3D Printed 'Rainbow' Badge Exemplar

 

Challenge: For a student to individually create and produce an individualised badge.

Background: This task is a foundation task for students in our classroom.   The students are able to complete the task by following a flipped learning task from this instructional video and able to work independently.   This student is a Y4 student who is eight years old, with their second year experience with Tinkercad and 3D Design.

Crucial to this design was the addition of a hole, the name design being sunk into the base of the design instead of on the outside and the addition of three additional features two stars and the heart.

Size: The design was 60mm high and 110mm long.  It was 10mm thick.   As this is intended to be a robust badge that is able to be used to name a bag or swimming bag.

Timeframe: One hour and forty minutes.   Given the dimension of the print the time would be about correct.   This was produced on a Snapmaker printer using the Tinkercad design on the regular settings, including typical infill for the design (twenty percent).

What we would do differently/Next steps for the student: Nil.   This is an exceptionally well balanced design which is robust and detailed.   The print was completed using 'rainbow' filament which meant that there was no need to spray paint the final design.

3D Printed Ideas: Rainbow Filament - Market Day 2025

 

Every two years at Auroa School we hold a school market day where students sell products that are made using some of the technology that is available to students of Auroa Primary School, with our Market Day focussing on innovation and creativity.

We have posted about this in the past on this blog extensively, you can search the blog by using the box on the right hand side.

We also have videos on this event created by the wonderful staff member whose videos are featured on his Sonic Vision Studios Youtube page.

We have again started experimenting with different kinds of filament for designs.  In the past we have experimented with having students (supervised by our seniors) using spray painting in special circumstances.  The latest batch of prints that we are experimenting with are 'rainbow' tinted and shaded PLA.   You can see an example of the dragon shown in the top photograph, which was the basis for our 'Dragon' selling or the name plate/badge shown below, which has previously been featured on this blog.

3D Printed Junior Christmas Projects Summary

 

Two copies of a basic Snowman design, created by a Y3 student.   Features oversized and exaggerated features and large loop in the head for attaching to a tree.  

This design was completed independently by a student in their first year of TInkercad designing using the main interface, selecting a predetermined snowman and then manipulating the design to add the features.

A small thirty minute design and print which was 40mm high.  Printed in metallic (shown left) and marble PLA (shown right).

Left another snowman - this was created again from the main Tinkercad interface.  The student used the top hat to add a whimsical feature to it.   The student also wanted to include an 'M' for their name on the base of it as well (which can be seen in profile).

This design was completed independently by a student who is also Y3 however has shown an aptitude to create and design using Tinkercad.  They were able to brainstorm the idea come up with the design, complete it all and submit it for printing in under thirty minutes.  

The print was completed in forty five minutes and is 50mm high to the top of the hat.   

The print shows an example of what can be created using a rainbow or metallic PLA which created the stripes that can be seen.   As we have noted on this blog we have opted not to spray paint the design further with any of these designs.

"Elf on the Shelf" original design.   This student was inspired with and then worked in conjunction with the student who was working on the Christmas Angel.   The student has used a series of original objects and designs that are available from the main Tinkercad interface.   By manipulating and altering and adjusting the basic shapes that are available an "Elf' was developed.

While the ring was inserted to allow the design to be hung from a tree it also had a base created that allowed the design to stand and be placed in a variety of locations.  The student wants to focus on an issue of redesign, related to the face of the creation as the definition the student considered not completed.

The design was completed using the metallic PLA print took two and a half hours to print and was 70mm high with a 40mm base/wide.   Other than the facial issues as noted the student is not intending to redesign this print.

3D Printing with Rainbow Options - Revisiting Previous Projects

 

Traditionally the projects on this blog created and printed by students over the last ten years have featured a base filament (colour) which we have then spray painted for affects, colour and details.

Recently we have noticed as I am sure many of you have that the there have been a range of prints appearing with rainbow or multi-colours that have come directly from the PLA.

We have previously experimented with glow-in-the-dark filament, which we found to be a little challenging in particular when we then returned to more regular projects.

Recently we revised this approach.  We have located a range of rainbow filament which has different layers and shading to it and have started experimenting with it.

While some aspect of the difference in the print is shown in the photograph this has added some depth and colour to the prints.

We have revisited some of our more popular prints included the flexible kiwi, shown left or some of our name tags and badges shown above.

There is no current deviation for the temperature for the printer required and the filament appears to be as robust as ever, ensuring the stability of the students projects.