Students Recreate Eruption Effects with RapMan
I really don’t think I have to say too much about this article, just have a read J
North Somerset Mercury Jan 27 2011
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.
I really don’t think I have to say too much about this article, just have a read J
North Somerset Mercury Jan 27 2011
TES – The Times Education Supplement is published weekly for teachers and educators and has a circulation of over 50K copies in the UK.
On 14/1/2011 in the “Noticeboard” section the following brief article appeared about the use of RapMan in my school to print 3D terrain models – a cross curricular project with D&T and Geography.
It has already generated interest and as a result other schools have e-mailed to find out more details.
Free resources for this project can be found here http://wiki.bitsfrombytes.com/index.php/Geography_-_3D_Terrain and here http://wiki.bitsfrombytes.com/index.php/Geography_-_Mount_Saint_Helens_Volcano
At about 9.00am this morning (15/1/2011)I was interviewed live on air by the BBC about Clevedon Schools entry in the Guardian newspaper’s competition- the Classroom Innovation Award.
9.00am on a Saturday morning is far too early … I missed my “duvet time”…. and as it was going out live I do have to admit that I was a little nervous, I hope it didn’t show too much.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy listening to it, and I’m still keeping my fingers crossed waiting to hear how we got on in the competition.
The "podcast" above is an extract from the BBC Radio Bristol " Saturday Breakfast" http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00czj95/Saturday_Breakfast_15_01_2011/ (skip to about 2:48:45)
Dave
UPDATE !!!!!
I have just heard earlier today that our entry to the Guardian newspaper's Classroom Innovation Award has been shortlisted. (for details see my blog entry 2 below this one)
The top 3 presentations are now to be shown on the Asus stand at the BETT 2011 show in Olympia, London, UK. Visitors to the stand can then vote for the best idea.
So if you are going to the BETT show please drop into the Asus stand Hall/Stand: K29and vote for us... J
Don't forget you will be voting for Clevedon School’s 3D Printing video in the secondary school category J
Dave
... Oh, and in all my excitement I almost forgot.... A HUGE thank-you to everyone who e-mailed their vote for us
The Guardian newspaper in the UK is running a competition for "Classroom Innovation".... I couldn't resist entering a video from my school (Clevedon School) about 3D printing with BfB machines, so if you would like to see the clip have a look here www.guardian.co.uk/classroom-innovation/video/clevedon-school-3d-printing .... It was a bit of a rush to meet the deadline... oops
A preview can be seen on youtube
To be fair the other entries can be viewed here www.guardian.co.uk/classroom-innovation/award-video-entries .
But of course I would appreciate it if you could vote for us… we could win £7,500 of Asus computer equipment.
So... the information you need to vote for us
Email to send your vote to classroom.innovation@guardian.co.uk
School name ... Clevedon School. Subject of Video... 3D Printing
Closing Date 5pm 7th Jan 2011
…. And of course ask all your friends, colleagues and relatives to vote too!!!
Thanks
Dave
We have just arrived back from the Euromold show in Frankfurt. Bits from Bytes and 3D Systems invited me and a couple of students as Education Ambassadors to highlight the use of RapMan and BfB3000 3D printers in a schools context.
Throughout the show I was able to give presentations at the 3D Systems theatre showing examples of students work in 3D printing and the work I have done in developing teaching and learning resources and projects to give educators a hand in getting started and developing their use of 3D printers in D&T, STEM and cross curricular lessons.
The students and I also supported some German universities in the “RapMan Challenge”… the students competing to build a RapMan and print their first object. As the challenge was so successful this was also followed by a challenge to print the most interesting, high quality, innovative object. The winning universities were presented with a prize of a RapMan printer, materials, and a double head upgrade.
The student ambassadors were able to talk to the university students, potential customers and other educators about how 3D printing has enhanced their education and how they are using our schools printers to make objects for their A’Level exams. The students were also able to visit the stands and see how Rapid Prototyping is done with the large machines that are used commercially.
Unfortunately we did have some technical difficulties with Wi-Fi at the show and were unable to do any live blogging at the event, however in a few days’ time I will hopefully publish a more comprehensive report of our visit and some more photos.
Frankfurt was very cold and snow had recently fallen but this didn’t stop us from visiting a Christmas market in Darmstadt and also eating typical German food in a restaurant.
We had a fantastic time and wish to thank BfB and 3D Systems inviting us to attend Euromold for their friendliness and generosity.
Dave
Euromold 2010 is a World Fair for Moldmaking and Tooling, Design and Application Development taking place in Frankfurt, Germany on 1 - 4 December 2010. more details here http://www.euromold.com/index.php?id=51&l=1
Bits from Bytes Ltd and 3D Systems corporation have very kindly asked for me and a small group of students to attend the event where I will be giving presentations about how RapMan and BfB3000 printers can be used in schools. The students will be actind as "education ambassadors" talking to visitors about their work and building a RapMan 3.1 machine. We are hoping to be able to blog our activities (depending on internet access / wifi and the 1001 other technical difficulties we have yet to overcome)... so hopefully you will be able to track our progress here http://bfbeducation.posterous.com/
So, even if we can't manage to get the blog running and you happen to be in the Frankfurt area please drop in to see us and have a chat. Bits from Bytes will be in Hall 11.0 stand E26
I just thought you guys would like to see this print... and this time I can take very little credit for it
One of my D&T Product Design students is designing and making a flat pack moveable kitchen unit/trolley (a bit like an Ikea style butchers block on wheels)... as it is intended to be flat-packed he is designing the fixtures and fittings for it too... to get started he decided that for the first fitting he would produce would be the bottom corner bracket that holds the sides together and attaches the casters (wheels)- and being a little uncertain about the strength and size required he based his experimental part on an existing design that he "borrowed" from a conventional kitchen unit at home. (I do wonder if his parents know)
As you can see the ABS print (the red one in case you were wondering ) came out really well and as a test piece was very successful.... now he has started on his own designs that are more specific to his unit/trolley.
It is worth noting that this is a photo of the part straight off the machine with no post processing, cleaning up or even photo re-touching!!!
Dave
Last week a group of Design and Technology students visited the Bits from Bytes Headquarters in Clevedon, UK. The visit was intended to allow them to see first-hand different production methods in action. It is probably best for me to allow one of them to describe their visit....
In our recent visit to Bits from Bytes, we learned various things about the way in which their business works and how they operate. We were taken on a tour of the Bits from Bytes production facility, in an order identical to that of the resources used, what is meant by this is that we started where Bits from Bytes get there raw materials delivered, we then moved on to where the plastic is cut and shaped by laser cutters and finally finished where the products are finished and boxed ready for delivery.
The factory itself is divided into two parts, one side was dedicated to creating the RapMan kits for customers to purchase and build the machine themselves. A great investment for those who would like the experience of building it themselves and also would like to save money, as the kits cost less than the pre-built machines. The second area was dedicated to making BfB3000 machines for customers to buy and install without having to build or configure any parts, although these are charged at a higher price.
It was good to see the differences between the two methods of production and to be able to see one-off, batch production and production lines all operating in the same place.
Learning about manufacturing and production systems in a real life situation was much better than just researching or reading about it and should help us with our A ‘Level Design and Technology exam. Thank you to everyone at Bits from Bytes for allowing us to visit and making us so welcome.
Ollie Elson
… Couldn’t put it better myself!
But I would just like to add an "official" thank you from The Design & Technology Department at Clevedon School.
Dave
There are some opportunities to see RapMan and BfB3000 machines at a few events over the next few months
19 -20 October 2010- TCT Live 2010, Coventry, UK. http://www.tctmagazine.com/x/exhibition.html “THE event for the Product Development and Manufacturing Industry!” Exhibits cover the vast range of RP&M machines and technologies. In addition, the exhibition brings together major players from the sectors of Inspection, Scanning and Digitizing, CAD/CAM/CAE Software and Materials all of whom showcase their latest offerings presenting the perfect opportunity for the prospective visitor to appraise all of the latest technologies on the market. BfB are on stand G1 /H6, 3D Systems on stand M6/8
18 -20 November 2010 – D+T with ICT Education Show, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, UK. http://www.dteducation.co.uk/ The Design & Technology exhibition is the only subject specific event of its type relating to teaching Design & Technology in schools. It brings together suppliers, educators, resource providers, associations, professional bodies and teachers who have one common goal - to develop and encourage a technologically motivated generation of students who will provide the UK with the engineers and designers that the country needs in the future. Technology Supplies Ltd the UK distributor for education will be at Stand C62… there are sure to be machines on other stands too Denford Ltd? A1 Technologies? And more!
01 – 04 December, 2010 Euromold Frankfurt / Main, Germany, http://www.euromold.com/index.php?id=51&l=1 World Fair for Moldmaking and Tooling, Design and Application Development…. Sorry, no details at present but check on the website.
… so if you are thinking of buying a machine or just interested to find out more have a look at these events…. You never know we might even meet up there!