3D Printing: Junior Classroom Challenges

 

Challenge: To create a unique holder for a pencil sharpener.

Background: This term has just started.   To introduce the students again to Tinkercad and thinking about CAD design and projects we started with the earrings project described in a series of prints which are featured on this blog.   The next step challenge for students who have completed these is to make a pencil sharpener holder.   We have had students attempt this challenge before, some of the results of which you can see from projects such as this and this.

The teacher of the class is always looking for objects which can used or help with 3D Printer Challenges.   One in the past that has been successful was the purchase of pencil sharpeners from a local dollar store.  These objects, shown in the picture below, are typically able to be purchased for a small amount of money.

These items tend to wear really quickly, as you see from the example left.   The idea here is to create a replacement piece to work in conjunction with the pencil sharpener, to ensure that it can be still be used.   
The print shown here on the left is the first draft of a print by a student who could be described as capable.  She wanted to have a double heart to help with the design.   The consideration with the object is to ensure that there is a suitable hole for the inserting of the pencil and also for a exit hole for the pencil sharpening to exit.   

This is an ideal task for a classroom of students to complete in a relatively short space of time as the casing does not need to be particularly large to complete the task successfully.

Level of Difficulty: Medium - although the size of the object is not particularly challenging some of the fine details can be - the students need to balance between having the object housed successfully but still have it functioning.

Timeframe: This is where this challenge stands out to become manageable, the example shown in this post took forty minutes to complete printing, and with some minor adjustments (see below) the task is complete.

Size: This example consisted of a design that was 20mm high, was 60mm across and had walls of the design that were 5mm thick.

What we would do differently/next steps for the students:   The pencil sharpeners came in range of shapes with the rectangular ones being the ones that the students were the most confident in designing.  This student undertook to use a heart shaped object because she felt the challenge would be better but the obvious part of this is what is the purpose of the second heart shown in the design and to consider how it links to the main part of the design? Is it needed or should the student remove it?

Ongoing Student Projects: November 2021

 

Left: We have a group of boys in class who have a particular interest in MotorX and Dirt Bike racing.  To engage them with the use of the 3D Printer in the classroom we used Thingiverse to locate some 3D printed practical parts for the motorbike - in this case it was an exhaust plug.   While usually students need to develop something original to use the 3D Printer this was a good positive example which I felt the students would be able to replicate and adapt depending on the size of the print.  We found an entire range of accessories on Thingiverse - more so than available on Tinkercad.   Students are now adapting the designs to suit their own bikes.

Left: As detailed extensively on this blog we have another group of students who are using commercial engravers rubber to combine with the 3D Printer to create a series of stamps that are unique to local clubs, organisations and the students themselves.

These projects are ongoing with the intention that the students will be capable of running the entire projects from start to finish.

This is another independent project with a particular person in mind, or having the object designed for.  This was started prior to a COVID-19 break and the idea is to have the project completed before Christmas as a family gift.

The students have experimented with combing three seperate prints together to form one complete print, with three aspects to it.   There is intended to be no input from the teacher and the nine and ten year olds are currently on schedule to complete the entire print themselves.  In this instance the person the print is for is being very particular about its design, forcing a number of reprints from the students.  This has been a very positive experience as it is forcing the students to consider someone elses input and direction and then having to adapt their print as required.

Summary of Classroom Projects

This slideshow is a summary of projects that are School/Classroom related. They include a brief description and a link to the original post on this site.