Planetary Gear Coaster

thingiverse

Inspired by Jangles1981's gear coaster, this is a variation with planetary gears that sets it apart. The top and bottom rotate relative to each other, with 4 planet gears attached to the top and driven by a sun gear in the bottom, creating a dynamic motion. You can add an optional outer ring, which serves not only as a useful barrier to prevent your drinks from sliding off the coaster but also turns the coaster into a complete gearbox with a ratio of 5:1 between the top and bottom disks. A video showcases this design in action, demonstrating its unique functionality. To print the gear four times, make sure everything fits together easily, although you may need to ream the holes in the gears if your first layer is squashed too much. The hole should be precisely 5 mm. If printed strong enough, it should be possible to easily take it apart for cleaning. For added coolness, print the top and/or bottom parts in a transparent filament, giving the design an extra touch of elegance. However, this needs to be printed accurately for it to run smoothly. Sandpaper can work wonders, but if you're unsure where to sand it, a simple trick is to pour abrasive cleaner (Cif or similar) plus a bit of water into the assembly and spin it for a while. This will automatically sand the parts where they need it most. Rinse and dry it afterwards to prevent any damage. Print Settings are crucial for this design's success. Printer Brand: FlashForge Printer: Creator Pro Rafts: No Supports: No Resolution: 0.2 mm and 0.1 mm Infill: 20% Notes: The top was printed at 0.1 mm layers, the rest at 0.2 mm. A finer layer height was used for the top to ensure the center axle came out accurately. It also proved too weak when printed in ABS at 0.2 mm layers. Updates: 2017/04/02 Added outer ring.