Close
0%
0%

Hanging Toy Helicopter

Thin wires (through the center of a helicopter's blades) support and provide power for the toy.

Similar projects worth following
245 views
0 followers
This toy helicopter (with moving blades) is suspended and powered by two small wires that travel through the center shaft of the helicopter rotor. The desired effect (invisible suspension) doesn't quite work--but it's getting close.

In operation, suspended and powered by two 30 awg wire wrap wires, the copter looks like this.

This started as a drawing by my wife, Annelle.

The challenge--trying to make this appear to "float" in the air while operating for hours nightly in a display window--required supplying power and support without getting tangled in the blades.

I created a rough test rig to see if support wires could go through the center of the rotor.

Next, I mounted a motor and supplied power to see if the rig could be balanced and not spin wildly.

When this proved workable, I decided to proceed.

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 395.00 kB - 01/19/2019 at 00:39

Download

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 533.68 kB - 01/19/2019 at 00:39

Download

f3d - 660.46 kB - 01/19/2019 at 00:39

Download

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 222.54 kB - 01/19/2019 at 00:39

Download

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 447.15 kB - 01/19/2019 at 00:39

Download

View all 29 files

  • Construction

    Mike Rigsby01/19/2019 at 01:11 0 comments

    Convert the servo motor to a gear motor by removing the circuit board and soldering two wires direct to the motor (the motor I listed in the components has no end stop, so it is easy to convert).

    The various 3d print and design files are available in the files section. 

    Note that blade thread and blade are combined to make propeller.

    Gear and shaft lg gear and combined to make gear shaft combo.

    Small gear and gear spacer are combined to make sm gear combo.

    I create the gears in Fusion 360 ("Add ins, Spur Gear") using defaults, but selecting the number of teeth desired. This produces HUGE gears, but no big problem. Import the gear into Tinkercad (I scaled to 22% size) and then combine with a shaft or hub to make the gear combo I desired.

    Mount the motor using 3mm screws.

    Attach the small gear combo to the servo horn (clip ends off of servo horn).

    Secure the gear to the motor.

    Attach the runners to the body with 3mm screws.

    Put the tail motor into the rear motor bracket.

    Press fit the bracket to the tail section.

    Insert a snowmobile bearing into the rotor gear shaft (gear shaft combo).

    Screw the propeller onto the combo.

    Thread the 30 awg wire wrap wire through the center shaft and wrap around the body support several times. Fasten the wire to the motor leads.

    Add weight (I used two sets of quarters) to the green body.

    Secure the body to the frame using 3mm screws and nuts.

    Press fit the rear cover on the back of the copter.

    Press fit the blade small (printed at 98% size) onto the tail motor shaft.

    Glue the left and right harness pieces into place.

    Add the driver (an elf made from polymer clay--courtesy of my wife Annelle).

    Here it is--ready to fly. Just don't stand underneath the thing!

View project log

Enjoy this project?

Share

Discussions

Similar Projects

Does this project spark your interest?

Become a member to follow this project and never miss any updates