Dice, Dice, Dice - Teacher Template (Extension Project)

Briefing

Students design and test fair 3D-printed dice to explore geometry, symmetry, manufacturing precision, and statistical validation. This project combines physics, materials science, and rigorous testing practices.

Key Learning: Precision manufacturing; fairness validation; quality assurance.

Real-world Connection: Manufacturing quality assurance requires measurement, testing, and statistical analysis. Casino dice are one of the most rigorously tested manufactured objects.

Constraints

• Dice must be generated parametrically in OpenSCAD
• Student must conduct fairness testing (100+ rolls minimum)
• Design must address weight distribution and uniform geometry
• Statistical analysis of test results required

Functional Requirements

• Dice geometry is parametric (size, infill, details)
• All faces print with usable pips/markers
• Statistical testing conducted with documented results
• Analysis shows understanding of fairness criteria

Deliverables

• .scad file with parametric dice module
• Completed documentation template with fairness test results
• Statistical analysis (roll frequency data, calculations)
• Photos of test dice and assembly
• Reflection on design precision and manufacturing tolerances

Rubric

Category 1: Problem & Solution (0-3)

Dice print successfully and fairness testing conducted rigorously.

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

Code is parametric and thoughtful. Dice design shows understanding of symmetry and balance.

Category 3: Documentation (0-3)

Testing data complete and organized. Statistical analysis accurate and insightful.

Assessment Notes

• Strong submissions: Show rigorous fairness testing (100+ rolls), clear statistical analysis, and reflection on manufacturing precision
• Reinforce: Why uniformity matters; how to test for bias
• Extension: Material comparisons; cost-benefit analysis of infill vs. fairness