• 08:30am - 09:00am: Snacks, coffee and networking
   

• 09:00am - 10:30am: Module 1 - Introduction to 3D Printing
   

• 3D Printing Fundamentals (Presentation)

  • 3D printing refers to additive manufacturing (AM), a broad class of manufacturing methods, but all involve the sequential addition of materials, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing 

  • Introduction to the family of 3D printing technologies:

    • FDM - cover briefly as we will cover it in great detail later

    • Stereolithography 

    • Laser sintering

    • Multi Jet Fusion 

    • Niche AM including layered paper printers and house printers

 

• Deep dive into FDM -  the printer of the classroom and hobbyist

  • FDM Printer configurations

  • 3 axes and their control systems

  • Hot ends and extruders - how they function and their limitations 

  • Which materials can be printed and why

  • Run through of commonly used materials
     

• Slicing - how to convert the file into the language of the printer

  • Slicing converts a model into tool paths in 2D slices

  • Slicing considerations - precision and mechanical properties

  • Overhangs

  • Advanced slicing settings
     

• Models and data types

  • Meshes and why they are used

  • File types and model repositories

  • CAD created files

  • 3D scanners and their place in the classroom
     

10:30am - 11:00am: Morning tea and coffee
 

 11:00am - 12:30pm: Module 2 - Get printing!

• Printing practically

  • Create slicing profiles of a range of models and consider print times, material properties and expected forces

  • Estimate bed adhesion and support needs

  • Set up and level a range of printers

  • Load and unload filaments of varying materials

  • Change nozzles and see differing results

  • Calibrate printers and check for errors and inconsistencies

  • Experiment with varying print beds and adhesive treatments
     

• Keeping your printer primed

  • Common printer errors

  • Troubleshooting 101

  • Servicing schedule

 

12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lunch and Workshop tour
 

1:30pm - 2:45pm: Module 3 - 3D prints in the classroom and educational aides   (Presentation and practical)

• Summary of educational usefulness

• Advantages of 3d printing: precision, complexity and set and forget nature 

• Disadvantages of 3d printing: slow speed, moderate material cost and schools generally only have several machines so whole classes can’t print together

• This set of attributes makes them perfect to create instructional aides and lab tools

• Differences in applications and scenarios for Science and Tech teachers 

• Demonstration of a wide range of instructional aides and the materials, slicing setting and other properties that would be used to print them
   

• Maths and Physics

  • Wave patterns and propagation

  • Fractals

  • Triangle geometry and pythagoras 

  • Calculus and derivatives

  • Cosine curves

  • Gravity and acceleration ball paths

  • Optics - refraction through lenses, focal length, inverse square law

  • Oscillation - period vs length/ mass independence and 

  • Drop test rigs

  • Resonant frequencies 

  • Wave machines

  • Planetary motion - rotating 3d printed solar system

  • Planets printed to scale
     

• Biology 

  • Cellular organelles

  • DNA and base pairs

  • Protein folding models

  • Brain regions

  • Heart Anatomy

  • Paleontology and evolution (humanoid skull morphologies)

  • Insect traps/ pitfall traps
     

• Chemistry

  • Molecular models

  • Atomic structure 

  • Valence and compound formation 

  • Calorimetry 

  • Crystal growth matrix - controlled growth

  • Erosion and weathering

  • Electron orbital concept
     

• Earth science

  • Erosion models

  • Catchment flow

  • Glacial geomorphology

 

2:45pm - 3:15pm: Afternoon tea
 

3:15pm - 4:30pm Module 4 - Designing the lab you actually want (Mixed mode - Presentation/ Demonstration/ CAD session)
 

• Lab equipment can be expensive, can’t be customised and takes time to arrive, making 3d printing an excellent alternative

• Traditional manufacturing requires minimum order quantities, however one off designs are available for your applications

  • 80 Tweezer models available and many of these can be modified

• Lab tools and how to print them

  • Simple lab prints

    • Warning and hazard signs

    • Squeeze squirt cap for PET bottles 

    • Snapable test tube system - Snaprack

    • Laboratory tongs

    • Lab rotator 

    • Lab stand

    • Microscope eye piece adapters

    • Specimen holders

  • Complex equipment prints

    • Galileo Modular Microscope

    • Low cost labshaker

    • Fluid mixing

    • Microfluidic channels (laminar flow, diffusion)

    • Gas collection chambers (e.g. electrolysis demos)

    • Printed smartphone spectrometer
       

• Open CAD software and demonstrate the process of designing and editing lab models. Teachers can watch or follow along on their CAD packages