This article on Snapmaker applications in education is a trilogy, introducing how to use all three functions of the three-in-one tool for teaching purposes. Now, we will introduce the final part: CNC machining !
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First, teachers or parents can encourage students to delve deeper into the design and form of the tray, rather than simply starting to make it. To facilitate your teaching, we have prepared several sample questions that you can ask to foster a beneficial dialogue between you and your students.
Question 1: Why did we design the tray to be hexagonal? What are the characteristics of a hexagonal structure?
Answer 1: Hexagonal structures generally have several advantages. First, when polygons such as circles or pentagons are connected to each other on a plane, gaps will exist in the middle. Only triangles, quadrilaterals, and hexagons connected together do not have gaps in the middle.
Question 2: But why did we choose hexagons instead of triangles or quadrilaterals?
Answer 2: This is because, compared to triangles and squares, hexagons have the smallest perimeter for the same area, meaning they can enclose a larger area using the same amount of material. For example, let's say we have a 6 cm line to enclose a flat surface. A triangle, with a side length of 2 cm, would enclose an area of 1.73 square centimeters. A square, with a side length of 1.5 cm, would have an area of 2.25 square centimeters. On the other hand, a hexagon with a side length of 1 cm can enclose an area of 2.6 square centimeters, making it the largest of the three. Therefore, by using hexagons, you can cover the same area with less material.
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Question 3: Now that you understand some basics of hexagonal structures, take a look at my modular hexagonal tray design. What's special about it?
Answer 3: To modularize the tray, we need to design a connecting structure to connect each hexagon. A tenon joint is used in this particular design. We can further use Inkscape to design the vector image.
Once students have a basic understanding of the underlying structure, the teacher can further guide them to get started with Snapmaker Luban and begin sculpting!
We have prepared a tray file that can be used as a phone stand for your reference 👉 Link
Now let's see how to set up CNC machining in Luban. Let's import "phone slot.svg" first. Since we'll be doing grooving, we need to create a toolpath named "phone slot". Set "Method" to "Fill", "Target Depth" to "10mm", and "Tool" to "Flat End Mill (1.5mm)". Leave the other parameters unchanged, and then save the settings.
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Then we can generate G-code and send it to the printer to begin processing! You can create multiple trays, put them together, and then post-process them as you like!
The Snapmaker 3-in-1 3D printer is essential for turning projects into reality!!
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