Airplanes!

[1ggy]

My goal is to eventually get to the point where I can 3d print a full R/C aircraft, but at the moment I'm experimenting with some gliders that I plan to launch off the dunes at the beach to check their stability. The biggest problem I'm having is that my 3d models don't have the same weight distribution as the printed objects due to the differences in the skin thickness and the way they are sliced. Anyways, pictures!

This was the first version. High wing, no dihedral, printed with walls 1.1mm shell. Fairly heavy and unstable, it had a tendency to spin when thrown. However, there was a really strong breeze at the top of the dunes and simply holding it in my hand it was light enough to lift off.

2nd version, have yet to test it. Shell is only .55mm thick, so it is very lightweight, but there is some serious horizontal banding on the wings since they are so flexible, and there are some horizontal surfaces that have holes in them from lack of support, but otherwise it turned out great. I increased the size of the V tails to (hopefully) increase the lateral stability and prevent spins, and also modified their cross section a bit in the hope it would add some longitudinal stability. The wings are also about 40% longer to increase lift. Next version I'm working on is a shelled model that will allow me to adjust the center of gravity of the model, and will most likely be printed out of ABS/Nylon alloy or weed trimmer line.

[DavidF]

That's just too cool!!