3D Printed: Using Tinkercad Creations

 

Challenge: Using the pre-made characters or designs from the main Tinkercad interface in a creative way.

Background: This print came as a very brief activity from one of the students who was using some of the pre-generated designs in Tinkercad to create a potential project.   The student felt the dog that they were able to locate bore more than a passing resemblance to their dog and wanted to produce a print associated with it.   As the dimensions for the print were quite limited it was felt that this would be a worthwhile project and could lead to further development.

The student was easily able to use their own design skills to mount the animal on a base (that was made by importing one of the basic shapes0 and then they completed the quick design by introducing a name into the base of the plate.   This process was completed by a cohort one student in under five minutes independently.  

The print shown gives an example of the kind of detail possible from the Bambu P1S Printer - which is more-or-less as effective as the Bambu H2D.   The sole rafting that was produced with the print was a tree that came under the muzzle of the dog - the rest of the detail such as the legs and other features had none.

Resources used to complete this project: iPad, Tinkercad App, Bambu P1S Printer, Cotton Candy PLA.

Level of Difficulty: Low.   The student used the pre-generated design and adapted it - the level of skill was in recognising this could make a viable print rather than a focus on the design.

Size: The print measured 55mm across at the base and was 55mm long and 20mm high.   The dog was 70mm high and 40mm wide.

Cost/Price: The project used 33g of PLA to complete which included 10g of rafting.    The price point for this was $0.82.

Timeframe: As a relatively small print this print took fifty seven minutes to complete and had the standard six minute warm up time for. combined print time of just over one hour.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: The student in question is going to put additional details into the design, re-centre the lettering and has thought about what else can be put around the base.   These changes are additions and would not significantly affect any of the major details of this print.

3D Printed SVG - Extra Details

 

Challenge: To take an SVG file and modify it for a purpose by altering the original file.

Background: We have detailed this process in a range of prints and descriptions on this blog.  In some of the process the files that our students located needed to be modified for a purpose or to make them more 'useable'.

The file shown left is a good example of this.   The original SVG file which was sourced online from a popular SVG site was two seperate pieces being the body and the head.   The student was able to resolve this by creating a collar for the log which link the two pieces of the print.   

The student also personalised the design by putting the name on the base of the animal.  Finally the issue of the purpose of the design was resolved by the student inserting a hole into the leg of the dog.  Hence the design could be converted into a name badge for the animal or a keyring.

This selection, conversion and entire process was completed by a student who is seven years old independently of the teacher.

Resources Used: Tinkercad App, SVG file (located online this is one of the first files that comes up with a general search), iPad, Bambu Printer (P1P).   

Level of Difficulty: Low - the student used the design, modified it themselves and was able to complete the entire task from start to finish, including experimenting with various potential colour - in under thirty minutes.   There could be more details potentially added to this to increase the difficulty.

The student was also able to use the AR/VR function that is available with Tinkercad to project an altered version of the image with additions to the design.   The student decided not to go with the additions (such as the blocks by the feet or the relocation of the hole) however it also allowed them to look at the dimensions of the print.

Size: The final print was 100mm across and 100mm high from the base of the feet to the ears and top of the tail.  The print was 10mm wide/thick.  It was printed using regular PLA.

Cost/Price: The print used 18g of regular PLA to complete the print.  Based on the Bambu Lab studio software calculation the print cost $0.67 to produce.    This used regular PLA to complete the print.

Timeframe: The print time for the print was six minutes preparation time from the pinter and then twenty seven minutes to complete the print - a total time of thirty three minutes.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: We choose to print this using the P1P printer and as a result it was completed in a single colour - we could have expanded it to the H2D and would have had the option (which we have only used occasionally of mixing two different colours).  The next obvious step would be to consider spray painting or further decoration.   Otherwise the print is complete.

3D Printed: Pencil Sharpener Holder Challenge

 

Challenge: To produce an original 3D Printed design that would be suitable to hold a pencil sharpener.  Student is restricted to create an original design from scratch and not use an existing or pre-made print.

Background: We have attempted variations of this challenge before, where the students have been tasked with taking an object and building it into a 3D Print.  You can see examples of this here on our blog.

You can also see a version of this design which incorporates a VR/AR version and one that has various filters applied.

This design came out of the process while this student is a student from the junior school this student has proven consistently to be someone who has grasped the concepts and ideas of 3D Printing and 3D Printed designs utilising a variety of techniques and excelled with her ability.

The scale of this print is larger than some of the smaller concept ideas of this version are smaller than a students finger.

The 'Dog' themed design was an original for the student.

Level of Difficulty: High - there are a number of component pieces that need to work in order for this print to be considered a success.  The legs need to balance, the tail needs to be feasible and the facial features of the dog are particularly important.  While importing many of these aspects would have been possible such as previous examples here, in this example we wanted the student to design them for herself to ensure that they were unique and she pushed herself with the design concept and idea.

Size: The print measures 140mm in length, was 50mm wide for the majority of the base and 80mm wide with the ears.   The design was 40mm high for most of it.  While the dimensions of this print is rather large it was intended to be this way.

Timeframe: This print took four and half hours.  Given the dimensions that were expressed above there was little that we would do to reduce or increase this time.  There was limited 'rafting' that took place at the base of the design.

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

The student is happy with the overall design, aspects like the tail but she felt that the details in the face, which is conceivably the hardest to reliably create, she has stated that she wants to develop this particular aspect of the design further to make sure that it reflected a design that she was happy with.    Once this first print was created she felt she could have included additional details into the print to ensure that it would hold extra material such as a USB stick or a pencil.  Usually students are content with their prints, this is an example when a student wants to spend time and care to create a print that she is happy with. 

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.