The Tactile 100 Square for Mathematics.

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Caitríona Nic Giolla Eoghain is a dedicated teacher for visually impaired students in Ireland, bringing innovative ideas to her classroom every day. In typical sighted junior school classrooms (ages 6 – 10), math lessons often utilize the 100 Square chart, a valuable tool for young learners. Caitríona sought to replicate this concept for her blind and low vision students, and thus designed the Tactile 100 Square, a tactile representation of the traditional 100 Square. The original prototype was crafted from wooden blocks. The 3D Assist Group in Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland has taken Caitríona's design and adapted it to suit laser cutting and 3D printing technologies. They have uploaded Solidworks files and *.dxf format files for those who wish to cut the frame using a laser cutter and print the tabs with numbers and braille using a 3D printer. Their team continues to optimize the tabs, striving for perfection. Currently, they are achieving excellent results using an SLA (Stereolithography) printer. However, they aim to develop an FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) solution as SLA printers are not as widely available. The group has successfully printed the Tactile 100 Square using a 0.25mm nozzle with layer heights of 0.1mm on an FDM printer, resulting in a smooth finish critical for braille use. An alternative option is to print the tabs and attach them to the frame using a standard braille embossing device. The team plans to update their upload with any positive outcomes from further testing. Those interested in creating one of these devices are encouraged to email Robbie O'Connor at robbie.oconnor@ittdublin.ie, who will gladly send over the necessary files. Due to file size constraints, the page is unable to upload all 100 STL (STereoLithography) files.