Bubble Blowing Whirligig

thingiverse

I've had a functional 3D printer for about a month now, and this is my first complex construction attempt. I'm entering it in the "Catch the Wind" challenge. The rotor turns smoothly in a light to moderate breeze. The planetary gears provide a 3:1 reduction to the 12 bubble wands dipping into the reservoir, which helps prevent violent splashing in a strong breeze. The fact that the wands go in the opposite direction as the blades gives a nice aesthetic. Additional materials I used include: * 4mm Corrugated plastic sheet for the blades and body - a material that will likely become abundant after the next election. * One Inch 10-24 nuts and bolts: Five are used to hold the rotor assembly together securely. * One inch 4-40 nuts and bolts: Three are used to mount the planetary gears firmly in place. * 1/4-inch dowel to form the axle - a crucial component for smooth rotation. * Brads or other small nails: These do a great job of securing the printed parts to the sheet by being pushed through the holes in the mounting brackets and the corrugated plastic. * Cyanoacrylate or other glue to lock the 4-40 nuts, secure the sun gear to the dowel, and secure the wands in the holes around the outside of the ring gear - essential for a strong hold. * BB's for the ball bearings - providing smooth rotation and reducing friction. It took me some time to convince the printer to work properly, but once it did, the project came together quickly - which was fortunate since the last part printed just 6 hours before the deadline for the challenge.