Twist Fish

thingiverse

The TwistFish is most content when it achieves perfect balance in the water, much like its living counterparts. The original design was intended for 3D printing on a Stratasys machine, which exclusively uses ABS material. This material is significantly lighter than PLA, prompting me to incorporate air chambers and transform the eyes into miniature flotation devices to compensate. Lowering or eliminating infill also helps maintain weight efficiency. To prevent water from entering the air chambers, simply paint the printed parts. Orienting the parts poses a challenge due to their irregular surfaces. I have provided both standard orientations and the approach I used for printing. You will need to fabricate the shaft connecting the rubber band to the tail using .060in welding rod - although not the ideal choice, aluminum or smaller gauge steel would be superior options if available. To secure the propeller and fish, use two tiny washers or get creative by countersinking holes and inserting glass beads that match your chosen material's diameter. The tail piece is attached using glue, minimizing support material and allowing for high-resolution printing with .2mm layers and no infill. I printed the fish halves at .2mm layers with zero infill. If you plan to scale up the design as a pool toy, remember to consider the neutral buoyancy issue. Rubber bands measuring 2.5 inches fit perfectly within this model.