Print Shop Activity

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This is an easy project for a group of students to get started with using the Makerbot Printshop app. The idea is to let students draw on a piece of paper and then transform their drawings into 3D shapes. How I Designed This The Makerbot Printshop app has an option called Shape Maker, which converts the lines in an image into a 3D printable object. It works best when you draw a black line on a white piece of paper, allowing for a higher detection value. You will need to explain to your students how to create drawings that can be easily transformed into 3D printed objects. This means they should draw continuous lines and connect all elements in their drawing, so that the parts don't separate once it's 3D printed. Project: Print Shop Activity Objectives: By the end of this activity, students will learn basic design concepts for creating a 3D object with the limitations of FDM 3D printers in mind. Audiences: This activity works well with grades 1-3, especially if they're being introduced to the idea of 3D printing. Preparation: You'll need an iPad or Android device and will also need to install the Print Shop app. If you don't own a Makerbot printer, you'll need the Makerbot Desktop app for any desktop or Mac computer. You'll also need sheets of white paper and black markers. This activity works well if you have a theme in mind. It's a good excuse to make decorations for upcoming holidays or turn any art project into a 3D printed art project. Get comfortable with the app, try to do a test before doing it with your group, especially if you don't own a Makerbot printer, since you'll need to download the 3D model from the Makerbot Desktop app. Steps! Let students draw something on a sheet of paper and with a black marker. This could be something related to the topic you selected. Collect all the drawings. Scan each drawing with the Print shop app. Use the option for Shape Maker, select an appropriate height for the object, and press save. Repeat this with each drawing. Download all the STL files from the Makerbot Desktop app. Print each object with your selected 3D printer. Deliver the final print to your students. Results: Students will have their own drawings transformed into 3D printed objects. This could be a cool way of making decorations for the classroom or small presents for parents. Video of this activity is available in Spanish.