New ideas - Food Webs.

One of our science teachers has an idea.....

Food webs are abstract concepts that some students have trouble with.  IF we had visual models of the organisms in the food web and they were able to get connected in a 3D space (like tinkertoys), students could actually build the webs and visualize the relationships.

How this would look - A set of organisms and connectors.  The organism models would be a uniform size and have 14 holes "drilled" about them in two intersecting planes where  connectors could go.

Problem - this product does not exist!

Solution - Enlist students to design and print the sets in 3D!

Stay tuned.....  

First big project

Our first big printing project. A 10x10x10cm desk organizer that is designed like a fidget cube. 42 hour print, 350 grams, 20 % infill. Designed by a group of grade 8 technology students.

Cross your fingers for us!!!!!

UNFORTUNATELY

This is the way it turned out. The plastic was crossed over on the spool and ruined the feed of plastic about an hour ago.  We shall try again......

Learning

This picture illustrates supports that are printed to hold up parts of the object. The knob to the right has the support removed and the knob to the left has the support still in place. The semi circular protrusion to the right has had its support cut away, but it is still standing nearby.

Perseverance pays off

Hot off the presses Dec 17

These are examples of work done by students during our "Do you wanna build a cookie cutter?" initiative to further penetrate the school and informally generate interest in 3D Printing among all students. Unfortunately, printing facilities can't keep up with the demand and we are struggling to maintain interest. We are now searching for outside assistance to help us meet the demand.

Another class set of Keychain Fobs!

Yet another set of class keychains. This is a great way to introduce students to 3D Printing quickly. The results show that students have learned from previous projects by other classes. One pic also shows opportunity for learning. One item was printed too thin and warped during printing, as a result.

Design Project in Grade 8 - CRAZY Desk Organizers

Student in the Grade 8 Technology classes are involved in a design project using the 3D Printer. In groups, they are creating a 10cmx10cmx10cm desk organizer....a CRAZY Desk Organizer to be exact.

As you can see by the screen capture below they are using Google Slides to document their process. They have defined the problem, researched ideas, drafted a design brief, generated alternate solutions, and are now working on their final solution. That final solution will be the file they print on the 3D printer. In the final design, they must consider the constraints of the materials and manufacturing process they are using.

A selection of alternate ideas students have drawn in Tinkercad can be found below:

Like a game of Tetris!

This is a crowded print board of key chains for grade 8-2. They will finish printing tonight and be available tomorrow! This is an approximately 12 hour job. All of the yellow elements were files sent to the teacher as mesh files. They were added into Ultimaker Cura, the software you see in the picture. The individual mesh files (.stl format) are arranged on the board for printing. Settings such as nozzle temperature, bed temperature, % infill, and skirtings for non-flat objects are added here. The file is them "sliced" which means it written as a CNC code script for the 3D printer. It is loaded into the 3D printer and then the magic happens!

This is a picture of the printer working on this file:

Newfoundland themed Christmas Cookie Cutters

As part of their Christmas holiday season project in NL Studies, some students are using the 3D printer as part of their projects. Maysa, and international student from  Brazil, is making a cookie cutter that looks like a Newfounland dog:

The finished product:

Promoting 3D Printing at Crescent

Next week we are going to have lunch time sessions that encourage students to design and print their own seasonal cookie cutters:

Thank You Brilliant Labs!

At the beginning of this school year, the school was notified about available funding through Brilliant Labs for technology related projects that enhanced the curriculum. We requested a 3D Printer and were provided one from Creality.

We proposed a project in which 3D Printing would be integrated into the Grade 8 Junior High Technology, Design and Fabrication and NL Studies Curriculum. This activity would also be used to exposed the rest of the school to 3D printing and create future interest and growth. We also agreed to share our journey. This will be achieved through this blog.

John Barron and his team at Brilliant labs have been very supportive, delivering the printer in person and pre-configuring it themselves. Responses to questions have also been quick and supportive.

Students have been introduced to the 3D printer by simply making keychains using Tinkercad and getting inspiration from Thingiverse. This has given us all an introduction to 3D printing and also created other learning opportunities that fit into concepts of the production curriculum. There were many design considerations we encountered when trying to print various plastic shapes on the flat bed of a vertical 3D printer. Production also included some cutting, forming, shaping, and finishing after the initial printing. Better design planning reduced the need for "post printing" production as we have come to call it.

Some pictures of our progress are below! More to come:

Above: One of our first attempts. The Bed temperature was not set correctly, parts came off the bed mid printing and a little bit of chaos ensued. Learning experience #1!

Above: Success! Note the little guy with the glasses. Objects like this required a lot of post-production work dues to "skirts" that were printed to support suspended parts.

Above: A closeup of our first successful run.

Above: More "keychains"

Above: Another batch hot off the printing bed

Above: A "post production table" that has evolved in the classroom where students clean up their work.