3D Printed Furniture: Dolls House

 

Challenge: To produce an item suitable for a dolls house (large scale).  In this case an internal fireplace.

Background: One of the most successful activities from last year was our Dolls House project which ended up stretching out for an entire year - if you would like to view a recap of that project you can do so by clicking on the link here.

Since that time we have always been aware that the making of scale models or furniture items gives the students opportunities to design 'real' items which they experience with or are familiar with.  At times that biggest challenge can come from the scale of the objects that the students are designing.  In this instance the student wanted to design something to fit with a 'barbie' scale that is a design that could work in conjunction with the toy.

Resources used to complete this print: iPad, Tinkercad App, Bambu P1S, Orange PLA, Barbie Doll (for sizing).

Level of Difficulty: Medium - this task was really all about the scale.  The basic design shape for the fireplace came from the main Tinkercad interface.  Further details were added by having the logs introduced inside the fire.  Finally a discussion was held about what else could be done - which was the potential spray painting or the applying of a sticker.

This task was completed by an eight year old student without any assistance in their own time.   

Size:  The fireplace measures 100mm wide at the front and 100mm deep.  The main body of the print was 60mm high and the print was on four legs that were 30mm high.  

Cost/Price: The unit to produce (note the smaller flue0 used 200g of filament.   This has a price point for the unit of $4.50 to produce.   

Timeframe:  To complete this print the printer was active for four hours.   Again as noted the funnel for the flue was relatively short (60mm) and realistically needs to be extended further to be realistic.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: From here the students would need to consider decoration of the fireplace - either by spray painting or using the Roland Versa Signmaker.

3D Printed Furniture: Double Bunk Bed

 

Challenge: To produce a working piece of (robust) Dolls House furniture suitable for a bedroom.

Background: This task has been explained in detail on this blog including details of the original project, how it has developed and how the students have shaped the design.   We are now at the stage where we have completed the project and are now printing the final runs of prints.

Having worked on the designs on the project for a number of weeks, having developed and refined the designs the students have reworked, developed and AR/VR their designs and examples.    We feel confident that we have addressed the issue of the balance of the designs and also the base, where we replaced the various feet for designs and replaced them with blocks, to ensure that enthusiastic junior school students do not break (easily) the designs.

The student in this case is a Y4 (eight) year old student who is designing (using Tinkercad) for the first time.     The student wanted to create a double bunk bed and had seen the previous example from another student

Some of the features that were shown in this example the student used to further his own design.  He placed a ladder for access, and by making it oversized it has given further strength to the design.   The decal that is being used for the blanks will have the shapes in the base create an image of being raised.    There is a small technical detail as there is a visible sight light along the side shown in the the middle photograph.  This came from having the filament roll tighten during printing.   The teacher noticed this, corrected the problem and although it did not affect the final print it was noticeable.  It gave the classroom an excellent discussion point during the day, including taking the original design and comparing it to the print to see where the fault had occurred.

Size: This is one of the biggest prints in the series of furniture pieces as it is intended as a statement or an exemplar piece.   It has considerable dimensions 110mm across 90mm long and 90mm high.   The print also has the four columns and the base pieces which are 20mm wedges.  There was considerable rafting as the entire middle portion of the print (the bottom bunk) was fully rafted - printing it in parts which this would have reduced the rafting would also mean that the strength of the print was not there.

Timeframe: Eighteen hours on the regular default settings.   This is a very long time, but this is also something that we anticipate will last for years and be used for creative play by a significant amount of children.

What we would do differently/next steps for the students: This design is completed and has passed all of the tests that we have put forward for it.  It has been suggested that we could modify this design to work for a 'barbie' sized doll, while we would consider this it would depend on the success of this at its current scale as that would be achieved first.

3D Printed Furniture Challenge: What Needs to be Addressed

 

Challenge: To produce a realistic workable piece of furniture for a Dolls House.

Background: As detailed previously this has been an excellent project to develop our students design skills.  Having the physical location for the objects in the classroom and having object's that students have a first hand knowledge of.

We also started the process of using some of the Tinkercad design templates and having some students combine these objects with objects that they have created themselves.

Shown top left is the original design, the TV taken from the main interface (searched) with a cabinet that was then designed by a Y3 student.    The student was working for the first time and used the basic shapes which then had shapes removed.   

The design was then printed - however a significant flaw in the design was detected.    The join between the TV and the cabinet did not survive some basic stress testing.

As we have been identifying for some time the purpose of this project is to produce workable pieces that will be high use items for creative play in the junior school.   This was then an opportunity to show something to the students that looks correct but would work only in the context of being static and not feasible for the brief, as we have discovered with some of the initial furniture design which needed to have the legs addressed.

3D Printed Furniture Bed: Version Two

 

Challenge: For a student to create a unique and original piece of furniture suitable for the Dolls House Project.

Background: We have detailed this project many times this term, these are the updated version of the bed as developed by the students in our classroom.

This student had originally designed one of the beds that was produced in the first wave of designs and we spoke to them about how the design could be improved and developed.  We spoke in a previous post about the need to ensure that the legs are robust enough to ensure that they will not break.

The student then designed pillows to show form and details at the head of the bed and developed a shape of a headboard to further enhance the design.   All of these features and the entire design was created using Tinkercad and an iPad.

Size: This was designed to work in conjunction with the 'lego-esque' figure.     The length of the base of the bed is 90mm long, 60mm wide.  The legs were 20mm high.   The headboard is 40mm high from the base of the design.   The design works perfectly in conjunction with the figure and it looks 'right'.

Timeframe: Four and a half hours.   There was an amount of rafting that was located underneath the bed that could have potentially been removed to reduce the printing time (and then perhaps superglued the bottom in place).    The issue of course with this is the potential to weaken the support so the juniors can use the furniture with the Dolls House.

What we would do differently/Next Steps for the students: The design is completed and the projects at present appears successful.   The testing for the project will come in the form of the junior students from our school playing and working with the furniture.   If it proves to be not robust enough - and in particular the headboard is potentially something to monitor.

We have previously stated it is our intention to use a variety of other machines to produce additional material to work in conjunction with the 3D Prints - we are looking at using the sticker machine to complete the sheets.

3D Printed Furniture: Shower Stall

 

Challenge: To produce a furniture feature for a Dolls House.

Background: It ended up being our major design project from out class in New Zealand during term one, as the students and the tasked developed during the course of the term.

The final phase is the printing of the furniture which we are using to place inside of the Dolls House.  You can view the details of the project here.

This design was one of the first designs that was created in the second (completed) phase of prints.  These prints were large and intended to be a one off print that would be permanently featured in the Dolls House and as a bathroom a key feature.

This bathroom shower stall was designed to work in conjunction with the figure shown left - this is not the same as the other in the series that featured the 'lego esq. figure'.    However there were a few issues created by this - the miniature barbie like figure shown left is an excellent fit for the shower head, however not the mirror on the wall or the shampoo bottle that is in the top right hand corner.

Size:    The stall was 120mm across and was 110mm deep.   The print at the back was 170mm high.   This was needed for the dimensions as shown however if the other figure was used the stall would need to be considerably smaller.

Once the student is back from the holidays a decision will be made to reduce the dimensions for the other figure although as a feature of the bathroom this piece of furniture will feature significantly.

Timeframe: Eighteen hours.   This was a significant print, with a large base and design.   The potential reduce the print time could have come from printing the shower head separately and the other issue would be the size of the stall as required by the figure.

What we would do differently/next steps for the students: The student  was able to design this complicated and detailed print independently and as it stands at the moment there will be no further adjustments to the print.   

3D Prints and Laser Cuts: Where to Next

 

As we are celebrating the end of the school term we have a number of events that are occurring, one of which is our Easter Holidays.   As per the New Zealand tradition of the 'Easter Bunny' there is a large number of media and resources pre-made.  A basic example of this is the laser cut shown left.   It is not student designed and the files can readily be found online and the image took just over ten minutes to print. 

Additional decoration was possible however it was not deemed something that was carried out.

Our AR/VR designs, to apply the Tinkercad designs to the Dolls House are now needing to be 'a model'.  We have discussed how our model images will need to be 'to scale', to have the 'other features in the photograph' and also feature the 'model' figure.   An example of all of these is the photograph shown left, it needs to be repeated as the flooring is not in the correct location, the model was not present (it was just out of shot)

We have the school holidays for the term coming up very soon in New Zealand.  We want to use the two week break to ensure that we can complete as many of the outstanding projects as possible.   We have three printers in our school, two of which are typically able for our classroom, depending on demand.   We will be able to print during the break a number of the larger projects which will be the furniture for the dolls house.   The project has been so successful that we are building a second dolls house which will be made around the dimensions of the first, so we are intending to complete two copies of each object.

3D Printed Furniture: Advanced Details

Challenge: To push students design ideas and abilities in creating more detailed furniture that could fit into a dolls house.

Background: This has been the focus with the classroom for the last week or so.  We have had to take the time to print a number of examples of the students work, as they have been refining, reworking and altering their design.   An overview of the entire project is located here.

In this example a student has wanted to push themselves to design a realistic and detailed kitchen unit.   This idea was created first by another student who came up with a detailed idea of a kitchen unit, which was featuring a sink built into the design.   This is located on our blog here.    Once the design had been shared with the class and then tested for viability and AR/VR into place.

The student wanted to create a number of features in this design, a sink with a hot/cold tap, a cutting board (which has an apple attached to it) various cupboards and a working fridge.

Size: The side featuring the cutting board which is shown in bottom right.   The first side measures 10mm long is 20mm high and 20mm across.  From the following side has similar dimensions and a length of 110mm.    The sink side was 70mm in length.   The fridge which is shown next to the sink was created to be an independent piece.   The height of the fridge was 70mm high and 20mm across and 40mm long.

Timeframe: The total time for the print took four and a half hours.   This was reflected by what needed to be created to make the print fit with the context of what was required.  Any smaller and the design would not have worked with the figure.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: The intention has always been to use as much of the schools technology as possible.   The 3D Printer are a significant part of it but the exciting part for some of the students will be the use of the sticker machine to produce decals to work in conjunction with the print.    The student who created this is now going to work out the area of the bench, measure the size of the fridge and use technology available to consider how they can create the decals.     Although this student does not have specific experience with the use of the machine before they will be using their iPad and Pic collage.

3D Printed Furniture Designs: VR/AR Progressions

We are continuing to refine, improve and redesign the furniture that we are printing for the Dolls House project that has been featured on this blog.

We have seniors laser cutting the wood and are now redesigning our furniture.  As we have explained on this blog, the first designs have been AR/VR using the iPad App for Tinkercard.    We allowed students to design basic shapes using the main interface and also use pre-made shapes such as the television which is mounted on the chest of draws shown left.   This photograph includes a 3D Printed bed from the first run of prints, but the other details in the room, as taken via the window of the Dolls House are projected.

We have pushed our seven and eight year olds to look out how they can use Tinkercad to improve their designs.   We have asked them to add features to the furniture that they are planning and using their details and creations to inspire the other students in the classroom.    Instead of getting somewhat basic designs 

An example of this is shown left - you can see the progression from the initial bed design from a Y4 student, they have added the head board to the bed, the design on the bed spread, etc - then wanting to add something else an original bedside table with the oversized clock.

The student has been able to produce this and make it independently.  They have AR/VR the design to check its viability and we will then move forward with the 3D Printing of the prototype.   Of course as we are producing a scale model for a dolls house we would anticipate the design will be in the two hour or so range for printing time.

You can see another example of the progression here.  This is another idea for a design, a couch based around three basic Tinkercad shapes.   The seven year old student has manipulated the designs and then used Tinkercad on the iPad to AR/VR the design into place - the dolls house to ensure that the size is correct.   You can see one of the 3D Printed designs in the background.

The next stage is the challenge of how to extend students who have completed the initial designs? The answer has come from the students themselves.   One of the students had the idea to create a counter where they could have a sink and a series of typical counter

features.

The design shown next is the second stage.  A student has built a kitchen top and used the features of removing a sink from part of the design.   They have also started to consider the cabinets that might be present and the kitchen space and the bench space.

This has been printed and measures 70mm long to the join and is a further 50mm across.  It is 20mm across and took just over two hours to print.   This will undergo significant changing and development moving forward as students work out how to create different aspects of the design.

3D Printed Furniture - First Student Examples

Challenge: To make furniture for a Dolls House.

Background: We have been posting about the process of using our technology to combine juniors and seniors looking at the process of re-establishing a dolls house, including all the furniture.

There are a number of reasons that this task is proving popular.   Firstly the students are basing the furniture on their own knowledge and designs, including those who have had experiences with toy furniture.

Secondly the size of the designs as we are building for a smaller size dolls house has meant that the prints shown, including the chest of draws and the bed are both under two hours to complete which is achievable if we are intending to complete a number of prints.

The junior school students have completed the design for this independently using Tinkercad, they have then in turn conducted tests on the viability of the designs by using the Tinkercad 

The design shown left has come from a seven year old student, and was modelled on working in conjunction with the figure above, the bedside table was created by another student.

Size: The bed shown left measured 40mm across and was 60mm long.   The legs were 10mm from the floor and the entire bed was an additional 15mm.  The chest of drawers measures 30mm high was 40mm across and had feet of 10mm.

These were designed to work in conjunction with the figure shown in the first photograph.  The student will need to scale them when the two are put together (ie can the figure realistically lie down in the bed or would that be unrealistic - is the pillow the right size etc.

Timeframe: the bed took slight under two hours and the chest of draws was ninety minutes, the student needs to have the objects to work in conjunction with both the dolls house and the dolls themselves to ensure that they are to some kind of scale (although as has been pointed out sometimes dolls houses are not). 

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

When you place the figure with the bed as shown left it doesn't look to scale, but it also has to be considered that the figure itself is not to scale.

The chest of draw has a top draw, however the second draw was too close to the design and therefore the detail there did not print, the student needs to ensure that it is able to be recognised and printed.