Table tennis (ping pong) racket, model Butterfly Viscaria FL

thingiverse

This is a fully functional 3D printable table tennis racket design modeled after Butterfly Viscaria FL. To create this racket, I employed two distinct approaches: 1. The first approach involves building a model consisting of a mid-frame and two hand pieces attached to both sides using glue. 2. The second approach requires printing a single piece consisting of the mid-frame and hand pieces all at once (without the need for glue). The first approach is straightforward and uncomplicated, while the second approach demands more effort. It necessitates printing the mid-frame initially, then switching filaments during the print to create the first half of the handle. Afterward, the part must be removed and a special alignment fixture printed on the table. The mid-frame part is then inserted upside down into the jig, followed by the printing of the other half of the handle. Refer to the images for a clearer understanding of this process. Both approaches feature rubber parts printed separately from Ninja Flex material onto a bare glass surface for optimal finish quality. I utilized standard racket glue to secure the printed rubbers to the frame. The hand pieces were printed using Wood PLA, which yields a unique and realistic wooden appearance for the racket handle. Similarly, PLA was used for the mid-frame. I experimented with ABS as well but encountered issues with warping after the frame had been removed from the bed. Ultimately, the fully assembled racket weighed 168 grams, whereas the original racket weighs 161 grams. The primary difference in weight is that the printed racket carries more weight on the rubber, making it feel slightly heavier in hand. To address this issue, you may want to try printing the rubber with less material or use more material for the handle to achieve balance. Regarding the two print approaches, I observed minimal differences between them. Although I anticipated the second method would result in a seamless handle, the wood PLA and mid-frame PLA materials behaved slightly differently, yielding an imperfect join. It's possible that using similar materials for the mid-frame and handle pieces or accounting for their distinct properties may yield better results.