FLA Week 3: Laser cutter mold – SCOPES-DF
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Lesson Details

Subjects*
Arts, Design, Science
Age Ranges*
11-14
Fab Tools*
Molding and Casting, 2D design software, laser cutter, computer, Kitchenware
Standards
Fab-Safety.1, Fab-Fabrication.1, Fab-Design.1
Author
Priaadhashini s

Author

Priaadhashini s
K-12 teacher
I am a science and mathematics  middle school teacher. I teach IGCSE and A Levels Biology. I enjoy having hands on lessons as well as lessons which provide a safe space for student growth and development . I believe in… Read More

Summary

Design a mold and fabricating the mold using a laser cutter. After which a bio material is made and poured into the mold fabricated.

What You'll Need

  1. Acrylic sheet
  2. Ingredients to make Biomaterials

Recipe/ materials for Agar

  • 7 g of agar powder
  • 4 g of glycerin
  • 240 ml water
  • turmeric for colour
  • induction cooker
  • pot/ silicon spatula

 

 

Lesson Materials

The Instructions

Design of mold

Designing image for mold

  1. This involves designing in inkscape and ensuring that the images are vectorised
  2. Exporting this design to lightBurn software

 

Export and Fabricate

The design in imported into the software and fabricated.

  1. Ensure that the correct setting are in place ie : 100% and 5mm/s
  2. Save the image as a gcode file

 

Load the acrylic into the loading bed

Ensure setting are ideal and load the acrylic. 

Ensure that the laser in about 3mm above the material 

Follow the laser cutter operating instructions 

Collect completed mold

Collect the mold that is completed

Secure mold

Glue the two pieces of acrylic that are cut using acylic glue

Ensure that the mold has a backing in place secured firmly so as to ensure that the biomaterial could easily be poured in. 

Cooking of biomaterials

Follow the recipe given to cook the agar.

1. Weigh out 7 g of agar powder using the electronic mass scale 

2. Weigh out 4g of glycerin using the electronic mass scale 

3. Measure 240 ml of water using a measuring jug

4. Add 1-2 teaspoons of turmeric into the water 

5. Pour the contents of the measuring jug into the pot 

6. Add the agar powder and stir continously under low hear for 5- 7minutes 

7. Add the glycerin and stir under low heat, till you see the contents in the pot start to gellify. 

8. Leave aside to cool for a few minutes and pour into the mold

9. Let the biomaterial solidify in the mold and the biomaterial is ready to be used.

End product

Peel the material off the mold when dry.

Standards

  • (Fab-Safety.1): I can safely conduct myself in a Fab Lab and observe operations under instructor guidance.
  • (Fab-Fabrication.1): I can follow instructor guided steps that link a software to a machine to produce a simple physical artifact.
  • (Fab-Design.1): I can be responsible for various activities throughout a design process within a group under instructor guidance.

Common Core Standards

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