Doorstop: a 3d printing project with purpose.

3d printing is quite fun and easy to learn how to do.  Tinckerdad is the software we used to create custom 3d files.  It is also easy to browse the millions of files that have already been created and print one of them.  Too easy.   I find that students can get lost on Thingaverse.com or tinckercad.com, browsing through what others have created.  3d printing only becomes a useful tool for learning if students are innovating and creating their own solutions to a problem.

It can be as simple as a doorstop!!  Students need a problem.  In this case how to keep a door open. This doorstop needed to be  functional and interesting.  Something someone might buy because it would hold a door open and have a "Wow" factor.  Here is a picture of what the groups came up with:

 The first is the fabulous pick doughnut, it holds the door, and who does not want a pink doughnut holding up their door.   The 2nd is a green STOP.  Underneath is a secret compartment for an extra key or hidden spot for jewelry.   Nice dual purpose doorstop!  The small yellow doorstop is similar to the green it has an opening for secret treasures.  The next doorstop is the green STOP.  This printed out a bit spongy.  It is not as solid as the rest of our prints.  Maybe due to the curved lines?  It is quite functional, and the sponge nature of the plastic makes it a very good stopper.  The last stop is a blue weight that has crushed an iPhone.  A clever image of "15 tons" that has crushed the iPhone and cracked the screen.  The white iPhone is a nice representation of what we do not want crushed!  But wait this doorstop stops the door from crushing things,it should not crush?  Right?  I like the image students have created that plays with the idea of the purpose of a doorstop.

Notice how students have solved the function of stopping a door in fabulously different ways.    And, they worked to create forms for a doorstoop, hoping to dazzle us with ideas for this simple tool.  Here is an up close picture of the final products.  Nice 3d prints!  These were two hour prints.  Some might have been close to 4 (pink doughnuts).