3D Printed Minecraft Axolotl

 

Challenge: To produce a unique copy of a Minecraft item or creature using an iPad, Tinkercad App and Minecraft Education.

Background: This task has been detailed over the past week or so occurring in our classroom with our Year Four students (seven and eight year olds) in different forms.

The original tasks dates back to September 2026 and you can also click here to view a summary of last years Minecraft themed posts.   As the term is coming to an end its one of the challenges that we have decided to revisit with our classroom of students this year, some of which had the opportunity to complete this challenge last year as a seven year old.  Minecraft Education was the starting point where we tasked the students with locating and making effective screenshots of a range of animals contained within the program.   They were challenged to select one of the animals that they had a screenshot of and replicate the animal using the Tinkercad App on their iPads.

Depending on the animal there were certain challenges that were associated with replicating the object or animal in Tinkercad.  The design needed to have clear recognition factor and be an accurate representation of the original.

This student attempted to complete the axolotl.  We have previously featured the early versions of this design where the student was using AR/VR to project the design around the school and also test its viability and its likelihood of success if it was printed.

Level of Diffculty: Hard this had elements that needed to be completed and completed accurately the student who is involved in this is a cohort two student who has already demonstrated some exceptional design skills this year, as in his own time he was responsible for producing this bottle.   This is arguably the hardest kind of animal that he could have selected to replicate.

Size: The print measures 160mm by 60mm for the main body and has legs that are an additional 40mm from the base of the animal.  Of note is the width of the tail piece which is 1mm wide as is the line dividing the back of the creature.

Cost/Price: According to Bambu Lab Studios the print design used 70g of PLA to produce at a cost of $1.73.

Timeframe: The print took two hours and five minutes to produce on regular Bambu lab print settings.

What we would do differently/next steps for the students: The biggest issue of this design moving forward we be the purpose of the design, other than a novelty toy, which is something its potentially not suited to, owing to the thin spine and the tail.   Storage is the obvious answer and the student is going to explore looking at introducing either holes or a box shape into the back of the design.  They also want to spray paint the design so that it matches the colour shown in the AR/VR design.

Y3 Market Day Items: Beginners Prints

Challenge: For students who have never produced a 3D Print to create an original project for School Market Day.

Background: We have the School Market Day approaching (which is summarised in a tab on this blog with exemplars and examples).  A number of students for the first time are trying to produce something original which they can then in term promote or sell on our community day.   

With our junior classroom our students in some cases have not had an opportunity before to design a print and it can be an engaging and rewarding experience.  

Two current examples are the jumping dog shown above in the left hand corner.  This student is a Y3 student and a recent transfer to our school - this is his very first 3D Print.  He located a freely available print of a leaping dog.   He wanted to change it into a key ring and as a result took the image imported it into Tinkercad.   From there it was a simple matter of adding hole into the design for the purpose of transforming it into a key ring - and then the student (under supervision of other older students) spray painted the design.   

The print took three and a half hours to complete on the regular default settings (which is a twenty percent infill).  There was no rafting on the print.  The print measured 70mm across and was 90mm high (at the back leg).   The print was 20mm thick/deep - potentially this could have been reduced to maintain the robust nature of the print but to reduce the print time.  

As we detailed in this situation the students part of the process needs to create something original as the student has to claim ownership of the design process.  Examples from last year included using a design like this but creating original accessories and also focussing on the packaging with the product.   It goes without saying that the student has enjoyed the process and is thrilled with the result.  The student is now going to test the keyring and consider the placement of the whole.

Axolotl Keyring followed a similar process.  The student was looking at designing something that would be unique and have a purpose but also wanted to be something that she would be able to produce and create herself.

Again a basic shape was located as there is a variety available online.  Once this was selected the hole was inserted into the tail.    The dimensions of the print were smaller than usual - it measured 60mm across and was 40mm high, in addition the print was 10mm thick.  This was less robust than the dog but it meant that the print could be completed in a much reduced timeframe - this was only one hour to complete.  Once it was completed again the student then completed the presentation with supervised spray painting by seniors in our school.   This will complete the brief of the project with the addition of packaging and information related to the animal.