Bulldog Paramotor Strobe

thingiverse

This project documents how I designed and built a custom 3D printed strobe for my Bulldog Paramotor, tailored specifically to meet its needs. The design is unique to this type of paramotor, so modifications would be necessary for use on other models. This project is primarily geared towards Bulldog Paramotor owners who want to create their own high-performance strobe. I've successfully integrated the strobe onto my paramotor and am thrilled with the results. The device produces an impressive 53 flashes per minute while running continuously for over 8 hours on a fully charged battery. Recharging the internal battery is simple; just detach the battery/electronics box from its holder and use a micro USB port to recharge it, taking approximately 6 hours. My journey with this project began in 2017 when I started experimenting with Arduino electronics and wanted to create my own strobe. To achieve a professional and functional design, I first learned Google Sketchup, thanks to Paul McWhorter's excellent video tutorials "3D printing from sketchup" (https://youtu.be/SZnu3GzXZ-g). My initial 3D design was the strobe itself, which presented a significant learning curve and required numerous hours of trial and error as I honed my skills. Once I felt confident in my software skills and had a solid design, I ordered a Prusa i3 Mk2S 3D printer kit. It took about a week of evenings to assemble the printer before I could print my first version of the Strobe. As you can see from this video (https://youtu.be/6y2r8-kYxwo), I was quite excited. I've invested a considerable amount of time and money into this project, gaining valuable knowledge in design, 3D printing, and electronics along the way, thanks in part to guidance from Paramotor friend Simon Walker. After countless iterations, including over 100 hours of printing various designs until perfection, I'm now satisfied with the final product. Many people have asked me if I plan to sell the strobe, but setting up a production line isn't feasible due to the time-consuming process involved in printing and assembling each unit. Instead, I'm making this project open source for anyone interested in taking on the challenge themselves. If you'd prefer to purchase one pre-assembled, I offer it for £150. If you decide to create your own strobe, please share your experience with this project.