3D Printed Cookie Cutter V3.0

 

Challenge: For students to create a original, unique cookie cutter with a 'festive' theme.

Background: This challenge was undertaken by the students prior to the end of the 2025 School year here in New Zealand.  The challenge was using the idea for the students to design a cookie cutter that could be used to create the festive themed design shown left.

The student used the basic geometric shapes to create the image of the tree and used the scribble tool to design the base of the tree.   The handle to press the shape was created using two layers of geometric shapes, cylinders and rectangles before the final layer in place consisted of another cylinder and finally a ball at the top.  

Although this sounds somewhat complicated the student was an eight year old student who was able to work independently to complete the task.  

Level of Difficulty: Medium - this task was able to be completed but the elements needed to work in conjunction with each other.   The other issue is the size, although this would appear quite large (see below) the students would be better suited for a larger item than a smaller one.

Size: The print measures 190mm high and was 140mm wide.   The print was 10mm thick/wide for the sides.   The handle extended 100mm from the base of the design.

Cost: According to the Bambu inbuilt software 54g of filament was used to create this print and and the cost of the print was $1.35.   

Timeframe: This print was completed in ninety minutes using the Bambu H2D on the standard default settings.

What we would do differently/next steps for the students: Although it isn't obvious there is a design aspect of this print that needs to be addressed.

As shown clearly left there should be on the underside of the print a 'blade' or 'cutting edge' that was created by having an additional ledge added to it (as it stands at the moment it cuts by squashing.   The other issue was the detail of the design that went with the shape.  The theme was festive and the student made a wise choice choosing such a simple image - however it was clear that they could have used more detailed layering to show the levels of the tree and the base in particular looked quite basic.

There is also the potential for the idea to work in other formats in particular with a stamp or something similar.   This design was a previously visited print and idea.

You can click on this link here to find out additional information about this print challenge for the junior students. To view additional projects related to this topic you can use the search bar top right and use 'cookie' as the keyword or you can click on this link to see further examples from 2025.

3D Printing Junior Challenge: Introducing Scribble

This is the third in the series of recent 'Cookie Cutter' class project work.   School in New Zealand has now broken for the school holidays, we will be back in person in February, in the meantime we will be revisiting all of our 2025 project work and we have a range of prints and projects from the year which we we will be posting.   As always if you want to get in contact with the teacher who runs this blog you can do so by emailing him at myles.webb@gmail.com.

Challenge: For students to create an original, unique and working cookie cutter suitable for use.

Background: We have detailed this process over the past two days, detailing how the original inception and idea featured a tree shape.  

As the students started developing ideas a clear next step was going to be using the 'scribble' tool present in Tinkercad.   When selected with the students iPads it allows students to be able to freely draw on a seperate design page then bring this straight into Tinkercad.   This allows the students the ability to create a range of shapes and designs and the students have proven increasing adept at developing their skills to use this to produce different ideas.   In the case of this challenge the students started looking at traditional ideas and shapes associated with Christmas and then experimenting with them.  

Having already identified that early prints lacked a handle and tended to be too thin this student wanted to make sure that this print addressed both these potential issues.

Level of Difficulty: Low - this is a straightforward design that took the students a few minutes to independently produce as a eight year old.

Size: The print is 90mm wide 70mm high and has sides that are 10mm thick and 10mm high.

Cost: The print has a PLA use of 13g and an associated cost according to Bambulab of $0.31.

Timeframe: The print using the Bambu H2D took 38 minute to complete.   This makes this project an excellent challenge based around the concept of printing a class set or a large group of prints as the timeframe makes it somewhat realistic (with our classroom we are attempting to complete the entire run using a single printer over the course of a week at school)

What we would do differently/next steps for the students: The run of prints in this sequence were based around tree designs, this version was the first 'scribble' tool designed version and it was printed as it was intended to share with the students a different approach.   The handle while it is functional needs some more refinement.   The student also has created 'sections' for the hat that are quite distinct.  In testing when the students use the cutter to cut through the play-doh if the students cut right through it does not leave a single piece, but it leaves the design in two distinct sections - so the students need to engineer a solution to be able to  press it trough some of the way, but not completely through so the shape remains intact.    

This will be updated with further versions of this print later.   You can also see the 2025 Christmas themed slideshow featuring ten years of different Christmas Designs and Challenges for students by clicking on the link here.

3D Printing Junior Challenge: Cookie Cutters Revised

 

Yesterday we wrote about how we had attempted to develop the students skills by developing the challenge of creating a suitable 'cookie cutter' task.   The first example came out, being the print shown left.   We were then able to give the students the opportunity to test the print by applying it to Play-doh to check the imprint.

The initial print quickly proved to be lacking in details and was somewhat difficult to push into the play-doh.   The student responsible for this design then spent time looking at what they needed to do to improve the design and make it effective.  There second version of the print is shown left next to the original.

As we described yesterday the original was 50mm across 90mm high and 3mm wide.   The revised version was 110mm high 60mm across and 10mm thick.   The original took fifteen minutes to complete the revised version was forty five minutes on the Bambu H2D.

We also detailed a significant development with the design shown left that was a virtual design from the previous post.   This example was also printed on the Bambu H2D and took seventy five minutes.   This version (which features a significant handle 160mm high, 60mm wide and 20mm thick.

Observing the play-doh (left) while the shape of the tree can be seen from the imprint of the cutter the student has indicated that they potentially would like to develop the dimensions further.   Technically the star that sits on the top of the tree is too big for the design.

This project has been worked on by seven and eight year old students working with their iPads, using the Tinkercad app and printed on the Bambu H2D. 

3D Printing Junior Challenge: Cookie Cutters 2025

 

Challenge: For students to create an original, unique and working cookie cutter suitable for use.

Background: Its the final week of school in New Zealand prior to our summer break.  During this time we are trying to complete our end of year projects across the curriculum and we are also producing a range of designs that we are potentially publishing, printing and creating during the holidays.   One of the things that we have done is revisit some of the other successful projects that have featured on this blog and used the blog itself as a resource.

We were producing versions of these back as student projects as early as 2016 which you can see via this link.  We have also revised designs like this again in this post in 2019 and in 2022 we summarised our Christmas themed cookie cutters in the shape of Santa's sleigh with this post.

We also have gravitated towards projects that are realistic for the students to complete in a short space of time.  At present time with the main printers with the school is at a premium.   There are a number of classrooms using the machines and they are available and their use is encouraged for everyone.

We have a number of complicated projects due for the Bambu H2D while we can complete a project like this using the older Snapmaker machines.

One of the issues for the students to overcome is that they have already started designing these cutters but having only one edge to them and not thinking about the entire design.

We are going to allow the students to access some Playdoh with the intention of allowing the first designs to be physically printed.  This should allow the students the ability to look at the designs that they have made and consider what they might be like when applied in a cookie situation.   Some of the designs at present have a range of shapes that are separated by a solid line, which will in some cases not leave a shape but instead a series of seperate objects.

Level of Difficulty: Low-Medium.   We have used this as a basic level entry task in the past, while we are finishing off this year we would like the students to design and create using their iPads something that they could use and could be practical for the end of the year.  There are a variety of designs but the brief has been deliberately left open to the students interpretation.

Size: In the physical print shown top left the student has designed the cutter to be too small.  It is 50mm across and 60mm high in total, including the star.  Some of the subsequent designs are clearly bigger - however the student response to this was quite clever as this design fit the criteria for our recent Christmas Cracker Challenge - so it was transferred to this!

Cost: The sample is costing $0.20.   This is low for a general print however this is one of the benefits of this project.  Students need to also consider when using the cutter how much force can be used.

Timeframe: The example shown at the top of this post took fifteen minutes to complete on the Snapmaker, had the Bambu H2D been used then this would have been expected to be half of the time.

What we would do differently/next steps for the students: This print has a long way to produce a finished product.   The testing phase of the prototypes which the students are now moving onto as usual will be crucial to the students overall success with the project.   The designs should also move on from the basic tree design that is currently being focussed on.

3D Printing: Cookie Cutters Revisited

Above: Example from 2016

Challenge: For students to produce an original and personalized for a Cookie Cutter.
Background: This task has been completed in various forms, which have previously been detailed on this blog.  In the past the students have created an original 3D Cookie Cutter design from scratch reflecting an interest in of theirs, such as the Cookie Cutter detailed in 2016 based around Golf.   We have also had creations based around animal themes of 'Cats' which was designed and published in 2017.    We have also focused on a  beginners 3D Printing tutorial from converting a silhouette which produced a 'Cow' Cookie Cutter.    This example is for a market day that our students are participating in coming up later in the year.  The students have to run a business in the form of market day.   One group of students from the classroom are producing a 'Cookie' business and as a student in the group has a strong interest in Dinosaurs.  As part of the process we went online to establish an online example that the students could use, print out and design.   We performed a simple Google Search using the key phrase 'Dinosaur Cookie Cutters'

which produced several pages of examples.  We were wanting to produce a reading made .stl print to run one off for the students.   We located an example on 'Thingverse' of a three piece Triceratops Dinosaur Cookie Cutter - this provided us with the .stl file to run through our printer.
Level of Difficulty: Nil - we wanted to provide a pre-made example for our students so were simply looking for an example that we could print that was available to use as the inspiration of our students to produce an original.
Time frame: Three and a half hours - it was a design sourced from a third part therefore the dimensions of the design, print time etc were already pre determined and we had no input into that, it was simply to provide an example.

Above: Cat design from 2017

Size: Its slightly larger than it might appear the two main body pieces are 150mm across and 75mm high.  Again as we've stated this came as a finished product that we simply ran off without design on our students part, the purpose being to provide an example to act as inspiration.
What we would do differently: Occasionally examples that are already created are shown to our students as an example as something to build or work on and then deconstruct it from there.   This is providing a hands on example for a group of students who need hands on example to inspire them.  The Cookie Cutter works well as we are producing an outline so the print time is not too extended for the students to produce something and it has a use as a tool.

3D Printed Movember Cookie Cutter

This variation came through Twitter today, combining an idea from a post on this blog to include it as part of the 'Movember' (New Zealand Prostrate Cancer Awareness) idea.  Great stuff Nathan.

Expected Print Time: Depending on Nathan's set up, nozzle size and PLA Filament in use we would expect this print to run in the forty five minute timeframe.

Thoughts: This will allow a group of students potentially to be exposed to 3D Printing, the print time is extremely realistic given the task and its a fantasitc idea to link it in with a relevant fundraising cause.   

Y2 3D Printed Cookie Cutter

Completed Design - Rafting to remain as part of design

Challenge: Looking to engage a Y2 student in a project it was decided to use 3D Printing to involve him in the creative process.   The student was able to select the image for his 3D Print which was then converted with the intention of it becoming a cookie cutter.
Background: The process that was used for the project came from this site, with the steps described under the 'beginners guide to 3D Printing'.
Level of Difficulty: Low - the student was six years old, so the conversion of the SVG file for its import into Tinkercad was conducted by an adult as it was felt that the student would not be able to do so independently.   (It should be pointed out that he was not given the opportunity and probably could have done so with instruction).  If you look closely at the design you can see the top left hand ear of the cat is in fact slightly seperated, ideally the original design would have a slightly thicker outline to allow for a thicker print.
Size: Strictly speaking for a cookie cutter this is quite a big design being 10cm across and 20cm high.
Timeframe: Four Hours - again as has been repeatedly stated we are now using a 8mm nozzle.
Process: An image on a google search, converted into a SVG file for an import into Tinkercad.  This was then stretched from its original flat design into a shape that would allow it to be used as a cookie cutter.
What we would do differently: The rafting was delibrately left on this print to help with the pressing of the print into the cookie dough.   As noted the width of the design ideally would have been slightly greater width of it to make the design more robust, however the creator was extremely pleased with it, including as a reason the fact he could make really big cookies from it.  

Beginners Guide to 3D Printing: Cookie Cutters

3D Prints: Student Improvements and Refinements

Above: Token Box version 2.0

Above: Token Box with tokens.

When the students start utilizing the technology they are showing consistently that they can improve designs that follow later in a sequence.

Already we've recently documented on this site projects such 3D Printed Student Token Box, since this print another two designs in the sequence have followed - the latest of which is shown on the right.

Above: 'Fish' Designed Cookie Cutter

The shape has changed considerably from a box like shape to a circular dish, also the lettering which was sunken in with the initial design has now evolved into having it standing out from the print.     The size and most other details contained with the original post are all still relevant and therefore we will not be posting this in its entirety.

There are a number of 'Cookie Cutters' currently in production.   The first of these was the 'Golf' themed Cookie Cutter detailed in a previous post.   Following this initial production a group of students have produced different themed versions of this creation, which have allowed the students to be creative and also produce something unique.  There will be a separate post on this material, featuring a range of student designs shortly.

Finally as previously described the students who are competing in the Junior Robocup Competition involving Lego NXT/EVO3 Robots have been utilizing the 3D Printers to create props for the performance.   Following the initial creation of a few props students have started to realise the potential of the machines and how to integrate them successfully.   The latest prop to appear is the sign featured to the right.  The sign design initially was created by having the students write onto cardboard and then have it sellotaped up.  Upon seeing some of the props that were being produced the students created this sign for the performance.   It was created by a Y5/6 student, using Tinkercad and the regular production process.  The sign is 15cm long, 12cm high and was produced on 'fast' setting over a five hour print.  The sign is requiring to be re-printed as the lettering was produced individually on a ledge, without rafting.   The lettering was put together individually and dragged out of Tinkercad and as a result isn't uniform in size.

3D Printed Cookie Cutters

The Print fresh off the machine

Challenge: For students to produce a working cookie cutter capable of producing cookies.
Background: The teacher was looking for a task concerned that would allow students to create a unique and individual piece, with a practical use, that would be allowed to be printed over a short time frame.  Previously I have seen numerous versions of this task based around the print time.
Task: Student to design and create a 3D model for a working cookie cutter, then convert the model to 3D printed GCode and then print the piece.
Level of Difficulty: Low.  While the shape allows for individuality and the student needed to print it in reverse this was an excellent introduction to 3D printing task that would produce something straightforward for the student in a short time frame.
Issues: None.  The first print run produced a working prototype.  The only considering on viewing the print would be the width of the cutter outline.  It was set to fast print setting and would appear to be not very robust in a couple of places.   Consideration would be given once it has been fully tested to expand the width of the print and improve its strength.

Reverse of the cookie cutter

Size: 20cm by 15cm with a depth of a centimetre.
Timeframe: Two hours on fast print setting - consideration for a 'normal' or thicker print.
Process: A straight forward print that followed the process outlined in task - the use of the item will determine whether the process needs to be refined.  As mentioned in numerous other posts the process of Tinkercad/Cura/Ultimaker2 was followed to complete the process and finish.  Again as noted on this blog, the students are anticipated to be refining subsequent prints in the series once the idea has been discussed and the prototype in the series has been fully tested and use.  This is anticipated to be the first print in a series of classroom items following this theme.
Recommendations: This would be a good introduction task for students to 3D Print.  It allows the students individualism with the design (this student is a huge golf fan) and above all the projected print time would mean it would be possible to print an entire class during the period of a week.