Vienna Giant Wheel (Riesenrad)

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Human: History The Riesenrad ("giant wheel" or Ferris Wheel) is one of Vienna's most iconic landmarks. Located at the entrance of the amusement park "Prater" in Vienna's second district, it stands as a testament to engineering prowess. Built in 1897, the wheel held the title of world's tallest for nearly nine decades until the Cosmo Clock 21 in Yokohama took its place in 1985. Originally featuring 30 gondolas, the Riesenrad suffered significant damage during World War II and was rebuilt with only 15 gondolas to reduce maintenance costs. The wheel's impressive stature reaches a height of 65 meters, offering breathtaking views of Vienna from atop. It operates at a leisurely pace of 2.7 kilometers per hour, allowing riders ample time to take in the city's splendor. The entire structure weighs an astonishing 430 tons. Motivation My driving force behind rebuilding this iconic landmark was to create a design that could be easily adapted for various sizes, which is why I chose OpenScad as my construction platform. By doing so, I aimed to strike a balance between authenticity and printability. Recreating the original Riesenrad's design while considering its potential limitations was an intriguing challenge. A massive steel structure that rotates in harmony with its surroundings – it's impossible not to be captivated by its beauty. Production Times Printing Gondolas: The 15 gondolas, complete with bodies and roofs, took approximately six hours to print. Wheel: The entire wheel assembly, including gondola holders and wheels, required about 16 hours of printing time. Stands: The two stands took around 12 hours to print. Effective Printing Strategies I joined the challenge at the last minute, knowing I had to optimize my printing schedule. The times listed above only account for actual printing time; prototype iterations were also necessary before finalizing each part. To maximize efficiency, I arranged the parts in a way that allowed me to print several simultaneously. Before leaving home, I would start a batch, then return in the evening to quickly iterate on any remaining parts and initiate new print jobs. OctoPrint served as my host software, sending Push Bullet notifications when prints were complete. This allowed me to set alarms for these notifications, ensuring timely removal of printed parts and starting new jobs before bed or hitting the couch (thanks to a considerate girlfriend!). Painting Each gondola required approximately 15 minutes of painting time, totaling around four hours for all 15. Not including drying times between stages. Assembly The assembly process took about eight hours, with lining the wheels being the most labor-intensive task at three hours. Precision was key to ensuring proper alignment. Resources Riesenrad on Wikipedia Riesenrad homepage Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKYewbndmj4