3D Printed Cat Designs - Revised Versions

 

Challenge: To produce a unique and original 3D printed cat.

Background: This was designed by the students in Tinkercad, using the main interface.   Of note with the design features several parts from Tinkercad that can be used as part of the template to easily build features.  The two that are most noticeable are the paws at the base of the design and the tail.

The student also used the main geometric shapes to produce the rest of the animal and was going to use eyes to create the features for the face.  The designs have developed considerable since the first versions of them that were posted on this blog.

A section was removed at the back of the animal to ensure that the design had a purpose, which was for storage.   

The student who completed this project and is continuing to work on it is an eight year old

Size: The main body of the cat is 70mm long 40mm wide and 40mm high.    The head a further 30mm and the tail was another 50mm long.   The student had intended for this to be larger however we wanted to ensure that a few issues related to this design was resolved before we upscaled it.   One of Tinkercads best features is the potential to scale designs up or down depending 

Timeframe: Three hours to complete the print.  As noted this is intended to be an upsized print once it is proven to be workable with the current features.

What we would do differently/next steps for the student: The student is being challenged by the facial features presented by the cat.  They have changed this part of the design several times as they attempt to complete something that they are happy with.   They are intending to use additional eyes for the printing process and to base the design something similar to the red cat that is shown here.

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.