3D Printing Stencil: Developing Ideas Further

Challenge: For student to take one of the basic fundamental ideas or printing project and develop it further into something individually directed.

Background: When students start with a basic task one of the introductory tasks that we use and engage the students with is some form of name badge or plate.  These generally start off very basic and then can be developed further with additional features and designs to advance the students skills, although this can typically be done in a very short timeframe.

One student who has recently completed this task was then asked to look to develop it further.  His idea evolved into the creation of a stencil.   In this example the student deliberately used the name to hollow out the inside of the print, and then applied the design to a piece of wood.   Spray paint was applied (the print was held in place by masking tape) and then the print itself was removed leaving the affect of the design in place.   The student then is intending to look at combining this idea in different ways and formats to continue to refine the design.  The student has been asked to consider the font, the layout, how this has translated to the stencil and what might work differently.

Level of Difficulty: Low.  The 3D Part of the design is very straight forward and has been completed by nearly every student in the classroom independently (with the classroom being the home to seven and eight year olds).  This project requires a specific level of refinement to make it successful (see below).

Size: The print measures 85mm high and is 175mm across.   The print was 5mm thick.   For the purpose of this project these dimensions were correct, although they could be targeted for a specific size depending on the purpose of the pencil.

Timeframe: Two and a half hours on the standard default settings for this print.  The student was using the purpose of the print to convert the badge, hence its current dimensions and the final product.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: This projects emerged out of another area, so the stencil, in its first versions needs some refinements.  The student is intended to use a permanent marker pen to enhance the print and the way it stands.  Because of the position of the masking tape, the bottom line has not responded well to being removed.

The students intend to reflect on the wood that has been used and experiment with the colour, the student wants to change the font to see how it responds to the spray painting.   The student wants to consider a picture that might be possible to link to the design (which has in turn lead to a discussion about stencil art and the work of a particular street artist).   This is one of the projects that shows a considerable level of interest and potential and we will be updating it with further prints of ideas.

We have alerted the art teacher at school to the potential of this, who will also be looking at the potential to complete art projects using this technique and resourcing.

Special Projects: Page Update

On this blog, this year, you may have notices a slight change with some of the content.   Previously the blog was dedicated solely to the work of the student, and some staff, related to the use of 3D Printers at our school.  As time has evolved (as the first posts on this blog date back ten years) the school has continued to update some of its technology which the students are using in addition to the 3D Printers.  

We have thus included tabs that involve some of the other technology that our students are using including our industrial laser cutter, the sticker machine and exemplars from special event days, like our market day.

Recently we have included links to some of our major project work.   This is chiefly been created by students working with our amazing AV man at school Jason Bloor.  This is a link to his youtube page.

Our special event project for this term is to have our Step Master Dance Machine Competition.   This machine was built as a special project with our students, and the videos created were also worked on by out students.   The videos work in conjunction with the machine, so the students are dancing, and the videos of the step master are featuring our school and students in a range of original material.

Last year, we held a livestream dance competition where students battled against each other and we streamed the event live at our school.  This was similar to the Virtual Pinball Competitions which we have run for the past six years.    We have a competition day when we commentate as the students compete against each other.   The video below is the link to last years competition.

We will be holding this years competition with increased divisions (such as a junior group as we have students as young as six on the machine!) a Boys specific competition and also a staff version.

3D Printing: Utilising the Tinkercad Shapes

Challenge: A Y3 student, coming up with his first print.

Background: This print was the very first individual print that was created by a Y3 student (an seven year old).   He used the main interface from Tinkercad to locate the cartoon dinosaur figure.   The second step was that he looked for accessory to combine with the dinosaur and the student chose the top-hat.  The hat was oversized and created a humorous effect of having the two working in conjunction.  

The final step of the design was the purpose of the print the student was queried about what would be the purpose of the figure.   The student considered this and decided to introduce a block to the design, which would allow for a storage option.    The student then decided to look at spending time having the print spray painted.

The student made the decision to go with a green and orange pattern as shown left once the spray painting was completed (by a senior student at our school).

Level of Difficulty: Low.   This was deceptive as the student used pre-made design and then combined two elements before adding an additional feature.    The combination worked exceptionally well.

Size: The design measured 120mm in length was 70mm wide and was 100mm at the height of the hat.

The student didn't want to change the design from the moment it was completed, although the potential for storage is somewhat limited, a bigger figure would mean more potential.

Timeframe: Eight and a half hours.   There was a significant amount of rafting involved in this print to support the printing.  The was caused by the tail and aspects of the design like the hat overlapping the dinosaurs head.   Technically these could have been reduced (however if this was the case the hat would not have had the effect that the student wanted).

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: This was a Y3 student who was taking their first steps in designs for 3D Printing.  The student was thrilled with the results - they produced something which looked completed, had a purpose and balance.   It should have them excited for the future and inspire them to create their own original projects moving forward.