3D Printed Furniture: Oven

 

Challenge: To produce an individuals student own unique piece of furniture.

Background: This is part of the Dolls House 2025 student project, where we have been creating individualised pieces for the house that we are rebuilding.

This student had already completed the first task when they used the pre-made items from the main Tinkercad interface to produce 

This students next step was to consider what she could then replicate using a basic block pattern and sequence which resulted in the design shown left.  The student was then able to have the design printed to compare it to the various figures that we are using

for scale to ensure that it fits into the Dolls House.

Size: The print measures 50mm wide was 40mm deep and the main base was 40mm high.   The back plate or splash back was an additional 15mm high at the back.  

Timeframe: Two hours

What we would do differently/next steps for the students: The door at the front was a blank piece that could potentially have a handle.   The gas rings on the stovetop are placed in a formation that appears a bit random, the student could potentially include alterations here that would not significantly alter the print.   Their was no fan extractor present at the top of the design.

Laser Cutting: Seniors Rebuilding the Dolls House

 

We posted about this previously detailing how we are wanting to use our technology to apply to practical tasks to engage our students.  A group of senior students are working with our large scale laser cutter.

We recently identified a Dolls House, that was destined to be thrown out and we wanted to look at the viability of restoring it using our technology and then making it available to our junior school students.

After the cleaning and the wiping down of the house the students started to examine it, in more detail.   The main base wood that has been used to construct the house was chipboard, and there are parts of the house where it has been wet, causing it to loose structure.

While the students working on this wanted to keep as much of the original house as possible this needs to be balanced with turning it into something that is functional and useable.

The senior students sourced some images of vintage houses for inspiration and begun the process of using Sketch Up to start to design the sides for the house.

The first completed replacement piece is shown here.   The windows and the shutters have been designed with hinges and work, the size of the end is designed to work in conjunction with the existing base of the house.

The shutters and windows are designed to match, the detailing at the end of the wall was created by using a range of smaller rectangles and squares and gluing them onto the base of the design.

The students need to consider that the design has been produced using MDF.   This typically isn't the most durable of design wood and will need to be stained or sealed to further protect it from the elements and from students in the new entrance classroom.

Y7/8 Project: Using the Laser Cutter and 3D Printers to Upcycle

 

We are always trying to think outside the box about projects that we can use the technology to rebuild or develop.

We have done this in the past and this year we saw an opportunity to complete this again, as we found what would be described as a vintage/old dolls house.

The house is built predominantly of wood, with some metal fixtures for the windows etc.   It was destined for a skip, to be thrown out as rubbish.

We were able to identify this, and have assigned it to some of our senior students as a project to rebuild it.    The first step is obviously the cleaning as shown in the photograph.    We have roof and exterior paint available from general repairs that have been carried out around the school.

We want to allow the students to brainstorm the opportunities and think how about we could use our major machines - for instance we could use the laser cutter to create framing for the walls and the windows, such as the photo-framing details previously created by our students.   We can use the sticker machine to create details and decals for the walls - and even the floors, as we have previously created as a floor for a basketball court.    We have the 3D Printer that could be used to create fixtures, such as a dolls chair previously designed by our students.

The dolls house currently is a shell, it has the bones and it will be an ongoing process that will take sometime and the intention is then to gift the dolls house to the junior school.   You can follow is progress during the year using the tag "dollhouse 2025"