3D Printed Christmas Design

 

Challenge: To produce an original, unique Christmas themed festive design.

Background: We tend to start this process each year at this time building on what students have completed in the past as it tends to be a universal activity and as we usually like to print at least one print for each student we want to be able to complete it in a realistic timeframe.

As we previously mentioned we started the activity with an open challenge to students and this design came out as a result of it.  The student wanted to shape a face themselves and came up with this idea intending to modify it later but it was pointed out to them several times that the design of the face was very similar to a lego-man face, which the student was happy with.   The student who created this project is a seven year old working independently in Tinkercad with just the app and an iPad.

He was especially keen to work with the colour palette and while that wasn't available with the 3D Print at this stage did use the colours available to detail what he wanted it to look like.   The image shown left is the design, created using an iPad by the student who has then used the Tinkercad App and has AR/VR the design into different locations so he could see its composition and to check it.

Once the student felt that it met these guidelines the final stage was to opt for printing, which was completed using the Bambu H2D.

As this has now been completed the student is looking at developing this idea further as questions were posed to him about further detail that he could add.

The design was also put through a filter, in this case the Pic Collage, Magic Camera, Silent Night 2 Filter.  The results of this can be seen left.  

The entire process from creation, design to AR/VR and then filtering took a single block of school time (which was forty minutes).

Level of Difficulty: Medium - This student has shown several times during the year that they have creativity and excellent awareness.  They have used their iPad and Tinkercad to produce a number of outstanding projects such as the 'cyclops' series of prints.  They were also a key designer who has been responsible for a series of iPad and iPhone stands.

Size: The print in its original form measures 40mm across is 50mm long and the main part of the shape is 50mm high.  As a whimsical design to amuse and be hung from a tree these dimensions are correct.  

Cost/Price: The unit cost essentially $0.80c to make based on the now standard $30.00 NZD per 1kg roll of PLA filament.

Timeframe: This print took seventy minutes to print and was completed using the schools Bambu H2D printer for precision and speed to complete the project.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the student: The colour matching with a four nozzle H2D meant that the student could potentially have four different colours on the print and that is something that they could look into.   The design was amusing but could have had additional features, either for the student to go compltely lego themed or move in a different direction.