rapman-education's posterous

rapman-education's posterous

Dave White  //  A place for educators, teachers, lecturers and students to find "stuff" about RapMan,BfB3000 and BfB 3DTouch printers... The unofficial Blog by Dave White, Advanced Skills Teacher and Head of D&T in Clevedon School UK.

Aug 2 / 8:49pm

Additive Manufacturing in Space

Zero_g1

Fancy a change to your usual workshop or classroom, why not try moving into outer space?

A BFB™ 3000 3D printer has successfully completed two zero-gravity test flights in partnership with MADE IN SPACE, a startup dedicated to providing solutions for manufacturing in outer space.

MADE IN SPACE believes that the advantages of 3D printing make it the perfect system for use in outer space. “3D printing and in-space manufacturing will dramatically change the way we look at space exploration, commercialization, and mission design today,” said Aaron Kemmer, CEO and Co-Founder of MADE IN SPACE. “The possibilities range from building on-demand parts for human missions to building large space habitats that are optimized for space.”  MADE IN SPACE plans additional zero-gravity and suborbital testing over the next twelve months.

From http://blog.3dsystems.com/2011/08/bfb-3000-conquers-zero-gravity.html

Jul 18 / 5:43pm

Technology in Education- 3D Printing

Click here to download:
Technology in education.pdf (3.12 MB)
(download)

The June/July 2011 copy of “Technology in Education” magazine has been delivered to all schools and colleges in the UK. The cover story is about 3D printing with BfB Printers (RapMan and BfB3000)…. And there is a bit about my students, school and me !!

Thought you might like to see it.

Dave

Jul 2 / 1:21pm

Why 3D printing in Education?

Why 3D printing in education? … that’s quite a question! ….. I started twittering recently ( @davewhite60 ) and now have a few followers. And because of this a fellow teacher started to wonder what this 3D printing is all about…. Well, he started by browsing my blog and then started asking questions, so I put my thoughts together and here’s what I came up with…

- Why is this technology important in education? Why do you dream that one day every school might have a 3D printer?

·         3D printing technology is new… It is developing really quickly and as educators we can’t afford to miss out on keeping up with new technologies. Students need to be aware of current industrial and commercial practices and the BfB machines are so affordable (both to purchase and the materials to run them) that this technology becomes “accessible” to them.

·         Rapid prototyping in schools has been limited to subtractive technologies… again costly in hardware and consumable materials, especially for complex parts. Designers and industrialist are moving towards additive technologies for prototyping and small batch production.

·         The use of 3D printing opens up a fast route to “Iterative designing”… students are able to design 3D parts, print, test and evaluate them… if it doesn’t work then try again. This inevitably increases innovation in designs that the students produce.

·         It is possible for students to produce designs that are “impossible” to manufacture -even with 4 axis subtractive machines, yet these can be realised through 3D printing. Students have been “limited” in the past to designing and making things that can only be made by hand or through simple machine processes… to a great extent this limitation is virtually removed – “if you can draw it you can make it”… almost.

·         Student engagement…. Once they have mastered 3D designing and have produced their first 3D print they keep coming back for more! Holding a realistic 3D model in your hands communicates infinitely better than a computer image… a real wow factor.

·         3D printing is not just for D&T… Artistic sculptural forms can be designed and made; Geographers can model 3D terrain; Mathematical shapes can be modelled; Architectural and historical buildings/structures studied as 3D models; Moulds for food products; Cells, atoms, DNA and other scientific concepts can be modelled… etc. etc.

·         There are strong links to PLTS (Personal Learning and Thinking Skills). Creative thinkers and Reflective Learners… through iterative design processes. Team workers and Effective participants… collaborative design/make projects. etc

- What would you say to a school leader or Headteacher to persuade them to invest? (Maybe similar to the above).

·         I think this has been pretty much covered in the above from the “Learning” point of view.  But seeing this technology in action is by far the best persuasive argument!

·         Economy… A BfB machine costing less than £1k is probably the least expensive 3D CAD/CAM option available to schools and running costa are low at approx. £45 per kilo…. For the cost of one “big” machine you could have a machine in every D&T room.

·         Why not consider a RapMan as a “start-up” project for an engineering course or club…. Lots to be learned about engineering principals assembling a kit… and a fully working machine at the end of the project as a bonus.

·        

- What, in your opinion, is the 'future' of this technology?

·         Wow, quite a question!!! Not so long ago people dreamed of having a computer in their home, and then PC’s came along. People dreamed of communication “on the move” for the masses, everyone now has a mobile phone with the computing capacity that rivals desktop computers of only a few years ago… so what about 3D printers…. Every home will have one, well maybe not every home but 3D printing will be more accessible to the masses to make spare parts for broken appliances, create bespoke components/objects, etc. just download the design and print it at home.

·         Industrial applications may mean that stocks of spare parts no longer need to be kept… just print a new one.

·         Medical/dental applications…. “Bio printing” spare parts for the human body.. a technology that is in its infancy.

- Are there any existing problems in the world that this technology can/might be able to solve?

Without going too far into the realms of fantasy…

·         A 3D printer is/could be a “workshop on the desktop”, manufacturing complex designs in remote locations (even outer space) or in less economically developed countries becomes a reality.

·         A physical bridge between cyberspace and physical reality… sending 3D objects around the world… without actually shipping them.

·         But perhaps the medical/bio applications are where the greatest impact on mankind will happen

- Any *brilliant* ideas? (No obligation) What might the future hold?

·         Woaaa…. Where did I put my crystal ball and my rose tinted binoculars???

Jun 23 / 7:37pm

Teachmeet - presentation

Click here to download:
DW teachmeet2.pdf (2.26 MB)
(download)

Earlier this evening I had the privilege of doing a presentation at the Clevedon Teachmeet. As you will be able to see in an earlier post in this blog the Teachmeet is a gathering of very keen teachers who give up their own time to tell others about something exciting that they do in ICT.. that relates to  learning.

I was able to present on the 3D Printing Revolution and how this is “accessible” to students in schools with RapMan and BfB3000 printers. (I’ve included a copy of my presentation here).

I couldn’t believe the enthusiasm and interest, and I hope that the delegates are now inspired enough to spread the word about the democratisation of 3D printing… and hopefully more students will be using this technology in the near future.

Jun 19 / 4:26pm

Teachmeet... a reminder

Teachmeet Clevedon  #TMClevedon takes place this week… 23rd June 17.30 – 20.30 (UK time) some more details here http://rapman-education.posterous.com/teachmeet-the-3d-printing-revolution  I’m hopefully doing a presentation about the 3D printing revolution. Not certain if this will be streamed across the web but if not I’ll post my presentation here.

Dave

 

Edit... just heard that this event should be streaming live details will be posted here  http://bit.ly/tmclevedon2 .... ok the 3D printing will only be a short presentation and I'm not certain what time my slot will be... but why not settle down with a cuppa and enjoy some really enthusiastic educators sharing their gems of wisdom.

 

 

Jun 14 / 8:33pm

Spreading the 3D word.

I had an interesting morning in school today. Some visitors from a school in Chippenham (way outside my normal area of operation) spent a chunk of the morning finding out all about 3D printing (of course RapMan and BfB3000 featured lots in this).

It was really good to talk about how these printers can enhance the learning experience for Design and Technology students and also how to fit in 3D printing into the curriculum. I was able to demonstrate the Machines in action using the school BfB3000 and I dragged along my double head RapMan from home (yet another bumpy car ride for my poor machine!)

I think the guys went away duly impressed with the capabilities of the machines and with their brains buzzing with ideas of how they might spend their cash and introduce this technology to their school. I certainly had much to think about and now have a few ideas about how to support other schools with getting started.

Interestingly (for me anyway), This meeting came about by word of mouth and was linked to the T1 in Schools project (Techlink) mentioned in a previous post on this blog…. As an Advanced Skills Teacher in North Somerset it may mean that yet again my operating area goes beyond my Local Authority boundaries (ok, not as far as Germany this time J )and it could be an interesting development if I’m “commissioned” by a different Authority and “bought in” to help them with setting up and staff training…. But that’s an opportunity to explore at a later date.

Jun 9 / 8:31pm

A spin off from 3D printing

Today was one of those fantastic days…. I spent the day at Bath University with hundreds of Year6 pupils (10 and 11 year olds) racing model cars. The project is a bit like a junior version of the F1 in schools project…. The youngsters designed and made race cars using a Craft Robo (cutter/plotter) and produced a portfolio of their design work. The cars were fired down a 20m track using CO2 cartridges in about 1.5 seconds!!!

(download)

The school I have been working with entered 3 teams and although we didn’t make it to the finals at the Williams F1 team’s HQ we all had a brilliant time.

But where is the 3D printing spin off?  I have over the last year or so been working along with the guys from BfB to set up a class of car in the competition where the primary school teams could work with their local secondary school to print custom parts such as wheels, drivers or wings etc…. Unfortunately the current economic climate has meant that sponsors have had to pull out and we have not been able to get RapMan printers into the secondary schools. So the project is on hold….. unless a new sponsor steps in!.... any offers out there???

Anyway, as I’ve already said, we all had a brilliant day and the pupils have all had a fantastic learning experience… I wonder how many of them will now want to become engineers?

At the end of the day I asked the pupils in our teams to give me a WWW and EBI (What Went Well and Even Better If), they said….

WWW…. “We worked really well as a team even though we hadn’t worked together before”. “Working as a team we managed to achieve everything we set out to do”

EBI…. “…. If we could do this sort of thing more often”

Not bad comments from 10 year olds, eh!

Dave

(download)

Jun 5 / 4:33pm

Mmmm... Chocolate!

Chocolate

A new Teaching and Learning resource on the BfB wiki

Moulds, stamps and cookie cutters are covered in this resource.... For all you food lovers. And to help with using BfB 3D printers in Food Technology lessons.

This free resource can be downloaded from wiki.bitsfrombytes.com/index.php/Mmmm..._Chocolate!

May 30 / 2:58pm

Teachmeet - The 3D Printing Revolution

Clevedon20awe20and20wonder20lo

Just a little bit of a “heads up”… on 23rd June 2011, at some time between 17.30 – 20.30 I’m hoping to do a 7 minute “micro presentation” at the Clevedon “Teachmeet”. … and the theme… “The 3D printing revolution”!!

Teachmeets are organised all over the UK and are intended to allow teachers to showcase interesting or innovative classroom activity.

It is hoped that this Teachmeet will be broadcast live (and also archived) on the internet (details to follow). Lots of interesting “teaching and learning stuff” is already planned for the presentations…. But of course the best bit should be about my quest to introduce as many students as possible to the 3D printing revolution…. Democratising 3D Printing ( just borrowing 3D Systems catchphrase J )

Keep an eye on the following link for more details http://teachmeet.pbworks.com/w/page/39496551/Clevedon-23-June:-Inspiration,-Awe-and-Wonder   … or check back here to my blog.

Dave

May 25 / 6:15pm

BfB Axon2

Axon2

I just noticed that Axon 2 (Beta1) is available for download from the BfB website... (Resources>Technical Resources>Downloads (software, profiles, firmware and print test files)) . or try this link http://3dpedia.3dsystems.com/login.action?os_destination=%2Fhomepage.action&os_username=bfbcustomer&os_password=3dprinting

Axon is the program that converts .stl files to g-code for printing on RapMan and BfB3000 printers

I have done a bit of Alpha testing on this and it looks to be a big improvement on Axon1.

Lots of new goodies!!!..............Multi material support, new visualisations, better workflow and much more.... perhaps most importantly it is built on a recent version of Skeinforge that can easily be updated to newer versions (just drop the new version on top of the old one inside the program folder)

The last alpa version seemed to be pretty stable and i think Andrew has ironed out a few wrinkles before releasing the Beta1 version... But I'm sure that he will appreciate any comments or feedback to make the final release even better.

I’ve included a screenshot ... just to tempt you!

Dave

Oh and one final thing ... take a look at the "About" screen (on the blue tab, top left of Axon)... COOL!!! and thanks to the guys at BfB for this!!!