“I started attending 3D Design & Printing club this year, and it is actually much better than what I thought. It is more serious than other clubs I have been in before. I mean, we actually do stuff and print stuff. For this year, we tried to find problems in school and to solve them in groups. Mathew and I are in a small group and we are solving an iPad charging problem. Mr.D, who is our teacher, started with teaching us the steps of designing. We first should find a problem, then find a solution and make a design on paper. Next is the big part — making the prototype. We started off with cardboard. Our project was pretty complicated, so the first day all we did was measuring and calculating. The next class we started on cutting work, which is hard with the cardboard.
Though it was hard, it was still worth it, as the prototype worked! Obviously, we had a little celebration. Next was the tech stuff, which I am better at as I did some printing before. We still had a major problem, our design was too big for the printer, which meant that it couldn’t be printed. We cut our design in two parts, printed it out and then glued the two pieces together. The rest worked out well, and the iPad charger is usable. We presented it to Ms Pamela, to use in her class. We are looking for more problems now, so if you have anything you know that can be printed, contact us or Mr.D.” Tiantian - Grade 6.
“In the 3D Design & Printing after-school activity, we learned how to design objects. Olwen, Panduleni and I decided to make something to hold the HDMI cable for the smartboard or TV in our classes so that they were not just lying on the floor. We made it so that it can fit in the table by measuring and constructing a prototype out of cardboard to see how it would work. We then started the design on the computer. We used a website called Tinkercad. Tinkercad allows you to make 3D models. It was very difficult to do it because of the spacing and height but we figured it out. When the design was complete, we sent it to the printer. It sounds easy but it took a very very long time to make designs and print everything.
We are now looking for a problem around the school that we can design a solution for and 3D print it. If you have an idea please email Mr.D. We really love 3D printing and it is fun to do. We think 3D printing I a great activity for kids to learn how to problem solve and work as a team.” Oliwia & Olwen - Grade 5.