Windmill with integrated printed bearings

thingiverse

This functional windmill serves as a proof of concept, demonstrating the seamless integration of printed bearings into designs. It consists of just three prints that easily snap together, with only bolts required to secure it to a railing - Fusion 360 and step files are available for adaptation into your specific application. Avoid supports when printing this design. For more details on how I assembled this windmill, watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PyQ7_fFQ90. I've printed this model and will be testing its long-term durability in harsh weather conditions - exposed to wind and rain. The results so far are impressive: installed on day 12.10.2018 but with no wind, finally moving on day 23.10.2018. As of day 24.11.2018, it's still spinning despite strong winds, cold weather, and rain - a remarkable feat considering nearly 4000 downloads in just one month. Although the snap connection to the blade bearing is slightly loose, I've created an optimization study at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3196013 to improve this design. In future versions, I plan to add a coil and magnets to power an LED light - let's see how much time I can devote to this project...