Animal footprints

We made models and 3D printing of animal tracks (according to the attached models or the instructions below) with elementary school students (1st - 5th grade).

Preschool children can do artistic work with a tool (the frottage technique, see opening photo). We used the tool as part of an art-educational activity in elementary and kindergarten.

The following skills are required for the implementation of the project:

1. Taking pictures (e.g. using a mobile phone) and working with files and directories on a computer and internet browser - loading, saving, sending data, etc.

2. Measurement (subtraction of length) using a ruler

3. Import of vector graphics (SVG file) and manipulation of objects in the TINKERCAD environment

4. Import the STL file and create a print job (.gcode file) in the PrusaSlicer software

5. Basic control of the 3D printer (setting up and starting print jobs)

Students will create a model of footprints on a real scale, which will be especially useful for children in Kindergarten and Primary School to recognize the footprints (habitat signs) of wild animals. This tool is also used for a follow-up art activity, which will allow children to create an idea of contact with a living animal through touch and sight.

Paper, black marker, computer with internet connection, mobile phone with camera, 3D printer

A) Searching for footprints in nature, for example around the school (45 min)

B) searching for a footprint of the chosen animal in a book, textbook, brochure or on the Internet (20 minutes)

C) Creation and conversion of a track photo (25 minutes)

D) Editing the 3D model, preparing and starting the print job (45 minutes)

E) Frottage (45 minutes)

Note: The duration of one print job for the sample tracks in this project (dog, wolf, lynx) was approximately 6 hours.

A) Searching for footprints outdoors, for example around the school

• At the beginning of the project, we recommend conducting a short survey of the presence of footprints in surrounding nature, e.g. around the school

B) Finding a trace of the selected animal in a book, textbook, brochure or on the Internet

• Print or trace on white paper the idealized outline of the track of the selected animal in real size (e.g. from the "Animal Track Identification Guide" available online)

• Trace and fill the entire trace with a black marker

C) Create and convert a footprint photography

• Take a photo of the track with your mobile phone camera

• Convert a photo (raster graphics saved in JPG format) to black and white vector graphics (SVG format), which can be done using an online converter (https://image.online-convert.com/convert-to-svg), or using graphics software (eg. GIMP). To convert to a full black track image with background clipping, use the following preferences: monochrome (-monochrome), sharpen (-sharpen) and remove background (-remove background)

D) Adjusting the 3D model, preparing and starting the print job (see Guide_footprints.pdf for details)

• Import the vector file into Tinkercad (a SVG file)
• Create a pad for the footprint of the appropriate size and complete with text and scale
• Measure the actual dimensions of the selected footprint with a ruler (see 1) and adjust the size of the track model in TINKERCAD according to the measurement result
• Export the entire 3D model to STL format and save to your computer (device)
• Import the STL file into PrusaSlicer
• Choose presets for resolution, fill and layers (Print settings: 0.15mm QUALITY@MINI with changed parameters - Fill density: 50%, Fill pattern: concentric, Top layer fill pattern: Hilbert curve)
• If you wish to stop printing before applying the top layers (if you are interested in preserving the contour character of the footprint), set the pause at a height of approximately 2 mm below the upper border of the object. Click the right mouse button on the slider and then confirm the "Add print pause" option with the left button. Then enter a short message (e.g. "Exit job if you do not require overlays to be printed")

E) Frottage

• Frottage is an artistic technique consisting in transferring the imprint of the relief structure of the mat with a soft pencil onto paper
• You can use a pencil (of different hardness) or a crayon
• 80g/m2 office paper proved to be the best for us

At the end of the entire activity, there is an opportunity to evaluate the knowledge and experiences gained, or discussion with pupils on the topic of nature protection, especially