Flapping Bird Toy

cults3d

A Mechanical Flapping Bird Toy, a Moving Marvel of Engineering. I wanted to push my skills in creating a truly dynamic mechanical toy, one that would captivate and inspire anyone who laid eyes on it. The head had to turn, the tail move, and the wings flap with a rhythmic precision that was nothing short of mesmerizing. And so, I set out to bring this vision to life. As I worked on the build, I realized that it required a level of intricacy and finesse that was not for the faint of heart. The parts had to be sanded smooth, the joints precise, and the movement fluid. But the end result was well worth the effort - a clean, satisfying build that seemed to come alive in my hands. I experimented with various print-in-place joints, incorporating four in the wings and one in the neck. They were a bit fragile, yes, but they worked beautifully nonetheless. I'll be updating them soon, as I continue to refine my techniques. The linkage running out of the feet was a clever touch, allowing for automation with a simple lever or motor. I included a perch for the bird to sit on, as the mechanical crank stand still needs some tweaking. But even without it, the toy was a wonder to behold. The movement was a bit stiff, yes, due to the slop of the 3D printed parts, but that only added to its charm. I've included two head files - one with feathers and one without. I must admit, I prefer the plain version myself, but the feathered version is certainly more elaborate. It's all about personal taste, after all. Here's a list of the parts you'll need: 1 Central Pivot Plate A 1 Central Pivot Plate B 1 Body Left 1 Body Right 1 Head Left 1 Head Right 2 Wing Flap Linkages 4 Wing Pivots 1 Wing Flap Connector 2 Wing Flap Linkage Rods 1 Wing Left 1 Wing Right 1 Upper Beak 1 Lower Beak 1 Lower Beak Tab 1 Legs 1 Tail You'll also need a bunch of 3mm and 4mm pins, which can be trimmed to size if necessary. Metal ones work better, but the printed ones seem to do just fine. Optional features include: * A Push Rod for automating the whole toy through the feet * A Perch for display purposes I spent countless hours designing this mechanical bird toy, and I'm thrilled to share it with you. If you decide to build it, please post your creation - I'd love to see how it turns out!