31–40 of 86 posts
8th grade is old enough to do just about anything. I like to do big memorable projects with my kid where we both have to learn some things along the way. I’d build a go kart at this age, or some other electric motor driven vehicle. I’d think it would span a few months depending on time dedicated. And covers mechanical, fabrication, components and even some programming if you want to tune it yourself. Also, I like to…
For the drone I just bought the parts over time and one day he asked if he could put it all to put it all together. It was a bit of a bitch debugging his mistakes but I’m glad he took an interest and applied himself
Buy a Bambu Lab A1 Mini 3D printer. They're amazing. Then look at examples of what you can do on Youtube. Amazing! Kids nowadays have it so good.
I bought the Ender for my son, and he put it together and helped me do some mods to it and print some things, but after about 3 months he never touched it again. Just gave it to his school when I got the Bambu.
The A1 seems to be quite a capable little printer.
Beyond just printing things you find online, learning CAD is a really fun way of turning ideas into tangible objects.
If he likes video games, we’re hosting a big game jam for middle and high schoolers next weekend. It’s free and nonprofit. There are 60 locations. Maybe one is near you? https://counterspell.hackclub.com/
Buy a Bambu Lab A1 Mini 3D printer. They're amazing. Then look at examples of what you can do on Youtube. Amazing! Kids nowadays have it so good.
I've had an Ender 3 for 5 years and just got a Bambu P1S, and it's amazing how far things have progressed. The Bambu is just a workhorse, I currently have it printing Christmas ornaments to give the extended family. Where the Ender I would shy away from things unless I REALLY needed them, because I knew I'd have to spend time screwing around, the Bambu basically just works. I bought the Ender for my son, and he put i…
The new CoreXY Prusa One is also a very good buy when it comes out but the A1/A1 mini in particular are just such a good deal at the moment.
Around that age I built a trebuchet. Did calculations, got some plywood and building lumber, etc. Had a lot of fun chucking water balloons down a hill.
https://www.autopi.io/blog/raspberry-pi-can-bus-explained/
This is a great way to get Linux experience. One student used these skills to work on Medtronic GI Genius via YOLO AI.
Here's my method: https://jsnow.bootlegether.net/cbg/cbg.html