3D Printed Tractor Accessories: Revised

 

Challenge: To produce an authentic looking accessory for a 3D Printed tractor.

Background: On a previous post on this blog we detailed this project and the students involved have now addressed a number of issues that were present.  In the initial version, the post of which is here, the students had a connector pin created but it needed some refinement.   Some of the smaller details on the print needed reworking.

The students took the initial working print and tested it in conjunction with the tractor - they identified that pin required reworking (it was made bigger and was therefore more robust, the original broke early on).   The ends of the accessory were adapted to ensure that they were balanced.  An attempt was made to address the connection at the underside of the design although this still needs to be addressed.

In the photo left you can see the progression between the three stages of development.  Print one while it had a design was too small, the second print, bottom right had some details but required the refinement that was provided by the third print.    

The dimensions of the different prints (particularly from two to three) did not vary significantly (and you can see them here).  

The students now feel that they are at the point where they have a working model and now want a final phase of adjustment (small details, accessories and tweaks) before completing a final design.

There has also been a range of discussion about what else could be produced in this range to create additional accessories that the students are familiar with on account of our school being in a heavily dairy farming dominated area.  The video below shows the print in 'action'.

Room Seven Auroa Primary School: Week Nine

 

We've approaching the school holidays in New Zealand where we have our mid year break.   As it is a very busy time for our students we have a number of projects that are ongoing at the moment - and we wanted to share and highlight some of these.

In the print featured left the students working on the toy tractor accessories have reworked their original design which was featured on this blog here   It has been considerably resized however now works in conjunction with the tractor perfectly and the students are now looking at ways to refine the design and develop further accessories along the same lines.    

A seperate group of students are experimenting with the process of linking - starting with their names.   They are working with a former student who spent a considerable amount of time last year mastering the art.   You can see example of this students work here and here.   This is the link to the earlier post this month on the subject which you can see by clicking here.

Our students have been working in pairs on the 2026 version of the 'Pencil Sharpener Challenge.

In this challenge students have to take a small physical object (in this case a pencil sharpener, regular size to sharpen a regular HB pencil0 and build a 3D Print to house it.   This involves the students engineering a problem that needs to resolve the location and depth of a print, the exit of the sharpening once its been used and the overall look and composition of an original design.

It has proven to be something of a semi-regular challenge that involves a small outlay but allows the students to be engaged and consider size as well as the challenge of building something around an object.

There are a number of designs that feature on this blog that you can access by clicking on the link on the top right hand corner of this blog, as a search bar will allow you to locate everything tagged with this.

During the holidays we are celebrating our Matariki National Holiday - although we celebrate it slightly different in our region (Puanga).   This project is going to be a significant art project for the remainder of the term.    

Our students have been creating AR/VR images of both the constellation (for Matariki) and the star for Puanga which will be a physical display in our classroom.   You can click on the link to this work here or you can as always use the search bar.

Finally as an Apple Distinguished School we are sending a number of staff to the ANZ Apple Summit in July, please get in touch with our teachers (from Auroa School) if you see them there.

3D Printed Tractor Accessories

 

Challenge: To create an additional piece of machinery to work with a 3D Printed tractor.

Background: Last year one of the students located and found a 3D Printed tractor (stl) design which they were able to print out.  This tractor has survived over a calendar year and maintained its shape and features.  The student who owned the tractor brought it into the classroom and said that they wanted to develop something more for it.   On discussion they wanted to produce the machinery to go at the back of the tractor to dig fields.    They reasoned that by using Tinkercad they would be able to produce a piece.

The idea was to produce a rotary hoe attachment for the back of the tractor.   The first part of the design was to create something for the machinery - in this case the students located a wheel which they could invert and have attached the main body of the design which was a generic shape.

This was the first attempt to look at the bar connecting the two items.    

Resources used to complete this project: iPad, Tinkercad App, P1S Printer, PLA.

Level of Difficulty: Medium.   The design is going to undergo a number of revisions until the students are happy with this, this is the first in a potential series of prints designed and shaped by the students.

Size: The design at present is 110mm long at the base is 30mm wide and is sitting currently 20mm off the ground.   The beam to connect to the tractor is currently a rectangle that is 50mm long 10mm wide and 5mm thick.  Crucial to the success of this print is ensuring that the print can attach to the tractor.

Cost/Price: The print used 18g of PLA and a further 9g of PLA to support the print (in the form of the base).   This had a combined total of 27g and a cost point to produce this of $0.68c.

Timeframe: This project had a total print time of one hour and twenty six minutes.  This consisted of a six minute timeframe to put together the printer (ie warm it up) and a further one hour twenty to print the design.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: The students are going to spend time working out ways to add additional details towards the machinery, they are actively looking for additional parts that they feel could either be used as a imitation piece or be modified by themselves to add to the design.