guiding and checking with the student about any challenges or details moving forward.