Pre-Stencils to Enhance Original Prints

 

We've been experimenting recently with a range of stencils for the students to use to enhance their 3D Prints.  Its a way to ensure that a creative and interesting print can have added layers.

We've already featured on our blog this year a number of examples of students completing a design and then having the final result spray painted (note this is not done by our students!).  The actual stencils themselves we haven't previously featured however this is what they look like.  They were purchased online from a significant online retailer.   What we have already discovered is that some are more successful than others - however we have also realised that we could use the 3D Printer to produce our own version of these.  We did this earlier in the year with our 'name stencil' 3D Print design. 

The obvious next step from here is to look at the images that have been produced and create an original stencil from that - the students had an 'aha' moment as the recent activity to import an SVG file into Tinkercad which our students created using pre-made images.  By combining the two activities together the students will be able to produce their own working stencils that will be able to replicate a range of animals.

The challenge (as always) will be selecting shapes that will realistically work as a stencil, in combination with the technology.  

Spray painting has been used for a number of projects in the past, featured on this blog including examples like this from 2021, this example from 2022 or this project from 2024.  As always you can use the search bar on the top right hand corner of this blog and use the keyword 'spray' locate additional posts.