Nview:3D Printer/Workshop::Accessibility Improvements

Technical Review

Frame

• Time spent: 2hrs, 1 instructor
• Extra time spent: 45mins, 1 instructor working
• Improvement: Epoxy frames need prepped 48 hours in advance
• Consider: printing thingyverse epoxy-application-tool and using for more even application
• Order: 0 -- was done before the build, not during.
• Order: 4 -- to drill holes
• Because it fell apart, spent 30-45mins deciding what to do about it and drilling holes into Alex's welded frame

Axes

• Time Spent: 1.5 hours, 1 novice & 1 instructor working, 2 axes completed
• Time Spent: 45 min, 4 people working, 2intermediate & 2 instructors, 3 axes completed
• Commentary: it was slow when a novice really wanted to intake information and learn how it was done and give space for them to process, make mistakes, and try again.
• Commentary: it went really fast with intermediate folks because the focus was on completion rather than learning, copying rather than understanding & self-direction.
• Order: 1 for the novice build
• Order: 3 for the intermediate build

Heated Bed

• Time spent: 1 hour, 1 intermediate & 1 instructor working
• Order: 2
• Improvement: we should better explain in the manual how long the wires should be before tinning (was cut too long, maybe include a step where it's measured with the tape measurerer, and then cut to size with scissors, because it's hard for folks to use wire cutters with precision intuitively)
• Improvement: better instruction on using wire cutters (it was awk for matthew)
• Improvement: we should include better instruction how to tin (i showcased this, doing the "we tin bc its conducts and bc it prevents shorts," "1 minute heatup," "the sandwich," "let it harden for 2 secs," and "melt it into the right position")
• Improvement: we should include better instruction how much solder to put onto the heated bed (this was unclear)
• Improvement: we should be more explicit about how high soldering temperature should be (folks ran into issues when temp was too low)
• Improvement: first gather all the wires, and then rapidly wire cut them (in reading the manual, it took a lot of time to think about it in terms of get this wire, then solder it, it should be more more upfront what all the wires that are being soldered are, as it's own section)

Extruder

• Improvement: Use bolt cutter for cutting rods
• Order: 4

Cable Chain + Final Touches

• Not done. Should set expectations here.

Cleanup

• Improvement: There needs to be a better inventory system for putting things away, so that a recount isn't necessary. Not sure what this looks like yet.

Accessbility Improvement Recommendations

Sat Oct 27, 2018 Oakland 1-day Build

1. Keep the build phase concept. It works.
2. Keep quality control checks. It works.
3. Need an identification survey: what type of xp are they coming with?
4. Need an exit survey.
5. Reduce the number of questions on a per-build phase. Have this be a verbal check-in. And input it on their behalf.
6. Switch to having a more in-depth module-based survey.
7. Add an "Newbie Intervention" motivation convo. Folks paralyzed by "I don't know what I don't know" -- need to explicitly dispel this myth. If you can explain it, then you know it. There's not "more to it" ... those are different skills.
8. Attempt to go WITHOUT doing an in-person demo? to speed up the process. Let there be videos instead, and just a quick overview. People kinda hate reading. Try this just for the axis build and see how it goes.
9. Enforce opening up the manual at your workstation. Better setup workstations. folks had tendency to "just go for it" and not read at all or use reference material at all.
10. add Build Phases for the Extruder, especially QC to prevent issues like in this build.
11. add a "time it" component to the workflow

Observations

Sat Oct 27, 2018 Oakland 1-day Build

Deidre

• Deidre left fter 4 hours
  • they were tired in the mornign to start
  • tried to stay longer, waiting for a 2nd wind
  • was super motivated, but couldn't go on.
  • came from sacramento, pretty far away
• had shifting interests... may buy other makery things first
• came to investigate the 3d printer
• still a little unclear about what people would want to do with a 3d printer

Matthew

• ran out of steam in about 4 hours
• arrived at 1pm
• works in dentist profession, wants 3d printing before they bring it into office
• this could be a growing market, ask for referrals here
• as opposed to deidre, main goal seemed to be just getting a 3d printer, vs. understanding all aspects of the build
• was confident that if something went wrong later, they could refer to the manual
• was experienced w/ building things, like building guitars as their hobby
• was under the impression taht workshop would end at 5pm, so had a "let's rush this" approach to doing all the builds
• was less interested in learning the intricacies of how all parts worked bc they already understood it well enough

Feelings

Sat Oct 27, 2018 Oakland 1-day Build

• I have mixed feelings about Deirdre's xp. They could have had a better xp I believe.
• I have good feelings about Matthew's xp. Probably close to as good as it gets given circumstances.