Fidget Spinner - One-Piece-Print / No Bearings Required!

myminifactory

Fidget Spinners are a popular toy everywhere around the world, enjoyed by people of all ages. This one-of-a-kind design allows for the same fidgeting ability as any other Fidget Spinner, but it's a single-piece print that doesn't require metal bearings at all. It should be almost ready to spin straight off the build plate! The design features four precision-engineered bearings that are designed right in. With a well-sliced file printed on an accurate machine, the bearings will be free or take very little effort to break free from the start. Once they're freed up, add a small amount of lubricant to the moving bearing surfaces (check out the images), and you'll be ready to give your Fidget Spinner a good spin. Will it spin as well as a spinner with metal bearings? Probably not, but it should still spin very smoothly and is definitely fun to fiddle with! You can spin your Fidget Spinner in several ways: a smooth-running spinner can be spun with just one hand by holding it in the center then flicking one of the arms from the top or bottom; or you can get a faster spin by hitting one of the arms with a finger on your other hand. With four bearings designed in, you can also hold one of the outer bearings and flick the spinner around using them instead of the center bearing (check out the images). TIP: Once all four bearings have been freed up, apply a good spray of silicone spray or another light lubricant into the grooves between the main body and bearing on both sides of the spinner. Silicone is an amazing lubricant that makes 3D printed surfaces move really well against each other. WARNING: To get the best results with this design, you'll need a good slicing app and accurate machine due to the fine clearances applied. Although the clearances used should work well with most slicing apps and machines, others may find it a challenge and fuse the parts together. In that case, try uniformly scaling the design up by 5% to increase the internal clearances. 'LOOSE' Version: A 'loose' file version has been added for members who have trouble printing fine clearances. This increases the clearance by about 0.1mm. On accurate machines, this will be too loose and the bearings won't run as smoothly as they do with standard clearances. However, the 'loose' version should allow people with less accurate machines to still get a good result. This is an easy print of a fun gadget that requires an accurate slicing app and machine to achieve the necessary clearance between the moving parts so it will spin well and freely. Applying lubricant is also essential to getting a really good spin and being able to spin it with just one hand (metal bearings require lubrication too, so this just requires the same). Retaining the standard scale is recommended to maintain the designed-in clearances and ensure sufficient space between your thumb and forefinger for it to spin. However, you can get creative with colors by pausing your machine multiple times mid-print and changing filament... print in your favorite color or color combination to make your own unique Fidget Spinner! Everyone needs their own Fidget Spinner, and they make great gifts too! And with this design, you don't need to buy any expensive metal bearings to achieve a similar result. Will a spinner with metal bearings spin better or longer? Probably due to the added weight, but this does a pretty good job at much lower cost and it's entirely 3D printed! Have fun, and please post images of your Fidget Spinners in use for other members to see! Please refer to the print settings/instructions and images for additional information. Higher-than-usual shells and infill are recommended as this adds weight which will help your spinner maintain momentum. Note: If you like this, check out the rest of my fun and practical designs!