3D Printed Numbers: A Further Update Three Years Later

 

This project has been going for an extended period of time, and the prints have been outside now for a considerable length of time.   The process was started in August 2018 when we wanted to 3D Print numbers for our evacuation area, where the school goes in the event of the fire alarm activating.

Initially we printed the numbers with an orange filament so it was visible for the students in an emergency drill.    Since 2018 one of the numbers had to be replaced as it was struck directly by a student kicking a ball into the net where the numbers were located, partially breaking it, otherwise the 3D Print has remained its structure and its shape.  We also updated this print in 2019 where we started to see some weathering with the colouring featured on the print - so this year we decided to take all the letters down, spray paint them to recolour them and replace the missing number in the sequence.

Again we wish to repeat what we have said previously these prints as well as having a significant purpose to allow us to have our students assemble in an emergency.

The 3D Print has been exposed outside for three years including three winter seasons.   There is no evidence on the print itself of any damage from the conditions, the only exception as mentioned is that the colour of the print which has faded significantly as detailed.

The flexibiliy of the print allows us to maintain its role and also adapt as required (so for instance including additional numbers is extremely easy and would only take the print time, replacing the numbers that are there is simply a matter of putting another one on the print schedule).

3D Printed School Number/Signs: Further Updates

Challenge/Background: On August 6th 2018 a student from the classroom produced a series of numbers to represent the classrooms of our school.    The numbers which are for emergency evacuation assembly have been attached to a outside fence and left directly exposed to the elements.   We have previously updated the conditions of these prints on this blog, and have again revisited them in the heat of summer in New Zealand. 

We have now reached the six month mark.   During this time we have had a multitude of weather directly affecting the numbers and they are in an open position on a fence next to a field with no coverage protection what-so-ever.   Given that there is no visible weather to the PLA plastic of the numbering, and very little evidence of the fading of the colouring of the numbers.   This can be illustrated by comparing one of the original prints as mounted on the wall six months ago, compared to a print that has been taken today.   Seen below there is very little evidence of weathering.

Left:
As shown today (Thursday 17th of January 2019).    There has been a close up of the print to show clearly that there is no evidence of cracking or any obvious discolouring of the orange colour of the original print.

Left:
As originally mounted on the fence in early August 2018.  As compared to print above you can clearly see the colour has been maintained and there is no obvious change in condition.

3D Printed Lettering - Classroom Identification Numbers

Project Overview: Over the course of the last week the student in charge of the classroom has been working to produce individual lettering for each classroom in the school.  This process has been detailed in the previous post on this blog. 

Each of the featured numbers followed a similar design process, that is they were created using the basic Tinkercad Interface and had holes introduced into the design to allow mounting onto a wire fence.

We had the process of design and we were looking at a practical task - to ensure that our classrooms at school had a marked location which was easily recognizable in which to assemble outside for Fire drills.  We also are going to be testing the ability of the 3D Printed PLA Designs to withstand the outside environment - to check for weathering, damage etc. 

How could it apply to you in the classroom: Individualise you classroom badge or numbering on a school wide basis.  You could colour code your numbers or even look at using glow-in-the-dark filament for affect (although having said that would you be present at the classroom during darkness).  You could also personalise a door with lettering and instructions (such as do not enter without a teacher, when door is closed filming is in progress etc).