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Every year, CREATE Education look to sponsor F1 in schools projects, through offering low cost 3D printer or 3D Technology loans or free spools of filament. We want to encourage access to 3D printing and getting involved with projects, such as F1 in schools, helps us to do this on a national scale.
One school we have sponsored, this year, is Hempland Primary School, York. Year 6 teacher, Mr Dyer, has recently aquired two Ultimaker 2+ Connect 3D printers from CREATE Education and is putting it to good use as part of Bullet Team’s F1 bid, read on to find out how!
Written by Mr Dyer, Year 6 Teacher at Hempland School, York.
It seemed like fate: two huge projects arriving in school simultaneously. Firstly, we decided, as a school, to enter the F1 in Schools (Primary Class) project for the first time. Then, arriving closely behind, came two fantastic Ultimaker 2+ Connect 3D Printers. We had previously taken advantage of Create Education’s amazing offer to loan a 3D printer and had quickly seen its potential. Some fund-gathering from the Friends of Hempland followed, and then the two printers arrived!
Quickly, we looked at how we could use the Ultimaker 3D Printers to enrich the F1 in Schools project. Unfortunately, we discovered early-on that we were not allowed to use the printers to produce parts for the car itself. There were, however, many other ways that we could utilise this inspirational resource.
Firstly, we used the printers to create a wind-tunnel. This was downloaded from a design on Thingiverse and it worked perfectly. The children were able to see how their cars would move through the air, and could decide how to reduce drag and make them more aerodynamic. This was something that we had only previously believed would be available for high-end engineering firms. Thanks to the 3D printers, this was no longer true.
We also used the Ultimakers for some fundraising. The children designed some products, and found others on Thingiverse, that we could print and then sell: mobile phone stands, fidget spinners, articulated slugs and adjustable tablet stands were all very popular. The money went towards materials to build the car, the nets/wheels/axles etc, some branded clothes to wear on the race-day, and a myriad of other costs that soon built up. Within two days we had raised over £200 from a small stall, run by the children after school.
For the race day, the children were encouraged to set up a “pit garage”, with the intention of allowing the children to share their team identity and brand. To develop this area, the children printed display stands for their cars. They also had previously designed their own logos (using Adobe Express) and then used Tinkercad to convert these into 3D printed models for their displays, printed in their team colours. They really added to the identity of the stand, as well as providing the children with something to take home as a memento of the
event. Also as a memento, and a “gift” for the judges, the children put their logo into key rings, and printed these as well.
In summary, although we couldn’t use the printers directly on the car, the two Ultimaker 3d Printers certainly added to the experience of the children. They impacted directly on the design of the car, aided in the purchase of key materials and allowed the children to share their group identities through their pit garages. They added a range of positive experiences to the whole project.
And next year, they WILL help us reach the national finals…