3D Printed Festive Trees First Printing

 

Challenge: For nine year old student to create an original festive (Christmas) Tree.

Background: This task was the classroom challenge from the previous week of school - as we have posted about on this blog we've created virtual versions which we've AR/VR around our school and are now at phase two - selecting some of these virtual versions for printing to move the students onto the next phase of the design.

We posted on Friday about a larger version of this tree - this is the second smaller tree that was printed at the same time.   This version was not intended to be a super glow-in-the-dark filament tree however the opportunity came up to print it with this filament and decision was made to do so.  This design having not taken this into account had some specific detail that when the filament support was removed left some obvious pitting and damage to the tree (which is visible in the photograph).

The students response to this (that is seeing the physical print) was to redesign the print - this was completed with the version of the tree shown left.  You can see the visible changes the student has already made including reducing the 'clutter' around the decorations on the tree and introducing presents at the basis of the tree.

Resources that we needed to complete this print: iPad, Tinkercad App, Bambu H2D, Bambu Super Glow-in-the-dark PLA.

Size: The printed version of the design measured 50mm across at the base of the tree and had a depth of 50mm.  The tree was 100mm high from its base to the tip of the star at the top.  The addition of the boxes for revised versions of the print would not significantly increase the size of print as each is 20mm by 20mm and a box size and shape.

Cost/Price: The print that is shown left currently uses 70g of PLA to complete the print.   This would give the print a price point of $1.50c.  The revised version which includes the introduction of the presents would increase the PLA to 92g and would increase the price point to $.172.

Timeframe: To complete the initial print as shown the print took forty five minutes to complete.   With the revisions intended and already redesigned the print would take one hour and fifteen minutes to complete.   Other than under the tree there is very little rafting on this design - although the student wants to experiment with further designs aspects (again the tree decorations0.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: The design needs reworking based around what the physical print would look like.   We have experienced in the past the fact that the glow-in-the-dark filament is not as robust as regular PLA. The student is going to look at options moving forward in both regards.