Source
r/3Dprinting•
denhal

[Advice] What would you print as a demo while attending a primary school science fair with your 3d printer.

Discussion

I've been invited by my sons school to bring my 3d printer to the science fair next week. I'll have about 2 hours of actual printing time. I will be taking some things I've printed, and some of my failed stuff with me as examples, but I can't decide what to print. Any ideas of what would look good and be a decent practical demo of what can be modeled and printed please.

Posted Mar 6, 2020, 3:02 AM UTC

114
jayrady•

Something with lots of infill on Gyroid. People love that.

7
SergeantMeowmix•

Primary school? Whistle. They're usually quick prints and you can showcase something functional and give it away at the end. Maybe one of the Mayan death whistles, if you're feeling bold.

4
Herdnerfer•

Something that looks like a dildo until about 90% done then it turns out it was a cat. The kids will find it hilarious.

2
denhalOP•

kids up to about age 11 with the parents and teachers. Not a good idea...

2
kwasnydiesel•

you can print a hero in a vase mode. Like batman from waist up or yoda or whatever kids like nowadays

1
Bandraginus•

He's got 2 hours from go to whoa. Might not have enough time for a hero bust.

1
schorhr•

I've printed the simplified Yoda bust in vase-mode during a workshop presentation, pretty small and thick layers, it took under 15 minutes for a tiny yoda. :-) They make a nice give-away. Or whistles.

1
CarlooSR•

im vasemode

1
Lambievu0916•

The octopus!

1
astosia•

How about full size or scaled down squishy turtles? You could print most/all of it beforehand (or several) and print new shells or a whole new one, and assemble them while you’re there?

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2238443/

1
Awestenbeeragg•

I'd do some vasemode prints that way people can stop back by and see the progress, though it may be misleading to some people thinking they print that fast. But then again it's still amazing to watch.

1
phr0zegreybeard3d.com•

I do these all the time. I have something similar today. Whatever you decide, make sure you have a completed one there. Here is the problem, you can print something big but people come through in waves so it’s not like they will all be there for it to finish. Or you can preprint a bunch and continue to print there quick giveaways. Just get an idea of how many kids typically attend. I essentially have a bag of giveaways that I throw all my excess in just for stuff like this.

Another thing you can do is put together one of those trifold display boards. On mine i have major parts of a 3D printer. Middle is high level 3d printing process (model/download, Slice, Print) and the right is industries that are using 3D printing in some way. Things from fashion, movies, sports, space, teaching, automotive, etc. for each I have a photo of something 3D printed.

1
JohnEdwaEnder 3•

Two hours is kinda short, so you should prioritize bringing in cool prints and for those nothing is quite as neat as print in place things, as that is the one special quality of the actual manufacturing method.
So print (beforehand) a few Flexy Rexes, gear bearings, swivel things and so on. Stuff people can grab and look and play with.

And because you also can't properly show the time it takes, bring a laptop/tablet and put it to loop a playlist of 3D printing timelapses. WildRoseBuilds has quite a few very pretty ones.

As for the actual model to print, you could always print a benchy. It's as much of a symbol of 3D printing as anything, really, even if it isn't the most cool looking technical print.

1
darksider54•

Bench boats

0