Misc. 3D Prints: Basic Designs - Further Development in 2021

Left: A recent variation of the 'name badge/name plate design'.   In this case the student decided to use a shout out/speech bubble as the background for the name of the person that it was designed for.    The design was a first for this student who was creating something independently (using video tutorials).   The basic design is low level introduction to 3D Printing. The design measured 170mm across and was 75mm high.   The width of the design was 10mm for the base and the lettering was 10mm further extending outside of the print.   The student is being challenged to produce/add to the print by using spray paint or other design aspects to complete the process.   One aspect of the design that could be further investigated in terms of use is to use the speech marks aspects of helping students with speaking prompts.   The time of the print is related to the use of the printer was four hours.   This was relative to the size - however the base of the speech bubble has a point to it as shown in the photograph, it will be interesting to monitor the length of time that it remains on the print.

Left: Another 'stationary holder' unit designed by a student who is developing their 3D Printing skills.   The student was wanting to developing a significant print and spend time decorating it and developing it further with the use of LED lights and spray painting.  The student designd a print that took thirteen hours to print, and there is an error in the design of the print - the tower at the front left has not been linked to the entire print, this means that this part of the holder will detach from the main print.   When the students has an opportunity they will break the tower off and then create an innovative way to connect it to the main print.    Otherwise the student has been wanting to print this for several weeks prior to be being completed.   While the design of the print is straightforward it has provided a link to more complicated and challenging prints.   This will be updated when the student has completed the decoration and presentation of the unit fully.

Left: Another variation of the basic design - this in particular is for a younger family member which was specifically designed with this in mind - however the biggest question will be over the lettering which would be more resilant if the lettering had been reduceded in height.

This project will require to an addition of painting and other decoration before it is completed.   It currently has dimension of 140mm across 120mm high and had a thickness (width) of 20mm.

 Further additions to this print will be made and documented.

Combining the 3D Printer and the Laser Cutter

One of the technologies that we have been always intending to integrate together has been the 3D Printer at the Laser Cutter.  At our school we are very lucky in addition to having mulitple 3D Printers we have a significantly large laser cutter at our school.   

One of the challenges that we have made to the students is can the laser cutter use MDF to cut and then we complete the project by using a 3D Printer to complete it.

This example has taken a theme that the students have frequently used and designed a stationary holder for the students work tools.    In this example the box has been made using the laser cutter and cut out of MDF.  The box shape has been designed to hold the students pen and pencils and the name plate then glued to the outside.  In the example the student has used a 3D Print of a name plate, one of the basic introductory tasks that the students complete when they first join the classroom.

The design in use can be shown on the left while in use.   The instructions for the plate printing follow very similar instructions that we have printed elsewhere on this blog, essentially following the badge/keyring/name plate template and instructions so we will note repeat them here.

One issue discussed with the student is how to finish the presentation - spray painting is the obvious example a layer of spray painting applied to the entire design would provide a seal for the MDF and in addition to this would combine both the laser cut and the 3D Print together.

This is a further development of a print that we have been developing and has previously been detailed on this blog.   The blog design featured a 3D Print that was a blue base - the intention with this has always been to use the 3D Print to produce the print but spend time creating and developing the art aspect of the print - spray painting it and adding additional features.    There are further elements to be added to this print before it is completed and it will be updated here further.

3D Printing and Adapting: Feedback

Challenge: For novice 3D printing students to create something unique

Background: Following on from the previous print on this blog the students concerned wanted to create a personalised 3D Print for one of the members of staff.   The staff member had particular design ideas and composition ideas that were bounced back between her and the students.   The group of students having successfully completing the design of the print were then able to repeatedly meet with the person that it was designed for and receive feedback about its composition and design.   This feedback was invaluable because it challenged the students to rework their design, check that they had completed the component pieces that were required and that their deisgn was sound.    One of the key elements in Tinkercad for 3D Printing is to group elements of an object and this group of students twice printed letter that was not group requiring it to be redone.   They also didn't think about the composition of the design, initially having universal lettering that didn't offer any variation as the final design did.

An example of not preparing the print correctly is shown on the left, as the 'McCarthy' part of the lettering is shown is disconnected from the main print.   This would have an extremely short timeframe before you would expcet to be considerable damage to the lettering.   

The intention in having the three different holes in the base of the design was to represent the three members of the particular whanau (family) that this is designed for.   This print needs to undergo further work with that being focussed on spray painting and some affects.   Again the person that the print has been designed for has specific ideas about this.

Level of Difficulty: Low - there are many versions of this project on this blog and many have been completed during the past few years, there is some difference, inclduding putting the holes into the design.   The students involved in this project were Year Five students who were working on their 3D Print on the second attempt.

Size: The final design was 100mm across, 80mm high and 10mm high.    The surname in the lettering was 7mm higher than the base and the Girls was 5mm above the base.   The subtle difference between the two fonts created a significance point of difference with the lettering.    

Timeframe: Two hours - about right for this print given that it was a two hour time frame.   Given the overall purpose of the print the size of the print was determined by this.    

What we would do differently: Nothing for this project.  It allowed a group of students to create something specific for someone who is able to given them detailed feedback about the print meaning the students were able to rework and adapt the print.

3D Printed Design: Split into halves

Challenge: Can a print be split perfectly into two seperate and distinct halves?

Background: Looking to extend some students who were taking their first steps with 3D Printing.   Following tutorials that the students watched that had been created by former students they produced the design on the left.   This design took three hours to print was 100mm across 95mm high and 10mm thick.   When it was completed we discussed ways in which to alter and change it, which the students agreed to do by taking it and spray painting it.   The next challenge to get the students to deveop their design and thinking skills was how can we take this design and split it into two equal parts, down the middle so it consisted of two seperate pieces - would that be possible?   The students spent time brainstorming possible solutions and design modifications that needed to be made, they realised quickly

that the initial print didn't have the lettering centered correctly, the word best was slightly off, so that was adjusted.   'friends' also needed adjustment as in addition to having an odd number of letters was not correctly placed on the print.

Left you can see the original design, which was subsequently spray painted to alter the colour and the second copy that was made.   This consisted of two seperate prints with the dvision between the print coming directly down the middle of the design.

The solution to the problem of cutting the print in half came from a third student who realised that a hole could be placed over the full design to mask half of the print, and then the print was downloaded and printed.   When the hole was then shifted to the second side of the print it was a matter of ensuring that the same measurement or point at which the print was split was repeated so that the two halves of the print matched, while this seems a little complicated the students involved mastered it at the first attempt and the two havles matched perfectly.

Level of Difficulty: High, until a plan was developed to identify how to cover one half of the design and then print the other without compromising the original design which the students mastered at the first attempt.

Size: The remodelled design was slightly smaller than the original being 90mm across and 90mm high.   The print remained 10mm thick with the lettering a further 5mm above the base of the print.

Timeframe: The two seperate pieces took just over an hour each so slightly less than the original.

What we would do differently: The two seperate prints need to be decorated which the students will likely opt to do with spray painting.   They are looking for the opportunity to use chains to hang the designs from.    This is two nine year olds first experience with a 3D Printer so it can be considered to be extremely succesful. 

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 Component Piece for Sound Lure Project

Left: A small motor has been designed as part of the sound lure project.   This motor runs in conjunction with a sound/noise with an electrical circuit to attract pest animals to a trap situation.   Given the nature of the electronics and the motor that was present casing was needed to be created to protect the motor.

In testing that has occurred thread etc was attatched to the motors and then fouled the gear.   In the second instance animals, in this case the Australian Brush Tailed Possum, which is a massive invasive pest in New Zealand, has shown interest in the sound lures and has damaged the electronics that have been created or part of the students project.

The 3D Printer is ideal in this case to produce protection that can be custom made for the project.   A student created a quick shape that was able to be easily tested for size and then slotted over the motor and the key elements of the unit.

The print took a short timeframe of forty five minutes to produce a box - this initial box had a twenty percent infill (the students will experiment with increasing this for additional protection)

Design was extremely straightforward from one of the basic shapes from the main Tinkercad interface.  A four to five minute technology design job.

3D Printed Exemplar Oversized Key Ring

Challenge: To produce an oversized key ring for the purpose of a heavy use item.

Background: This has been completed before for a variety of purposes, in each case the purpose has been for a heavy use item such as a school key or key that has multiple uses and access for it.   Be design the print is made large so that it cannot be placed inside a pocket or easily left somewhere due to its size.   The aspects of the design are all detailed here in instructional video form and step by step guides.

For further information the student concerned with this project is eight years old, but was able to follow the instructions that were provided in a 'flipped' video format that had been created by other students.   There was no additional instruction that was required by the student who was able to produce the final product as shown above and deliver it to the teacher, whose sole action was then to print it.

Level of Difficulty: Low - the student was working for the first time to produce something and was able to master the skills involved relatively easily.   This will be the first product produced by 3D Printing by this student and hopefully from here they will lead onto working on more complicated and detailed projects.

Size: Please keep in mind that this was delibrately made oversized with the intent of it standing out.   The design measures 190mm across, 90mm high and is 5mm thick.   The main lettering is 30mm high (including the base).   The secondary lettering was raised 5mm off the base plate to create the affect of the lettering.

Timeframe: Six hours, with a 6mm nozzle and machines that are Ultimaker 2+ which are six years old.

What we would do differently: The student was intending to spray paint this, however the item is to be used significantly and as a result the item will remain with the black base as shown in the photograph.  As a first print by a student starting to develop their skills this has been extremely effective.