3D Printed Christmas Design

 

Challenge: To produce an original, unique Christmas themed festive design.

Background: We tend to start this process each year at this time building on what students have completed in the past as it tends to be a universal activity and as we usually like to print at least one print for each student we want to be able to complete it in a realistic timeframe.

As we previously mentioned we started the activity with an open challenge to students and this design came out as a result of it.  The student wanted to shape a face themselves and came up with this idea intending to modify it later but it was pointed out to them several times that the design of the face was very similar to a lego-man face, which the student was happy with.   The student who created this project is a seven year old working independently in Tinkercad with just the app and an iPad.

He was especially keen to work with the colour palette and while that wasn't available with the 3D Print at this stage did use the colours available to detail what he wanted it to look like.   The image shown left is the design, created using an iPad by the student who has then used the Tinkercad App and has AR/VR the design into different locations so he could see its composition and to check it.

Once the student felt that it met these guidelines the final stage was to opt for printing, which was completed using the Bambu H2D.

As this has now been completed the student is looking at developing this idea further as questions were posed to him about further detail that he could add.

The design was also put through a filter, in this case the Pic Collage, Magic Camera, Silent Night 2 Filter.  The results of this can be seen left.  

The entire process from creation, design to AR/VR and then filtering took a single block of school time (which was forty minutes).

Level of Difficulty: Medium - This student has shown several times during the year that they have creativity and excellent awareness.  They have used their iPad and Tinkercad to produce a number of outstanding projects such as the 'cyclops' series of prints.  They were also a key designer who has been responsible for a series of iPad and iPhone stands.

Size: The print in its original form measures 40mm across is 50mm long and the main part of the shape is 50mm high.  As a whimsical design to amuse and be hung from a tree these dimensions are correct.  

Cost/Price: The unit cost essentially $0.80c to make based on the now standard $30.00 NZD per 1kg roll of PLA filament.

Timeframe: This print took seventy minutes to print and was completed using the schools Bambu H2D printer for precision and speed to complete the project.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the student: The colour matching with a four nozzle H2D meant that the student could potentially have four different colours on the print and that is something that they could look into.   The design was amusing but could have had additional features, either for the student to go compltely lego themed or move in a different direction.  

3D Printed Furniture: Micro Edition

 

Challenge: For a student to produce an original and functional piece of furniture.

Background: Regular readers of this blog who have been following our project work for 2025 will be familiar with the overall project of producing Dolls House furniture.

Some of the biggest prints in this project have come out at over fifteen hours.   The couch that was shown left was designed to be micro scale and as a result was about to be printed in ninety minutes.

This was designed with the figures in mind that we had been using to scale the designs, but while one figure fits rather snugly in this couch it works perfectly with another range of micro characters.

The student also wanted to add additional features into the design, so it wasn't simply a block of shapes.  He added in cup holders in the arm rests, smaller cushions in the corner, created the illusion of seats and placed two shapes in the base of the design.

The entire project was completed from start to finish by an eight year old student using his iPad, Tinkercad and designing for the second consecutive year.

Size: As a lego scale print the couch measures 90mm across was 40mm and was 30mm high at the back - while this scale doesn't fit the figure first shown left it does more than perfectly fit the smaller scale figures mentioned.   To scale it up for the figure shown above the dimensions would need to double or potentially triple which would lead to increased dimensions and print time.

Timeframe: Ninety minutes in present form.

What we would do differently/next steps for the students:

This couch needs to be adapted to complete the task for the larger figure, although there is potential to produce them for a smaller figure as identified.   The student has opted to create the cushions by shaping the base of the couch, a discussion will be held about modifying the base or introducing something similar to the lines of a cushion, although if this was going to be placed into a junior classroom we would want to ensure that it would be robust enough to last, which would lean towards it being printed as a single piece.

Combination Work: Tinkercad - Pixton and inbuilt blocks

 

This is the follow up posts to examples of how my class of students is looking to use Tinkercad in other ways to combine with other apps and form of presentation.

As we have noted yesterday we have some students, based in our rural area who have been producing 3D Printed Mini-Farms.   While we have not printed all of these creations, we also want to use them in other ways and explore other potential uses.   We also have students producing writing in Pixton, another iPad app.  In this instance the student has imported their design from Tinkercad directly into  and used the it as the background for a creation.   The comic book characters are avatars of the students, and the students are going to have a series of explanation of the different aspects of the design explained by the cartoon characters.

The original format for this design, looks 'blocky' as it already has been converted into a block option from the main interface.  We have students who are big fans of the plastic block building material, and this converts their original designs into a brick format.   There is also options for another similar not a mining game, to make similar blocks.

All of the three options here are very easy to import into the various extensions, or within Tinkercad.  It is simply a single button pushed.

3D Printed Junior Light Box House

Challenge: For student to create a light-box, a 3D Print illuminated by small scale LED.

Background:   We have had previously students dabble in working with using the 3D Printer to create a small structure.  We have also used LED lights and used the 3D Printer to make customised brackets.   You can see the previous examples of the housing attempts here from 2019.  This was a key item from our Market Day in 2019 as the LED lights could be purchased extremely inexpensively.  

We have also an ongoing attempt to use the School Laser Cutter to produce a LED light-shade.  This project is awaiting the purchase of the LED lights as the design and the boxing has been completed.   There is also an additional recent print, which while intended to be for stationary was also a house design and could be easily adapted for this purpose.  This recent print was detailed on this blog here.

The students idea was to design a basic house structure using Tinkercad and use the introduction of a series of windows into the design to allow the light to exit.   There was also a range of furniture that were designed using Tinkercad to be placed inside the house as shown in the photograph from above, left.

The student is a Y4 student who has been creating and designing for the first year this year.   

Level of Difficulty: Medium.  The student in this case has added a number of features to their print, however there is potential for more personalisation. Including potentially a name or a sign, something specific to the area.  This is an area of potential development for the student as this first print was intended as a test run to see the concept and the idea would be successful.

Timeframe: Five hours on the regulation Snapmaker settings.    As noted the student was intending to use this as a test case to see if this idea would be successful and could be developed further.

Size: The print measures 70mm wide, is 70mm long and had walls that were 5mm thick.   The roof starts at the 50mm point with some limited overhang.   The inside area of the house contains ample space for a potential LED light.   The student has mentioned once they have the light to design further housing for this.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: Currently the roof stands as a basic opening, one challenge we could potentially put to the student is to work out a way to have a removable roof and how this might affect the design.   The roof has a slight overhang on one side - by inverting the design and printing it from the roof up this would minimise the rafting and allow for the overhang to be created.   Other features like developing a swinging door etc would potential be worked on - as would the potential to scale this to mini-figure size to work in conjunction with Lego Figures.

Projects Currently Underway Term Two 2024

 

We have been continuing to explore and use some of the additional features of Tinkercad with our students iPads.   We have previously shown examples of how our students have used the AR/VR function with the project development, or applying filters to designs to alter their appearance.

Another favourite creation tool at present is using the "blocks" function related to the design.  This applies a variety of technology to create a brick like version of the print.  This is accessible by a simple click and allows the students another version of their designs. 

Left: Independent Projects working of the students.  The junior class of students who have originally started working on their first significant prints.   While the students have worked completing badges and labels the next step in projects is for the students to look at producing some stationary holders.

The class with the students working are Y3 and Y4 - so the students are seven and eight years old.  We require their designs to have some individuality and also have a functionality.  In most cases this is provided by projects such as the one shown on the left.

The main design consists of three main shapes from the basic Tinkercad interface (main page design).   The shapes are then grouped together and the students name has been placed on the base.   The student then opted to have a senior school student assist with the spray painting of the design.  This design measured 130mm across was 80mm deep and 80mm high.   It took eighteen hours to print on the default settings.

Another aspect that we are looking at is to get designs that have already been completed and look at ways to alter the design or the type to change the purpose.  In the example shown left the Snowman with Guitar which was featured on this blog previously was printed as it was somewhat whimsical.  The challenge to the student who designed it was, is there a way that the design can be altered to have another purpose or another use.   The student concerned inspired by some of the other storage options from recent prints made the decision to include storage in the Snowman's head. The initial design didn't have this feature, however the student has already discovered that the addition of the storage comes at the cost of stability.  Attempting to add a pencil into this form of storage means the weight of the unit cannot be sustained.  The student is now looking to scale the entire design to make the print more purposeful, but has yet to attempt the dimensions, as a Y3 student they are a little concerned, however they are going to attempt to use VR/AR and a pencil to do so.

The Battle of Hoth/Star Wars designs is continuing to progress.   The student concerned has found that there is extensive predesigned material and props available specific to the scene that they are developing.

Already identified and located have been the gun emplacements and the target of the climatic scene, the Shield Generator has now been located and printed.  This can be seen in a mock up of the scene on the left, with a Lego Mini Figure clearly shown for scale to the left.   The actual diorama at present is awaiting sizing to ensure that everything is correct to the right ratio/scale.

This will be an ongoing project that will require a number of elements and aspects as it moves forward.