Folding propellers for Rocket Drones

thingiverse

<h1>Folding Propellers for Rocket Drones</h1> What's a <i>Rocket Drone</i> you ask? Think of a Rocket Glider, but instead of wings, it has drone pods and can recover like a drone. One of the first successful ones I've seen is a [Mars Lander](https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/mars-lander-rocket-quadcopter-project.151995/) being developed by George Gassaway based on a model offered by [Mech-G](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2670642). George's project has motors facing down, and to reduce the influence of props on thrust phase, a folding prop concept was proposed. Because there were no commercial 'reversed' folding blades, some people started looking into 3D printing them, which pretty much brings us to this listing. <h1>V4</h1> The V4 batch of blades was inspired by [Mech-G's design](https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/mars-lander-rocket-quadcopter-project.151995/page-2#post-1895110), and I'm in the process of testing them, so use them with caution. I will post my results later (stay tuned). - The V4 version has sturdier hubs, and the blades can be printed sans any support, however, I do recommend a brim along the edge to help keep it in place. - V4 is designed to swing up to a 'stop' when fully engaged. - If you have Fusion 360 and want to explore this prop design, here's a link to the Fusion file. <h1>V3</h1> These blades are basically 6x3 / 5.5x3 / 5.75x3 in size. <b>WARNING: Use 3D printed blades carefully and at your own risk.</b> - <b>UPDATE 6.21:</b> Realizing that for this project the blades didn't need to bend to fit around an aircraft fuselage, I made straight blades and a beefier hub. - [V3 Fusion 360 file](https://a360.co/2IqzpcW) - The blade prints very nicely on a bed at .1mm layer height, with 100% infill. The reversed blades are marked with an R near the hub. The curved edge is in the direction of rotation. Here's a video of the V3 blades being tested: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ajIfirR22Kg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> --- <h1>V2 / V1</h1> I made these for a drone project that used blades that would fold down, but again I stress they have not been tested. - The smaller hub had an asymmetrical issue that has been resolved in the V2 version I just uploaded. - [V2 Fusion 360 file](https://a360.co/2HQlSLg) - I've offered two hubs that change the blade's rotation diameter from 6" to 5.5" (this had to do with the project it's for). - The reversed blade is marked with an R to help make them easier to identify. - Print at 100% infill and the highest resolution your printer can manage. - The best strength for the props is achieved by printing them as horizontal as possible, which will require using support. Here are some printed hubs and forward rotating blades in PETG - the reversed blades are printed in PC.