Combing Laser Cutter and 3D Printing: DPE Highlights

 

We have posted previously about our senior students during our DPE program.    Our DPE program is our Year Seven and Year Eight program involving a range of programmes one of which is laser cutting.

One of the core tasks in the program is the creation of a 'Monster Box'.   This box is created by having it cut into sections, which when assembled and glue show the design left.   This is produced in MDF.   Once it has been completed students have experimented with a range of decorations.   In the past some of these have been spray painted but we have also had students use a basic stain to produce a wood finish.

The finish with the basic wood stain is shown left.   However the next stage is for the students to consider the designing of an insert to go into the box to allow it to be separated into compartments and then have this 3D Printed combining the two technology machines together.

The design of the Monster Box is something straight forward (and there are a multitude of variations available online along a similar design).   The inserts into the box was able to be produced by using the students design skills and create an insert which in turn divided the box into different sections.   

Boxes have been popular items for the students to produce overtime - so amazing examples using just the 3D Printers include this amazing example from 2017 an exemplar that still looks incredible today.   

The printing of the entire box isn't something that is realistic for every student to complete.  In the past we used 3D Printers to complete the speakers as part of our DPE program - but this was back in 2015 with the first classroom projects that we were printing with our seniors students.

Since then our use of technology has increased drastically as the machines that we have used for 3D Printing has improved.   We initially had Ultimaker Machines, followed by various updates and add ons before shifting to Snapmaker machines, until last year when we made the switch to Bambu.   In the case of projects in the last near year or so we can show quite clearly that the printing times have at least halved, the waste PLA is considerably reduced and the detail that the machines themselves are able to produce is continuing to show significant improvement.

If you wish to have further details about our school DPE program you can find them on our school website or email us and we can put you in contact with the teacher in charge directly.