3D Printed Super Glow in the Dark

Previously we've used 'super' glow-in-the-dark filament for a range of projects - from making specific Night Lights and associated projects for the School Market Day.   We have also posted about using the filament to create a 'wow' effect.   We recently ran a couple prints to get students enthusiastic and one of the ways that we did so is shown left.

This is another of the current run of Minecraft inspired Tinkercad designs, which had similar dimensions and details to a print recently featured on this blog

This will hopefully lead to this student and other students considering the role that the different kinds of PLA and filament might have on their projects and also what else related to this might they print.

This parrot shown left is another example of how the PLA use is leading design and creation.  In this example the student found the .stl for a generic parrot and wanted to print the parrot.  In doing so there is little design or creation involved in the 3D print but actually on this project it came in another way, in the form of the stand that the parrot is perched on.

In this example the student needs to consider the balance for the project (including the bird causing the wood roll to tip over) 

how the perch might be displayed or featured ?

what else could be added to this for a final completion? What works better to hold the print in place - hot glue gun? tacks? How can the cord be held in place? When it is prepared and ready how will it hang?

We also think there is potential for there to be a combination with this print and some simple electronics - there are small audio boxes available that are able to produce sounds, what if the student investigated bird chirping and was able to mount a small speaker on the print or somehow include it with the design on the bar? The current support for the bird is a basic light wood, would something heavier be more suitable?

The photograph left is the same parrot shown in the dark in photograph two.  In this instance the parrot has been AR/VR by the student using their iPad and the Tinkercad App onto a desk, in a process that can be completed by a single click with no additional green screening required.  This task has allowed both students to develop their design skills doing something creative and interesting and should lead onto other projects, possibilities and designs in the future.   As the students are both Y4 their have a considerable number of years to develop their skills at our school moving forward.