Needham High School 3D Printer Grant
In November 2013 the NHS Engineering club received a grant to build a Reprap 3D Printer like the one shown here. After several months of planning and acquiring parts, assembly will begin in late March.
The Grant
Abstract of Grant
With this money, the Needham High Engineering club will be able to fund the purchase of the parts and materials for the construction and operation of a 3D printer. The project is entirely student run - including developing the budgets and most of the writing in this grant.
This project itself requires technical proficiency, attention to detail, problem solving and trouble shooting skills typical of an authentic engineering project. The instructions to assemble a 3D printer are shown through a series of twenty four videos on YouTube. Students will learn about engineering design and will be exposed to a wide range of sciences including, material science, electrical engineering, and computer science. Once built the printer will allow students to print out designs from the internet as well as design their own on the school computers. This particular 3D printer is innovative in its design because it is simple enough for nearly anyone to make it and low cost. Once it is constructed it can produce many of the parts to build another 3D printer
Benefits
Needham High School students will learn how to build a 3D printer rather than just learn how to use one. They will learn about motors, electricity, material science, and construction engineering. There is no other opportunity for Needham High School students to work on hardware engineering projects such as this in any course or activity (the skills supplement the work some of these students do in robotics - but rather than programming students are actually starting with individual components). Approximately 30 individuals are in this club and all of them will be able to participate in this project.
Details of Proposed Project
Engineering and design is part of the middle school curriculum - but has mainly been an co-curricular activity at the High School. This project will provide students with the opportunity to work at a design level on technical hardware that is not available in robotics or in any of the science courses. There is a large group (up to 20 students) who have been attending planning meeting for this project on a regular basis (every Tuesday morning). We will begin assembly by following the first eight video instructions which provide the majority of the printer. That part will take up at least a month. The remaining steps of building the printer are more complex and have to be done cautiously. This project will take place in room 108 of the high school.
Proposed Schedule
The construction will begin in March and end by June of the 2013-2014 school year
Specific Methods of Evaluation
The success will be determined by the level of student engagement in the activity and the ability of the students to translate the planning, engineering and technical skills to other projects. In past years the students have conducted routing bridge building, mousetrap cars. Nothing we have done have required this level of technical expertise, independent research and follow through.
With this money, the Needham High Engineering club will be able to fund the purchase of the parts and materials for the construction and operation of a 3D printer. The project is entirely student run - including developing the budgets and most of the writing in this grant.
This project itself requires technical proficiency, attention to detail, problem solving and trouble shooting skills typical of an authentic engineering project. The instructions to assemble a 3D printer are shown through a series of twenty four videos on YouTube. Students will learn about engineering design and will be exposed to a wide range of sciences including, material science, electrical engineering, and computer science. Once built the printer will allow students to print out designs from the internet as well as design their own on the school computers. This particular 3D printer is innovative in its design because it is simple enough for nearly anyone to make it and low cost. Once it is constructed it can produce many of the parts to build another 3D printer
Benefits
Needham High School students will learn how to build a 3D printer rather than just learn how to use one. They will learn about motors, electricity, material science, and construction engineering. There is no other opportunity for Needham High School students to work on hardware engineering projects such as this in any course or activity (the skills supplement the work some of these students do in robotics - but rather than programming students are actually starting with individual components). Approximately 30 individuals are in this club and all of them will be able to participate in this project.
Details of Proposed Project
Engineering and design is part of the middle school curriculum - but has mainly been an co-curricular activity at the High School. This project will provide students with the opportunity to work at a design level on technical hardware that is not available in robotics or in any of the science courses. There is a large group (up to 20 students) who have been attending planning meeting for this project on a regular basis (every Tuesday morning). We will begin assembly by following the first eight video instructions which provide the majority of the printer. That part will take up at least a month. The remaining steps of building the printer are more complex and have to be done cautiously. This project will take place in room 108 of the high school.
Proposed Schedule
The construction will begin in March and end by June of the 2013-2014 school year
Specific Methods of Evaluation
The success will be determined by the level of student engagement in the activity and the ability of the students to translate the planning, engineering and technical skills to other projects. In past years the students have conducted routing bridge building, mousetrap cars. Nothing we have done have required this level of technical expertise, independent research and follow through.
Day One 3/25/2014
We got the sides of the frame built and finished video one.
Day Two 3/27/2014
We finished videos 2-4 and are going to finish working on the frame on Tuesday
4/29/2014
5/1/2014
5/13/2014
5/29/2014
Beginning of School Year: 9/18/14
9/30/2014
Update 2014: Progress as of 10/23/14
We now have two axis wired and a third on the way. Working on heat bed now.