This summer, Governor Ned Lamont partnered with Yale undergradate organizations to launch six week-long summer STEM challenges for students in grades 3 to 12. This initate was designed to engage students during the pandemic in hands-on science and engineering projects.
Week 2 involved two projects designed by Yale e-NABLE: the 3D infill challenge and the Gripper challenge . One important factor to consider when 3D printing is the strength of the material, which is largely influenced by the material properties itself as well as the infill pattern of the shape. Inspired by the importance of material design and strength in 3D printing, the first project (for individuals) involved using flashcards to design the strongest infill pattern possible. Using two flashcards for the exterior and four flashcards for the interior, some participants were able to design infill patterns that withstood 100lbs of weight!
The second project (team or individual) challenged students to design a prosthetic hand/gripper out of basic household materials. The objective was for students to use their gripper to pick up an empty water bottle. For additional points, students were challenged to pick up more weight by filling the water bottle up.
For both projects, students were encouraged to demonstrate their creativity and work-flow through their design and documentation process. In their submissions, students uploaded pictures, videos, and a short report outlining the approach they took in their designing their prototypes.
For more details, visit the Summer Challenge website and the Governor’s website for the press release.