Versa Studio Sign Maker - T-Shirts

 

We've posted many times about our senior students and their DPE (Design Production Engineering) program).   A recent group of students have completed their rotations and amongst this group of students we have a group completing their digital media projects with our amazing Digital Teacher, Mr Bloor.

These students have been working with our Versa Roland Sign Maker to complete their own T-Shirts.   Once the designs have been completed (an example shown left0 the sign maker then produces the image that is pressed onto the t-shirt.

It allows the students to be creative making something that can be highly personalised combining images and photographs of the students into a collage, scene or theme.

The other work that students are completing is the transfer mug.   While we have produced the entire sticker/illustration in the past and then applied it to the mug with our hot press.  However we have made a pivot change with this that we have ordered the stickers from a third party which allowed us to to combine multi colours and also create a sticker that is more robust than we are able to produce with our current technology.

There are a number of examples of this work on our blog - you can use the search bar, top right, to look for our senior technology projects.    We typically tag our Year Seven and Year Eight projects with the 'DPE' tag-line. 

If you have any questions regarding our senior technology program you are more than welcome to contact us and we can put you directly in contact with the teachers responsible for this part of our curriculum program.

3D Printed Projects in Action: Weekly Summary

 

Five and six year olds at Auroa Primary School are 3D Printing, well they are with the assistance of the experts in our classroom.   We are continuing to buddy up with a range of younger students and start the CAD design and creation process with these 'new' students.    Our students are taking on a mentoring role and starting with the basics.   The students are of course using Tinkercad combined with the Tinkercad App and either our Bambu H2D or P1S to complete a range of short term original projects such as the one shown above - with a thirty minute print time and a $0.35c price point using regular PLA.

We've also starting exposing students to using AI in a positive way as a filter - by taking the Tinkercad design of students, AR/VR the design and then posing with a photo, of the design before the final touches are applied using a filter, in this case Pic Collage however of course Chat GPT is also a viable alternative.

In the example shown left the 'hearts' featured in the design is the 3D CAD Design via Tinkercad.  It has then been projected into the arms of the student who is on the slide in the playground.  Of the playground the only part of the image that has remained is the slide and the poles either side of it.  This is the same slide that was featured in another range of AR/VR work that featured the Ooshie stand although in this example the background was completely different.

We also have set our students another design concept or challenge one that involves the school laser cutter.  Our senior students (Year 7/Year 8) have their Design Education Production (DPE) and as part of it produce this Monster Box.   the print has space for an insert and so the challenge for our students is to use their 3D Design skills to create something that can form storage or an inside of a box.  It needs to be obviously measured accurately and carefully.

It could potentially used to store smaller objects and items (currently thinking is based around jewellery, Ooshies or earrings).

Our students have the MDF chest and will be again using Tinkercad, the Tinkercad App and their iPads for the design.

Finally we're always encouraging the students to bring in objects that we might be able to personalise or adapt not just because they make interesting projects but we also have in mind our upcoming School Market Day (which will be held next in 2027)

One such project under consideration is the moment in replicating this rugby kicking tee - as it is plastic it is close in composition to PLA however the students of course have realised that they can produce their own kicking tee with their individual players name - designed into the side of it.  Further updates for all of these projects will follow.

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.

Senior Tech - Roland Versa Sign Maker

 

This is an update from a post that we made on Wednesday, detailing the use of the sticker machine, the Roland Versa Sign maker.    In this example from our Y7/8 students during technology (our DPE program) the students have used Gimp to create virtual images  which are then printed and applied onto the base of the machine which have been printed using the Bambu H2D.

The students were responsible for the design, creation and information displayed on the labels which were then applied as mini-decals on the side of the machine.

The full range of photographs and images from the work can be seen via the companion Facebook page for this site.  You can click on the link to the Facebook page here.

3D Printing and Technology General Projects

We have continued to publish a wealth of material related to our 2025 School Market Day - you can follow the posts via the Market Day tab, using the 'tags' from the search bar on this blog to track individual student projects.

We used a variety of technology to focus on the three elements that we were looking for with our students projects: innovation, creativity and personalisation.

Our students have completed their DPE projects in the latest cycle.  During this time students at Y7/8 completed a variety of tech related projects.  We have written about some of these projects in the past and included in these groups is the blue tooth speaker group.

One of the students recently used Tinkercad to create a box for the bluetooth speaker system - this print was then completed using the Bambu H2D Printer.   We have completed laser cut versions of this project previously a number of which are featured on this blog, you can view them here.

The print measured 150mm across and was 100mm wide and high.  Including the lettering the print took fourteen hours to complete on the Bambu.  There was minimal finishing and rafting with this project.

Heat Press - Mug Transfers

 

The students at Auroa Primary School who are senior Y7/Y8 students have the opportunity on Friday to complete projects during our school DPE program (which in other schools is known as manual or technology/tech).

We have detailed the opportunities for students on Fridays which includes cooking, laser cutting, art, sewing and digital design.   

For digital design one of the projects involves the students using a heat press (for mugs) in conjunction with digital design.

We have previously posting on this blog about using the heat press and the versa sign maker for the students to create unique and individual t-shirts - which you can read by clicking on the link here.

In this example students sourced images that they were passionate about from online sources and then arranged them in a way that appealed to them.   The stickers were then applied to the mug using a heat press and transfer machine.  The stickers were processed by an external provider to ensure that they met the standard to be reuseable.

Each of the students who creates this project is able to personalise it.    The final product gives an excellent finish that looks detailed and professional.

It is able to be used as a regular mug once the process has been completed and is 'heat' and 'dishwasher' safe.

You can read the details of the schools DPE program by using the search box in the top right hand corner and using the initials DPE (Design Production Engineering).

3D Print School - Ongoing End of Term 3 Projects

 

In New Zealand we are approaching the end of the third of four terms in our school year.   It is an extremely busy time we have our 2025 Market Day approaching in October, Term Four.  We have also a significant number of class projects and general 3D Printing projects going on.    We are documenting as much of it as possible at the moment, and on this blog - we have also after ten years created a body of work that includes the most posts now in a calendar year for this site.

We are still, as always, interested in making contact with other schools, student and teachers who are posting about similar topics.   We have expanded our online posting to include Facebook and are going to expand out digital footprint in a number of ways.   

If you want to directly contact us you can do so by emailing myles.webb@gmail.com or visiting Auroa School Website.

An example is shown above left.   Thingiverse was used to download a generic public domain .STL design cake topper.   Tinkercad was then used to personalise the topper by adding an individuals name between the rods that connect the topper to the cake.   The design was then printed on the Snapmaker and took three hours.   The print was 5mm thick, 140mm high and 90mm wide.

We are continuing with our classroom challenges, where our class of 25 students are given a design task to complete.   Although the task can sometimes vary the usual progression is a challenge, a design in Tinkercad, followed by a VR/AR test, and finally test prints of selective project before revision.  We have recently documented this process and project with a basic 101 slideshow which is aimed at beginning teaching and delivering something to the classroom.   We would also like to point out that this is being completed by the four printers that we have school wide, our three Snapmakers and our Bambu H2D.

The earrings shown here are a final version measuring 60mm long, 30mm across and being 5mm thick.   The print time on the Snapmaker was 45 minutes - we also tested these with inserts to ensure that they hang well and that the prints have a small wow about them, in this case the print has been completed with glow-in-the-dark filament.  You can read further details about this process and view the slideshow by clicking on the link here.

DPE is Auroa Primary Schools Tech program with a range of rotations for the students.   During one of the blocks students use the School Laser Cutter to complete a bluetooth speaker which is then embedded into an MDF speaker box.    The students then have the option to personalise or create a unique project.   You can read further information about some of our projects here, or click on the link here to view some of our ideas from previous years including some of our students unique and creative designs.

Anyone wanting to travel to our school and witness this program first hand or contact our DPE teachers directly can do so via the email above.

Our Principal has set a challenge to our students to create a unique trophy for the end of year prize giving.   In this instance one of our class students (who is eight years old) has been working on a design, the latest version of which is shown left.   

There is a significant degree of precision in this project as ultimately the intention is to present a permanent trophy to our prize giving students, and is currently undergoing its fifth version as the student is meeting repeatedly with the Principal to look at options.

Currently the latest version is being produced on the Bambu H2D and is taking three and a half hours.   The print is measuring 120mm across is 120mm high and 5mm thick for the top and 80mm thick at the base.  You can view more details on this project by clicking on the link from its inception here and see further progress here.

Market Day 2025 is approaching fast.   Each student in our senior school (four classes) and our Y3/4 classroom has been divided into businesses of around four students.

Each business has been tasked with creating a product or series of products that has the key driver of innovation (one of our school values) and personalisation.    Although groups have varied a large number have opted to use our 3D Printers, laser cutter or sticker machine as part of the production process.   You can click on the tab located here or use the search bar top right to find projects tagged for our 2025 version of this event or look back on our last event in 2023.   We are more than happy to provide these ideas for you if you are a student or teacher for a school event.

Another of our class challenges is to produce a physical set of geometric shapes, labelled and identified as belonging to our school that could potentially be used to help students with their Mathematical shape identification

We have asked students to design eight of the core shapes, ensure that they are labelled correctly and have information on them.  You can read a more detailed description of the projects and see our first examples that the students have produced here.   Again this is a class run projects of twenty six students which we are attempting to complete while we also focus on our other projects.

As we have mentioned we are very much happy to discuss any of the projects that we have detailed here on this blog, we are happy to help out with anything if you want to drop us a line or need advice etc.   We have a number of students and teachers who have directly or indirectly contributed to this work and we can also put you in touch with the relevant person responsible.

Laser Cut Seniors Music Player Project

 

The seniors (Y7/8 at our school, 12 and 13 year olds) once a week have our DPE (Design Production Engineering) subjects including laser cutting.

Laser cutting involves using our school laser cutter as we have detailed in previous posts on this blog.  

As another group of our students are nearing the completion cycle of their work they have been completing their new range of designs.   An example shown left is this MP3 player.    The unit is housed in a MDF laser cut rectangular box.   The student wanted to include some personalisation with the design the first aspect of which is the ears shown and the placement of the speakers to give the impact of eyes.

At the end of the box the student took a photograph and used the laser cutter to burn the image into the wood.

The box measures 280mm across is 140mm high and 140mm deep.

The student designed the dimension of the box, carried out the laser cutting and then used wood glue to glue the joins together.

The box can be further stained for a finish.    Additional details could be added by using the school 3D Printers or sticker machine to add decals.

Previously we used 3D printers to construct the speaker housing, which you can view via a post from 2015 here.

Laser Cut: Storage Box

 

Challenge: Using the laser cutter to construct and personalise a storage box.

Background: This was created by a student who was working in our senior school with SketchUp and was creating an individualised storage box.  Our senior students are able to follow a series of flipped video content which allows them to follow a series of steps to construct the tabs to make the box.   When this has been happened the student then pops the laser cut design out of the MDF.   Following this the student needs to simply use PVA wood glue to hold the design in place until a time that the glue sets and the design is complete.   The personalisation of the design was completed by the addition of a area of particular interest to the person it was given to which was shown by being placed on the lid, as part of the design.

Level of Difficulty: Low this student was able to work independently by following teacher created video instructions.  The student was able to print the resulting print and independently put it together.  There was no teacher input provided to this task.

Timeframe: Five minutes to laser cut the design.

Size: box measures 160mm long,  was 80mm deep and 60mm high as shown in the photograph this produced a long thin box.

What we would do differently/next steps for the students: This print is ideal for producing something effectively and the laser cutter has the ability to decorate or personalise something.   There is a question of what additional parts could be added to this design, such as using the 3D Printer to produce a lock or a hinge to lock the lid in place.

Roland - Versa Studio Sign Maker BN-20 T-Shirt Project

One of the projects that we wanted to highlight was how we are using some of the additional technology at our school.

Our senior students who are Year 7/8 have one day a week when they take part in our School Wide Technology Program (called DPE).   We have a variety of options/electives on this day including some of the traditional lessons but we also include things like laser cutting and technology design.

One of the pieces of the technology used is the Roland Sign Maker.  This machine was used extensively when we had the Auroa School Market Day where it was used to produce a range of stickers that we used as labels for the marketing of the products that our students were then selling to the community.

Another use for this machine, but on a larger scale is to produce stickers or large adhesives that can be used as t-shirt transfers.   These can be seen in the photographs shown left.   The designs are created by the students using Gimp.

Once this is completed the designs are printed onto the machine and from here they are heat transferred onto a standard t-shirt.   The students of course have the control over the content of the T-Shirt and they can design areas, characters and aspects of interest that are personal or important to them.    We have contemplated also making school or team shirts or sets of shirts the same way as the machine would allow the potential for the shirts to be able to be completed to suit our individual, group or school needs.   The completed shirts tend to be of a comparable quality of those that might be purchased from a printing shop.

Once the transfers have been designed, created and printed they are then put through a hot press which steams the designs into place, the press being shown left.

Laser Cut Projects - Ongoing 3D Print Projects 2023

As mentioned previously students at our school have a variety of technology to use with the creation of projects and work.  We have an industrial sized laser cutter available for students to use.   We previously posted about the 2023 Speaker Project, where students were creating a box to house a USB/Blue Tooth Speaker.   Previously we had versions of these, which did include significant 3D Printing dating back to our first use of 3D Printers in 2015.

The student who saw the example of the Laser Cut AT-AT Imperial Star Wars Walker wanted to include an original design for his speaker and decided to use a 'plane' theme and design to house his speaker.

The control panel is just to the left of the cockpit - the speakers themselves site at the back of the plane above the back wheel - with one on each side.   The student has worked independently to produce the shape and the next step is to think about how he might refine or improve his design - can he use the sticker printer machine to produce decals for the wings/plane? Can he use the 3D Printer to create a working propeller for the front of the plane and wheels that work for the base of the plane? The students work on these projects as part of our DPE (Design Production Engineering) in a five week block once a week from 9am to 1pm.    

We have also had students begin the prototyping of next years projects.   The night light shown on the left is the early version of what the students may be looking at.    The frame for the night light is made by using the laser cutter to design it.   A scene is created for the inside of the design - while it is currently the African scene shown students could potentially modify this in a number of ways - by including different scenes or ones that are of particular significance to themselves.    The LED light that is shown to be green is a multi coloured light with a controller and is able to cycle through a range of colours by manually clicking a controller.

The base of the stand features the coiled rope for decoration and a further balanced stand which offers the opportunity to have additional decorations etc.   Again we would be potentially wanting our students to look to develop these projects further to add value, depth and designs to them to ensure that they are pushing themselves with their creation and making.

We are continuing to work on projects and complete work for the upcoming School Market Day.  While we have a classroom of Y3/4 students (who are seven and eight years old) they have all been tasked with creating one original 3D Print that could potentially be marketed and sold to our local community on this evening/day.   

For some of our younger students with their first attempts at 3D Printing while it initially can appear to be challenging once they have made an attempt the results for the students can be fantastic.  In this design on the left the student wanted to make a cow themed key ring or tag and was able to produce the following result on their first attempt.   We are working on a number of these projects in the background and will be posting them closer to the completion time.

Star Wars Themed Music Player AT-AT

Background: In New Zealand and our School the Year 7 and Year 8 students once a week have a technology day.  A lot of full Primary Schools like ourselves outsource this activity to larger schools in the area.   Our school has run our own internal program for several years.   In it the students are able to complete a variety of rotations one of which involves using the Laser Cutter.

In this instance the students create a box for a blue tooth radio music player.   In this instance the student concerned wanted to personalise the design - the music player needed to have space for the speakers and housing for the main components - the question to the student was if this was laser cut how might the 3D Printer be used to add details to the design.   The student is looking into creating authentic foot plates for the AT-AT, potentially adding details into the head of the AT-AT (such as the guns etc).   The design is able to stand up by itself.

This will be an ongoing project with details to come.

In the activity shown left the students have been working in a small group to complete a 'Marble Maze'.  This has included using the resources at our school such as the Laser Cutter, the sticker machine and the 3D Printer.   This is a major project that requires a specialised group to be working on the project for the duration of a calendar school year.   If you wish to learn any additional information and details about this project you can contact the teacher responsible (which is not me) and I will pass on their contact information and details.

Again the project is using a number of elements from different machines that the students have available.  We have various projects that are constantly evolving and developing and will continue to update them via this blog as appropriate.

Student Perspective on 3D Printed Speakers

This is a student created video and shows the process (entire process) involved in the creation of the Auroa Primary School Technology DPE Program Speakers. Theses speakers feature speaker covers that have been 3D Printed by the students, feet and handles designed and printed by the students. The student explains and shows her work from the entire process. You can view previous details of the project, including the 3D Printed aspects of it below: