The Incredible Balancing Birdie!

thingiverse

This toy has a profound impact on my childhood memories, captivating me with its unwavering ability to resist every attempt to knock it down. I credit this bird for sparking my curiosity about how things work, leading me to dissect and rebuild numerous objects, ultimately shaping me into the skilled maker you see today. There are two distinct versions of the bird available. The center of mass appears to be located under the beak, but in cases where additional weight is necessary, the BirdwithCavity STL file features two cavities under the wings that can be filled with hot glue and a penny or similar-sized coin for enhanced counterbalancing. Feel free to experiment with this design, share it with children, and post images of your results! As I'm still waiting for my printer to arrive, I rely on your contributions to help refine this project. Be sure to check back regularly as community feedback will undoubtedly lead to further improvements. 2/24/2017: The response from everyone has been overwhelmingly positive, with numerous suggestions and advice shared by printers. Currently, the most effective tip is to print the model with supports and a raft if printed horizontally or lay it flat for better results. The model without cavities tends to cause more issues than solutions, as supports in the cavity can be difficult to remove, resulting in an unnecessarily heavy bird, especially when scaled down. Tmproff has achieved the most balanced print yet, which he has included in the Made section. He printed with 60% infill horizontally and used rafts and supports, confirming that this setting allows for a stable balance. The rounded bottom of the tail provides minimal surface area to adhere to the build plate. Scaling down the design and printing it flat also yielded successful results. I will soon be working on version 2, thanks to your invaluable feedback!