9 April 2018

This week we worked on two introductory sessions for 3D printing. It was great timing, as the Museum’s 3D printer arrived also!

We had two video conference sessions hosted by Meg from Questacon. The first session was to encourage our junior curators to start thinking spatially about 3D design.

To begin, everyone partnered up and sitting back to back, they had to describe a shape to their partner. The partner then had to follow the instructions and draw the shape, but only relying on the description that they heard. This was designed to show us how computers and 3D printers can only draw and create what we tell them to – if we miss a small piece of information, it can completely change what it is that we want to see.

The junior curators also did some modelling. They moulded an animal using modelling clay (borrowed from Kindergarten – thanks Kinder!) and then looked at it from different angles to find visual reference points.

At the second session, Meg showed us how to use TinkerCAD for 3D modelling, and shared the process of making a simple mug so that we could see how different shapes could be grouped together. To end the sessions, each pair put together a cog model. This was to show the possibility of 3D design to create models with moving parts. With enough planning and thought, it is possible to 3D print a design that has moving parts encased in a bigger model.

Although in these sessions we did not do any printing or 3D design, it was a great way to start thinking about the possibility of 3D design. We can't wait to get started next term with prototyping and testing our exhibits!