Has anyone had success 3d printing propellers? I am about to start designing a propeller I can print on my reprap printer and wondered if I am re-inventing the wheel... I haven't found anything suitable for the Iris on Thingiverse or other similar sites.
Cc
Replies
Hobbyking sells a thrust stand. I bought one, and it is quite handy, and inexpensive. With a thrust stand you could baseline test the readily available props (unless mfg data is available), and then test your 3D printed props against that data. The nylon-loaded plastic has a good chance of working at typical max quad speeds <<10,000rpm).
Modeling the props in a drawing program can be project unto itself. What is your plan for that?
Jim
I will look into the thrust stand... sounds like a good investment for this project.
cc
Clay,
What do you mean when you say the plastic needs a different build platform? Are you saying that it is not sticking to the build surface?
What 3D printer are you using?
Jim
Jim,
My printer is one I built myself... basically a Prusa I3. I have a heated build platform and use either a glass plate with hairspray, or blue painters tape over the glass. I have a spool of Taulman 618 nylon that I plan to use for this project, but it doesn't stick well to the hairspay or blue tape. Someone at Matterhackers suggested the particle board.
I will use either OpenSCAD or AutoCAD for the design. It seems to me that at the RPMs typical, supersonic tips on a 10 inch prop isn't a problem (as it can be on general aviation propellers). I have been doing the analysis to equalize the thrust along the length of the prop using a profile common on light turboprop aircraft... similar to the Cessna 208 Caravan propeller... a McCauley design. Still working on the "printing without support" thing.
cc
Clay,
I have been using a QIDI Tech printer that has a heated platform. The platform has thick layer of blue color polymer material. Everything seems to stick to it. As a matter of fact, most often we have to put some real craftiness and elbow into getting the work off the platform. The material is not blue tape. I will try to find out what it is.
Jim,
Thanks! I would appreciate that. With most other materials I use either the hair spray on glass or the tape works well... but not that 618 nylon.
Clay
Chris,
I have some experience with 3-D printing propellers (for ducted fans). I have not been successful yet, but I have not been very active with it lately. Right off the bat, you are going to need to find a suitable plastic material. The standard ABS and PLA plastics are not strong enough. I have some plastic that is nylon-loaded and should be stronger that has good reviews for 3-D printing but I have not used it yet.
I have some of that high temp nylon. I haven't tried props with it, but what I have tried seems quite strong and rigid. It needs a different build platform to stick... masonite or similar I think should work with it. I was thinking of a softer material. I have a soft PLA that has good adhesion qualities, but I don't know about a prop of this material coning if it holds together at all. It will be interesting to see how some of these hold up (if at all) when I get a prop designed to be printable. I will probably build a test jig with a single motor to see if it holds up before risking a quad...
cc
Yeah, I have thought of that, but it seems there ought to be a design/material/method to make it reliable. A lot of the strength depends on orientation of the layers to the primary stress axis, and the material used.