ANT ZOETROPE - Bicycle

thingiverse

This design transforms your bicycle wheel into a mesmerizing zoetrope!* It was created specifically for 18 spokes on one side of the wheel, with two complete cycles of the full animation. The included files are robotbody 1-9 and two sets of clips to attach them to the spokes; one set is designed for 3.5mm wide spokes, while the other is suited for 2mm wide spokes. Before you start printing, measure the diameter of your bike spokes to determine which set to use. You will also need heavy-duty glue to securely attach the bodies to the spoke clips. The robot bodies are 4.25 inches tall and 2mm thick, making them compatible with most printer platforms. Print out two each of robotbody1, robotbody2, robotbody3, robotbody4, robotbody5, robotbody6, robotbody7, robotbody8, and robotbody9. I printed mine at .35, alternating between prints with rafts and without, on my Up Mini printer in ABS. To ensure easy access to the correct pieces during assembly, I recommend numbering each print on the back as it comes off the machine. You will likely need exactly 18 of the long bike clips in either 3.5 or 2mm width, but you may prefer using the short clips instead due to their ease of use. In that case, print 36 of them to provide at least two points of attachment for each body. For the bike clips, I printed them at .2 with fine quality settings and added rafts to help mitigate warping. You may be able to achieve a good fit without rafts. UPDATE: If your bike has 16 spokes on one side, you can easily remove robotbody6 from your prints, and the walk transition will remain smooth. Once everything is printed, lay your bicycle flat on the ground and attempt to keep the wheel level. Before attaching the bike clips, ensure they will be completely hidden by each body. Arrange the pieces as closely as possible to the full-wheel photo, maintaining even spacing between the bodies (this may be challenging due to the irregular spacing of the spokes). In some cases, you might need to position a body at a slight angle to the spoke, while keeping its grounded foot on the rim of the wheel. Attach each body to a bike clip already secured to the spoke, working your way along each spoke. Once everything is dry, spin the wheel and view the animation through your cell phone lens!