Triple Fan Blade Encasement

prusaprinters

Posted on Thingiverse Oct 5, 2015.Any feedback is appreciated.If you print this, send me a message on how it printed. I am curious in how it comes out.SummaryWind Powered Electric GeneratorThis model was created using Tinkercad. Print this model to enjoy and get excited about wind energy and electricity!Update (2-16-2016):Files are now A LOT BIGGER. The picture shows what the original size was. Sorry for those that downloaded the originals. I made everything bigger, especially the sails. Comments are appreciated! Peace!Print SettingsPrinter brand: StratasysPrinter: uPrint SE PlusRafts: YesSupports: YesResolution: .235 mmInfill: 10%How I Designed ThisThe idea came to me when I was thinking about a simple electric motor I would show to kids while I worked at a children's museum. The electricity flowing through the coils would create a magnetic field which would push a coil against the magnetic field of a stationary magnet. Now lets flip this idea and have the coils stationary and the magnets moving.Good teaching tool for showing how wind turbines work! Project: Learning electricity from the wind ObjectivesLearn how a wind powered electric generator worksLearn how build a simple wind powered electric generatorLearn how magnets with coils create electricityAdvanced ObjectivesLearn how to connect different componentsLearn how to rectify the voltageAudiencesMiddle school and olderHigh school classes learning about renewable energiesHigh school/college electronic classesPreparationStudents will need a basic understanding of electricity.Instructor should be comfortable answering electricity and component questions.Print out all the pieces. (assembly instructions are forth coming)It is helpful to have students form into working groups of two or three so that they can collaborate on the building process.Be sure to have all the components ready before the students arrive.Lesson 1: Building the modelHave each group of students work together on building the model.Things you will need:Super glueSpool of fine magnet wireSmall circumference and height neodymium magnets (4-16)LEDs (4)Resistors (33ohmx4)Voltmeter (optional)Tweezers (optional)Print all the pieces.Sand the edges of the two disc pieces. Not too much, but enough so that when you spin the spinning mechanism, the edge causes little to no friction on the inside diameter of the base.Use super glue to secure small magnets in the grooves under and on top of the disc pieces.Now would be a REALLY good time to start coiling the magnet wire around the coil fixtures, top cover and the base. Trust me, it is a lot easier to do it now than when you have the whole thing super glued shut. You should be able to get about 10 loops for every fixture. When I say fixture, I mean one of the four fixtures on the bottom of the top cover and ditto on the bottom of the base. The tighter and more loops you make, the higher the voltage across the wire (BUT YOU KNEW THAT, RIGHT?).Place both discs in the free space in the base. They will be attached later.Slide the top cover as shown in the final model. Secure with super glue. It will definitely be a tight fit, sand if you would like a better fit, but it should be snug. Be sure to wire the opposite side loops together so that you can get a more visible response when you plug in LEDs and resistors into the circuit.Slide the pointed end of the spinning mechanism into the hole of the top cover. This should align with the center holes of the discs also.Slide and secure the two pieces that will be printed with the spinning mechanism as shown in the final model. Secure with super glue. It may take some force, but trust me, it fits. Using tweezers here will make it easier to maneuver the discs.Wait for the glue to set.Teach those peeps about mother loving ELECTRICITY!Lesson 2: Applying the coils and magnetsCoils and magnets will show the students how electricity is formed in electric generators. Be sure to teach the fundamentals of magnetism and electron flow. The LEDs will create a visual for those students.Advanced Lessons: Further teachingAdd an Oscilloscope to show how the motion of the fan causes electricity to be created in the coil.Teach about AC and DC electricity.Teach about rectifier circuits (full wave, half wave, etc).Lesson ResultsAt the end of this project, each group of students should have:A functioning 3D printed wind powered electric generatorNotes on the basics of other wind powered generatorsAn understanding of all electric generatorsAdvanced ResultsAt the end of this project, advanced students or group of students should have:A wind powered electric generator that regulates the input of powerAn understanding on voltage regulatorsAn understanding on the difference between AC and DC voltagesCircuit designs based on the amount of energy created.Notes on improvements or additions