Air Foil Ring

thingiverse

Human: I've been experimenting with a skirt from a recent project, and discovered something really fun.\nThe air foil ring is a simple toy that uses physics to glide smoothly through the air. It's already provided me with hours of enjoyment, and the print quality required was surprisingly low-cost.\nOne key factor contributing to its resilience is the inherent springiness of this material. This is a significant advantage!\nI'll be refining the design in upcoming versions, with a focus on enhancing flight performance.\nUpdate 1: I've added three new designs. The first is slightly larger in diameter, while the second features finger notches, and the third combines these features with a longer shape.\nExpect an update soon, detailing the effects of these changes and seeking your feedback as well!\nUpdate 3: Although its effectiveness is uncertain, I've introduced two new versions featuring fins, which may boost forward thrust. Only time will tell if this has any real impact.\nUpdate 4: My test results reveal that the fins don't provide any notable advantages - they're primarily a visual enhancement. Instructions: Printing settings were standard medium quality with a layer height of 0.22 mm and nozzle diameter of 0.35 mm. This yielded a print time of approximately one hour using an infill level of 80%. However, I suspect that beyond 25% infill, further adjustments would not significantly improve the print.\nMy recommended method involves throwing underhanded with a twisting motion, releasing with a bit of spin to stabilize the ring, allowing it to glide effortlessly. To provide a more detailed understanding of my findings, I'll be uploading a video and/or an illustration in due course. Update 1: Following further research, I discovered a simpler method of overhand throwing by applying a curve-ball style release with clockwise spin.\nUpdate 2: A comprehensive instructional video on how to throw the air foil ring is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5dxcURh8MQ&list=UUlq1eLOVbSXa7R4EUiDBHTw