Lesson Plan - Plastics and 3D printing

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Plastics are ubiquitous materials that surround us in every aspect of our lives, from clothing to phones, computers, and household appliances. But plastics are not a single material; they encompass a diverse array of substances. 3D printing utilizes plastics to create objects designed or scanned using computers to produce physical models. This lesson will focus on teaching students about plastics, with a specific emphasis on PLA, and its application in FDM 3D printing to manufacture objects. The lesson will culminate in having the students 3D print a PLA molecule, which they can then assemble into a long chain to visually demonstrate the molecular structure of PLA at the microscopic scale. The objective of this lesson plan is for students to acquire knowledge through reading and discussion of the subject matter, followed by practical application with hands-on interaction with the required equipment. Students will achieve the following objectives: • Understand 3D printing – Through a combination of reading, discussion, and hands-on examination of a 3D printer. • Learn about plastics & PLA (chemistry) – By reading and investigating plastics, their chemical structure, formation, and examining filament material. A 3D printed molecular model will be used to engage students in understanding the PLA molecule chain and plastics. • Acquire knowledge about 3D printing with PLA – Through reading and practical operation of the 3D printer. • Learn to 3D print parts using a 3D printer and observe its operation – By engaging in practical 3D printing to produce the PLA molecular model parts that will be assembled by the students. This lesson is divided into five parts: P1 – Introduction to FDM 3D printing and building objects P2 – Plastics & PLA: Introduction into plastics & chemical structure of PLA P3 – How 3D printers use plastics to make objects P4 – Practical 3D printing: Setting up a model for 3D printing in Cura software and 3D printing P5 – Reviewing the 3D printed model: Assembling the PLA molecule from the printed parts and reviewing with students. Come learn to design and prototype at Black Ram Industries.