Hawaiian high school student, Riley Tsunoda, wanted a better 3D printer, so he made one. The young kane displays a penchant for engineering and found his skills called upon whenever an issue arose with the school’s PrintrBot LC. After a couple of months and a few hundred fundraising dollars, the 17 year old Tsunoda put his ingenuity to the task. He finished with a 3D printer capable of tabletop cutting, etching and injection moulding. And he is most likely the first high school student in the state to do so.
While his robotics team started by printing keys and other starter models, the conceptual universe opened to Tsunoda as his familiarity with the technology grew. “Basically, if you can heat it and harden it, you can print it,” he said.
The final product — named Tsudoshi after Tsunoda’s grandfather’s first and father’s middle name — can produce 100 micron resolution prints in various materials from nylon, PLA and ABS. In little over a month, Tsundoda constructed the box-shaped printer with 200 x 200 x 200 millimeter printing size. Surrounded by the ocean and often outdoors for use, the printer uses stainless steel instead of plywood for its main construction material.
An important part of the Tsudoshi that must be highlighted is the effort and sweat poured into the construction. Tsunoda delved into countless hours of research and consultation with his machinist father for the best and most pragmatic designs and function while considering his unique environmental setting. The printer did not find proper form until the 7th draft. Each draft carefully developed with 3D online forums and his own research and creativity. While the majority of construction came from Tsunoda’s efforts, he is quick to thank those who helped his cause like electrical engineer Allen Stueben. Yet Tsunoda constructed Tsudoshi’s internal systems, integrated the electrical systems, and did the software configuration.
As Tsunoda reveals his creation to others in places such as The Pacific Symposium for Science & Sustainability in Honolulu where it received positive feedback, he takes note of the process and accomplishment.
“When I set out to do this, I wasn’t 100% completely sure I could do this,” he said. “This project proved that it doesn’t matter what place you are or what background you have. As long as you are willing to try as hard as you can and learn along the way, and you can convince others to believe in it too, you can accomplish anything.”
The WHEA senior continues to tinker with his printer while showing other students the operational tools. He plans to take his talent to the University of Hawai’i Manoa. Ho’omaika’i ‘ana, Tsundoa (that’s congratulations for all you haole) for showing us what Na ‘Opio O Ka ‘Aina can do.
Source: West Hawaii Today
