PopSticks

thingiverse

If you remember having fun with Tinkertoys as a kid, you'll love building with PopSticks. PopSticks are designed to let kids of all ages make stuff using inexpensive and safe popsicle sticks. Learn more about this project by watching the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UJrHordQXg As schools and libraries add 3D printers, it becomes tough to find meaningful projects. PopSticks combine critical thinking, design, CAD, 3D printer, and hands-on construction into a fun educational activity. This collection of connectors is just the starting point. The real fun and value are when an adult works with a child to create new connectors for a specific project. Let's say you want to build a bridge - work with a kid to think about the sticks needed and the connectors required, then go into Tinkercad and design the connectors. If you need an equilateral triangle as part of your project, what angle do you need in the connectors? How do you figure this out? Since popsicle sticks are very cheap, I recently bought 1,000 at a big box craft store for $7.00, and the connectors cost just a few cents each to print, making this project available to anyone with access to a 3D printer. Need longer sticks? Connect a couple of popsicle sticks with a straight connector. Need shorter sticks? These sticks are easy to cut with a wire cutter, craft saw or even a bread knife. To learn more, head over to the DrVax YouTube channel where I'll be teaching how to create connectors in Tinkercad and highlighting all the possibilities of PopSticks. Leave comments on the DrVax Facebook page or YouTube, and I'll highlight your projects.