3D-Printed Hovercraft

cults3d

I got hooked on building a Hovercraft last year after reading an article about them, which sparked my desire to create one for myself. From then on, I dedicated myself to studying the topic and gathering knowledge to make it happen. This is my third prototype because the previous ones had some major flaws - they spun out of control around their own axis due to lack of stability, couldn't carry enough weight, and even suffered damage from small stones that destroyed the propeller of the lifting motor. To fix this issue, I came up with a creative solution by gluing two bicycle tubes under the base. I designed my Hovercraft using Autodesk Inventor 2013 and printed it out on my MakerBot Replicator in just 3-4 days. The design was a huge success, and I'm thrilled with how it turned out. To keep costs down, I didn't print the base of the Hovercraft because it would have taken too long to complete. However, I chose Styrofoam for the base as it has a great advantage - it will stay afloat even if the engines fail, providing an added layer of safety. Additionally, I opted not to print the bicycle tubes because they need to be flexible and one-piece to prevent air from escaping to the sides. The Hovercraft is powered by two motors that lift it off the ground and a single thrust motor that propels it forward. The power source for these motors comes from three 2800 mAh Lipo batteries, which provide a reliable and efficient energy solution. My long-term plan with this Hovercraft is to develop a cheap mobile research station that can be used in remote areas such as the Arctic. This project has numerous benefits - it produces no CO2 emissions, making it an environmentally friendly option, and can be controlled remotely from another location, similar to a drone.