Expert curriculum

This curriculum contains everything you need to start teaching Resin 3D Printing to your classes. No planning is needed as all resources are ready to teach ‘straight out of the box’. There are seven lessons in total including 12 Fusion 360 modelling tutorials all designed for Resin 3D printing. If you have an SLA 3D printer such as the Formlabs brand or a DLP 3D printer such as the Anycubic Photon then this lesson pack is for you.

These series of lessons contain skills that are suitable for learners over the age of 16.

This lesson pack include;

  • Lesson 22 – An introduction to Resin 3D printing
  • Lesson 23 – SLA V DLP and the study of resin materials
  • Lesson 24 – Slicing files for resin 3D printing and STL optimisation
  • Lesson 25 – Resin jewellery tutorials – ring design (4 tutorials)
  • Lesson 26 – Resin jewellery tutorials – ear rings (4 tutorials)
  • Lesson 27 – Resin jewellery tutorials – necklaces (4 tutorials)
  • Lesson 28 – Expert assessment of resin 3D printing

(Lessons 1 – 21 are based around filament 3D printers and the complete curriculum, including the resin lesson pack, can be bought as a mega bundle)

Each lesson is designed to last approximately one hour. All worksheets and homework sheets come with answer sheets so students can self assess or peer assess their work, reducing teacher workload and involving the students fully in assessment for learning. All worksheets, homeworks, tutorials and STL files as part of the expert curriculum are downloadable.

In lesson 25, 26 and 27 there are 12 Fusion 360 tutorials that teach learners how to design jewellery for resin 3D printing. The tasks that learners have to complete have been designed to be small and quick to 3D print out of resin. This helps keep the costs of projects down and also allows for multiple models to be printed off at once.

The final assessment is split into two sections. Section one is a practical assessment using Fusion 360 where learners have to complete a series of quick modelling tasks and then analyse them to find out the mass/density/area. If they have modelled the tasks to scale they will be able to recognise the correct answer (all questions are multi choice). The second part of the assessment tests students on the learning of the theory element of 3D printing.

This lesson pack compliments the Advanced 3D printing lesson pack and it can be used to introduce students to resin 3D printing as a follow on from the Advanced pack. Alternatively, it can be used as a stand-alone series of lessons with students who have not experienced any 3D printing before. It is recommended that students have experience of CAD before teaching this lesson pack.

Lesson resources include;

  • Read through lesson plans for each lesson
  • Lesson powerpoint presentations to cover each lesson/tutorial
  • Homework tasks with answer sheets
  • Video tutorials for all 12 modelling tasks
  • Links to case studies
  • 1 Final assessment powerpoint with answers
  • Examples STL files to 3D print

 

Learning outcomes

By the end of this project all students will be able to;

  • Understand the principles of Resin 3D printing and how it differs from filament-based 3D printing technologies.
  • Know the key differences between SLA 3D printing and DLP 3D printing.
  • Discuss the environmental impact of using thermoset resins during resin 3D printing.
  • Discuss the environmental impact of using thermoplastics during filament-based 3D printing.
  • Recognise the difference in outcomes from DLP printers and SLA printers.
  • Explain why models need to be post processed.
  • Name key industries where resin 3D printing is being used.
  • Understand why models need to be orientated during resin 3D printing.
  • Optimise STL files using Meshmixer.
  • Export files for 3D printing.
  • Slice a STL file using Formlabs pre-form software.
  • Know how to remove supports from models after printing.
  • Design a ring/necklace/ear rings for 3D printing.
  • Find the mass/volume/area of models.

Most students will be able to;

  • Describe the VAT polymerisation process.
  • Know the difference between isotropy and anisotropy.
  • Identify on a DLP model/image voxel pixelization.
  • Explain the concept of cupping.
  • Describe the problems of not optimising files for 3D printing.
  • Form an argument for using resin 3D printing from a sustainability viewpoint.
  • Optimise STL files and work out the percentage decrease in material saved.
  • Complete a range of the jewellery tutorials.
  • Explain the benefits of integrating resin 3D printing into businesses.

Some students will be able to;

  • Explain how a model turns from its green state to final use.
  • State why supports are needed during resin 3D printing.
  • Calculate the percentage increase in material used when adding supports to models.
  • Complete all the CAD tutorials and potentially use the skills learnt to create their own variants of the designs.
  • Describe the CLIP 3D printing process and the benefits of this technology.