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2. Week 02 - Student-Centered Learning Approaches

Create a 3D object with the laser cutter

Making a simple mechanism using the laser cutter

Two years ago I spent a week in the Fablab Leon where I began to work on a simple activity using a motor and a magnet. This week’s assignment is an opportunity to continue this project :

Generating Gears :

I used this website to generate gears and exported the, as a DXF file : https://evolventdesign.com/pages/spur-gear-generator?srsltid=AfmBOoqbrjVCOqFdsKmsAFPt0CVrFwPdDe3WGvuX4t3Im6of8OSBEsv-

The gears were imported into Fusion 360 in order to 3d model a structure in which they could be “activated”.

I exported the faces as DXF files, arranged them in Illustrator, to finally import them into Xtool Creative Space to prepare the file to be cut.

This is the file laser cut.

Time to assemble the structure :

The gears with the magnet inserted :

The gear system and the “Table top” :

The mechanism in action, note that I should add a piece in order to constrain the gear a bit more in the horizontal position.

The agnet in action :

How your press-fit can be utilized in education? How other teachers could use it?

This press-fit kit attempt could be the opportunity to create scenes, bigger mechanisms by adding driving belts, and also poetry if adding a scenario.

How could you integrate it into an activity that aligns with your curriculum or standards?

A project I would like to conduct would be the making of a map of our campus, with a few parts moving (buses, cars). Regarding the press-fit tolerances, some parts could also be fixed and other modular/changed.

When you execute a learning activity, how do you evaluate its success?

How do you keep track of possible modifications or improvements?

Do you include them in your education portfolio or learning diary?