3D Printed Junior Movement Challenge: Early Versions

 

Challenge: Students to design a print that has moveable parts.

Background: This task is one that the classroom is working on at the moment - with the challenge to ensure that their print has at least part that allows motion or movement.  This has been something of an open challenge in that we've given the students the brief and then asked them to create something as a response to the design.   

There were a variety of designs that were created by the students - one of the important aspects of this task was to ensure that students shared their ideas and creations so that they could encourage each other and bounce ideas from one another.   Another important aspect is the testing process - this is usually not done with physical printing of the objects by projecting and using the Tinkercad Apps iPad ability.

An example of this process is shown left.  This print has been projected  oversized and then rotated by the student to see if the print was viable.   The student chose to project it onto the concrete area of our school.   

This as we have mentioned many times before is a technique to allow the students to produce an output from a lesson without the need to have a physical 3D Print that would be challenging to complete for every student.

Resources Used to complete this print: iPad, Tinkercad App, Bambu H2D, Silver PLA, Bambu P1S, Orange PLA (for the internal cogs).

Level of Difficulty: Medium - however this is potentially going to become more advanced (see below).  This was a completed independently by a nine year old student working with six months experience the teacher did not have any input into the process at any point.

Size: The print came in a number of sections.  The boxing for the main container for the print was a square that was 130mm wide.  It was 50mm high.  The print had a width of 5mm on the outside.  The inside of print had the main column that was 80mm tall and 20mm wide.  The cogs had a diameter of 80mm.   The intention was always to have a variety of cogs that were in the middle of the design.   

Cost/Price: The print was significant.  It used 150g of PLA to complete the print.   It had a price point (cost) of $3.00 to complete this print.

Timeframe:  To complete the print the printer ran for five and a half hours.   This was completed on the H2D Printer.   This was completed with standard settings and regular infill (which is twenty percent).

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: This print is intended as a gateway print.  By printing this print early it is intended to consider for the class what else might be developed.  An obvious feature of this print would be what could be placed onto the main column and some variation of different objects and shapes.

There is some discussion need around the purpose of this print relative to its size.  Students have already considered a version that potentially by its design could be suitable for a cat toy or a small child.   However the students need to investigate the PLA and consider what might happen based on the potential outcome of the print.

3D Printed Animal Designs: Extension

Challenge: To extend a student who has shown creativity and push the limits of what is possible using the Snapmaker 3D Printer.

Background:   The student who has been working on the 2D Flexible animal designs we would suggest has mastered this part of the process.  We wanted to try and have them extend their work but creating some specific models that were of a larger scale and also could be a statement piece.  As such we challenged the student to move from a two dimensional model and create a three dimensional model along the same lines.  We wanted to push the use of our Snapmaker.   The student was able to use Tinker to create the model which was then imported into Tinkercad for printing.  The design was themed 'Piggy Wiggy' and the student what to create a cartoon pig that was linked via sections.

Level of Difficulty: Extreme - this is the student who has shown time and time again that they are working with an extremely high level of design and creation skills.   The student is motivated and designing and creating these projects in their own time because they want to be involved in the process.  

This is not something that a student would be able to create without working extensively or needing specific design skills.   This has been completed by a student working to the highest level and able to create a balanced print that works and is striking.  While the student who is doing this is a Y7 (eleven year old student).    This would be one of the premiere designs featured on this site of which the Snapmaker is allowed the student to realise.

Size: The print measures 180mm across is 120mm high and 120mm wide.   While this is extremely large the idea was to produce a statement piece.   Once the design is completely mastered (see below) then to scale the design down is a potential idea.

Timeframe: Including the rafting, which was considerable given the linking and the movement that is featured with this print the total printing time was sixteen hours.  Again to scale this was always intended to be a significant print so while this timeframe is considerable it wasn't unexpected.   It was also intended that the Piggy Wiggy would be posable and could be moved and adjusted with its positioning, hence the need for the rafting.

What we would do differently/next step for the student:   While the print looks striking the student has some work to address - the main issue is the linking between the different sections of the pig.  Given the weight and the size of the print the linking needs to be redesigned.  Knowing the student who is involved in the creation process they will relish the chance to challenge themselves to complete this successfully.