Bonus Print - Teacher Template (Extension Project)

Briefing

Students design scaled variants of a 3D-printable object to explore parametric design and manufacturing trade-offs. This project emphasizes variant generation, documentation, and the relationship between design parameters and print outcomes.

Key Learning: Parametric scaling; variant generation; trade-off analysis.

Real-world Connection: Manufacturing efficiency depends on understanding how parameter changes affect production time, material use, and functionality.

Constraints

• Must generate at least 3 scaled variants of a single base design
• All variants must be parametric (variables clearly documented)
• Student must document print parameters for each variant
• Variants must be compared on measurable criteria (time, material, fit, etc.)

Functional Requirements

• Variants are generated parametrically, not manually resized in slicer
• Each variant prints successfully
• Comparison metrics recorded for all variants
• Code is well-commented and organized

Deliverables

• Parametric .scad with variant generation code
• Completed documentation template with variant specifications
• Print log for all variants
• Comparison matrix (time, material, quality, cost)
• Photos of all variants
• Reflection on design scalability

Rubric

(Same three-category 0-9 scale as other projects)

Category 1: Problem & Solution (0-3)

All variants print successfully and meet comparison criteria.

Category 2: Design & Code Quality (0-3)

Code is parametric and well-commented. Variants show thoughtful design thinking.

Category 3: Documentation (0-3)

Comparison matrix complete. Reflection specific and insightful.

Assessment Notes

• Strong submissions: Show parametric structure, complete comparison matrix, and insightful reflection on scaling trade-offs
• Reinforce: How parametric thinking enables rapid variant generation
• Extension: Cost-benefit analysis; material property comparisons