Saturn V rocket, Mobile Launcher, LUT Tower and Crawler

thingiverse

Revisions: None yet Note: You can download this instructions as well as a complete photo book in PDF. Look for the file in "Thing Files".You can download independent ZIP files as well for each section below so you don't need to download every single file and figure out where it goes. Just download Zip files, decompress in separated folders and you will get everything in place. There are many different files so if you find some is missing according to the instructions, please let me know. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturn V rocket, Mobile Launcher, LUT Tower and Crawler Welcome to a new and different design of the amazing NASA's Saturn V, platform, tower and other related stuff “Made in Spain”. It took me more than three months of design and tests but at the end it looks great and it was worth it. I have been and still I am a passionate about Astronomy and Space Science in general. Unless your are a complete fan of this rocket and its history, you do not know what you are missing if you do not have a look closer and dig into it. I assure you will be shocked just knowing a few figures. Apart of the rocket itself that I took the different parts from here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:906896 the rest are based (just based) on the original, is not a replica. My original intention was to think, design and create a base stand for this rocket, first I tried to make something really simple to allow the rocket stand on its own, but it is so awesome when you look at it that just a simple base is not what it deserves. And little by little I were thinking of new parts, a launch base, the great tower and a Crawler like vehicle. Not satisfied with that yet, I thougth that such a big construction needed spot lights to shine on the rocket and why not, if I want, see the rocket lifting off. The result is a Saturn V rocket 70 cm high or nearly 1 meter when it takes off from the launch pad. What an ambitious project!, but this is it, and I hope you enjoy it printing and building as much as me. Short instructions (30/ may /2020) I am still preparing the "long" instructions manual, but I do not know when I am going to finish it… It will include a short story of the Saturn V rocket along with the LaunchPad, etc., step by step building of the complete model as well as detailed pictures of the finished model. Anyway, you should be able to build your own model following these short instructions. To make it clear, please have a look to the pictures along with this text, you will find it easier to follow. Just ask if you need any clarification or have any question. Number of parts Total LaunchPad parts: 168 Total Saturn V parts: 20 Extra parts: 19 Grand total: 207 Attention: Print every single SATURN V ROCKET part scaled by 30%, that means parts should be 70% instead of 100% on Cura Slicer (or your favourite slicer). There are some exceptions: command_module_magnet.stl, Escape_Tower_magnet.stl, LEM_adapter_base.stl, LEM_adapter_panels.stl are already scaled, why? Because I designed them by my own considering the actual size of the rocket to fit on the rest of the model parts. Files marked as optional should only be used if you want to print the Saturn V model full size (100%). If this is your case, It should work if you scale up to 130% the remaining parts to fit them together, but I weren't able to test. Some of the listed parts are of course not printable parts (magnets for instance). Please, download all STL files and compare. I named every single file so you don’t get confused. STEP ONE: Printing Saturn V Please, do not forget to reduce the parts by 30% except command_module_magnet.stl, Escape_Tower_magnet.stl, LEM_adapter_base.stl, LEM_adapter_panels.stl. The (very good) one from https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:906896 have some parts with design errors, so as a result you get a lower quality. I have corrected most of them, so what I present here is almost completely new with some added parts that enhanced the design and complements it. Of course, the less the layer height the better the quality. I set 0.1mm on most parts. Please, have a look to the part name and number of parts you have to print. Saturn V Parts Please, rotate the stage parts, they are laying on their sides and should be printed standing. Usually thrusters go facing towards up, but you decide the best way for your printer. First Stage S-IC bottom = 1 First Stage S-IC top = 1 First Stage joining cube = 1 Fins = 4 Interstage Adapter = 1 Second Stage S-II = 1 Third Stage S-IVB = 1 Lunar Module LM Adapter Base = 1 Lunar Module LM Adapter Panels = 1 Lunar Module (magnet) = 1 Optional templates = 4 (USA letters, United States letters, Black stripes, USA Flag) This are for making your life easier when painting the letters and different decorations on the rocket. For them I used fine point permanent markers. The very top of the Saturn V rocket carries the Apollo Spacecraft that includes the following. On my design I use three magnets attached to allow take them apart easily: Apollo Spacecraft Command Module CM (magnet) = 1 Service Module SM (magnet) = 1 Escape Tower (magnet) = 1 One of the major upgrades to this new designed Saturn V model is the availability of making demonstrations on how the Apollo Spacecraft worked once in orbit, you will be able to detach the Escape Tower, see the interior of the upper part of the rocket by opening the Lunar Module Adapter Flaps, detach the Command Module plus Service Module together and turn them 180º to dock with the Lunar Module, what actually happened in every single Apollo missions. Moreover, is also possible to detach the Command Module itself to simulate the reentry in Earth atmosphere. All thanks to the magnets I installed on each part. Note: Lunar Module is just an imitation, a piece I designed that fits on the upper part of the Saturn V 3rd phase. It was impossible to print a scaled version of the real one at that size an make it functional with the other parts. STEP TWO: Launch Pad Lots of time and work invested on this model. I managed to allow every single part to fit in with the others with ease, anyway it is very likely that you need to sand or file some of them to make it smoother. As I wanted to illuminate the rocket with the help of four spot lights, it should contain some tubes (I call them sewers ;-) ) were you can guide the cables through. When you slice this part on your slicer you will realize they connect different locations, so you can reach them easily. Moreover, this LaunchPad contains the base for the tower and the elevator, the base for the rocket and/or what I call the light tower. Details on the walls, fence and other decorations are not the same you can find on the real LaunchPad, they just share some similarities. LaunchPad has been divided in two parts due to 3d printer size limitations. Parts of the LaunchPad are: LaunchPad left = 1 (optional magnet) LaunchPad right = 2 (optional magnet) Cilinder = 1 (to hold the two launchpad parts together) Lid small left = 1 Lid small right = 1 Lid big = 1 Lift off tower = 1 (optional) Light tower = 1 (optional) Spot Light = 4 Spot Light stand = 4 Links = 12 (to hold together the three very first tower floors) There are two optional but very visually recommended parts, the Lift-off tower and Light tower. These are used to imitate the rocket as if it were lifting-off after the countdown. it rises the rocket 20cm upper from the LaunchPad and the Light Tower is used to hold a 3 high intensity LED. All this surrounded by a cotton like fiber makes it appears as the fire coming from the rocket thrusters , it gives the whole model another level of reality when all lights are on a the same time. Check some pictures. STEP THREE: Crawler This is an invented Crawler, it is quite similar in dimensions (scaled of course) but its design is much simple than the original. This scaled dimensions were adapted to my hotbed size. I made some tests trying to print it 1cm longer, but It was impossible, so I had to shrink it to make the print possible. Anyway it looks great once mounted under the launchpad. Crawler also includes four new designed Cleats with their own belts (caterpillar track) printed in flexible TPU (shore 88A)so they all fit perfect in place and can move and rotate (not very smooth, sorry…). So bear in mind that to print them you need flexible TPU filament and your printer should support it. If you don’t have the chance to print it, try to find some rubber bands that fit in. Parts you must print are: Crawler = 1 Complete Cleat: 9 parts each x4 = 36 parts Belt = 8 STEP FOUR: Launch Umbilical Tower (LUT) This 3Dprinted Tower, as the original, is taller than Saturn V rocket so when printed and assembled you will be amazed. It is actually quite easy to print, because the different floors are the same with the exception of the three first floors that their sizes are different. It also includes the Elevator Shaft made of 18 printable parts where there are also three that are different and correspond to the three first levels. They are marked with the numbers “1, 2 and 3”, so no chance to go wrong. The Elevator shaft is used to guide the cables that go up to the Crane, that actually holds a small tower with a red LED light at the very top, it looks very realistic! You have to print some links to assemble the first 3 floors and some for the LaunchPad (these are included in the Launchpad parts list) and the Service arms as well along with each rotate base (to make the arms rotate up to 180 degrees). An imitation the the long pipes that comes from the Launch base to the top of the Tower are included and must be guided through the lateral holes on every single level. To help pile them together while they go up, you have to use what I called “Pipe vertical alignment” and on the second floor, the “Pipe angle holder”. There are 8 columns support that holds and make the first floors columns bind together and make a stronger structure. Don’t worry, you will see that it is very easy as you go on printing and assembling. There is another part called Saturn V bracket holder that makes it to be safer on the LaunchPad if you want. I highly recommend to use it when you decide to position the rocket on the Lift-off Tower to avoid falls due to imbalanced rocket or vibrations. It makes it much easier to transport as well. Parts summary: Tower Base = 3 Tower = 15 Tower hat = 1 (last one that holds the Crane) Elevator shaft = 18 (15 + 3 customized for the first three levels) Columns Support = 8 Columns = 4 Service Arm rear = 7 Service Arm front = 7 (or 6 + 1 long access arm (white)) Rotary base for Service Arm = 7 Pipe vertical alignment = 3 Pipe angle holder = 1 Pipe 214mm = 6 Pipe 200mm = 12 (cut two of them 4cm that go on the very top) SaturnV bracket arm = 1 Crane Crane = 1 Crane Hook = 1 (*) Crane cable holder = 1 (*) (*) Printed together Crane tower beacon = 1 Crane shaft = 1 STEP FIVE: Power Bank This is an exclusive design, the energy of the complete assembly that powers the four Spot lighs, Light Tower and red beacon at the top of the Launch Umbilical Tower. Using a 18650 battery and a simple USB battery charger you can have light and enjoy the view for hours. I designed from scratch to make it easy to fit the battery, charger a switch to power it on and off and other elements. I decided to add the “Apollo 50” logo on the lid to commemorate the Apollo 50th anniversary. I use the color sheet to not see the inside components and give a colour touch to the Apollo logo. The needed printable parts are: PowerBank = 1 Top = 1 Color Sheet = 1 Button = 1 Of course you need some electronic parts. These are the ones I used and some web links where you can find them as an example (have a look to the components photo attached). You can find them on many other Internet shop as well: • 1 USB LED hight bright (for the lift-off or Light Tower) (example: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32974913046.html) • 1 18650 common battery • 1 18650 single battery holder ((example: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000859859685.html) • 1 Micro USB 18650 Power Bank Charger Board (example: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32842257961.html) • 1 Switch button 6 pin 8x8mm (example: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/653384227.html) EXTRA PARTS To be able to finish the complete assembly as it has been intended, you should find some (easy to find) other parts as the following: 6 round magnets 2x8mm 4 white LED 5mm (for the Spot Lights) 1 red LED 5mm (Crane Tower beacon) 3x resistor 100 Ohms (in series for every LED line, to power them safely) You also need some other materials as: A few meters of some thin cables (18 AWG is enough), shrink tube, solder, tin and some other tools that you may need as the work progresses. STEP SIX: Connecting everything There is a lack of the electric schematics about how to wire all the components together. I am not an expert in electronic designing software, so if you want to help me, may be you can make a simple schematic in order to understand how to do it easier. The idea and steps are the following: 1. Connect the USB battery charger to the battery holder. Of course, at the end you should attach the battery in place. 2. Add a switch to the positive five volt line that I take from the electronic board. I added two different lines of LED (two LEDs each) so added two 100Ohms resistors as well in series with the cables. This LEDs should be positioned on every SpotLight place in order to fit it there, so you have to take some measures of the cables to be sure you have enough to get there. 3. Another red LED (3mm) is used as a Beacon at the top of the LUT so a pair of about 1 meter cables go from the Power Bank to it. You can guide every single cable through the holes I designed for that purpose.