Open Source heli?

Anyone interested in designing an open source heli to be put on shapeways.com (a 3d print-on-demand service)?

I spotted a bunch of heli parts on there already - Link

(BTW does anyone know what heli these parts are for?)

I got to thinking about this because of the ridiculous pricing and packaging of HBFP ring-like pushrods. There's just no reason for those to be sold in 2 packs for 60 cents each. Or the rotor head - you're not likely to need the transparent plastic piece, the screws and the washers. Just the main head piece. It's so wasteful, not to mention unnecessarily expensive.

I can 3D model this stuff but I'm not sure about getting the sizes and tolerances right. I'd need help with that part.

Got a guy with rapid prototyping experience to help me with the HBFP parts. Those parts at least are on their way . . .

Interesting idea. How are the tolorences from shapeways.com?

Quote :

Executive summary:

* maintain a wall thickness of at least 1mm,
* accuracy is 0.1mm,
* always keep a clearance of 0.6mm
* and parts may have a deviation of 0.2mm.

Link

Is that sufficient?

Someone went to a great deal of effort to put heli parts on shapeways so I assumed it was possible.

Jack the R wrote:

Quote :

Executive summary:

* maintain a wall thickness of at least 1mm,
* accuracy is 0.1mm,
* always keep a clearance of 0.6mm
* and parts may have a deviation of 0.2mm.

Link

Is that sufficient?

Someone went to a great deal of effort to put heli parts on shapeways so I assumed it was possible.

Correct me if I am wrong but .1 mill is .004". That would translate to a fair bit of slop in head parts. If you had access to a good precision lathe you could make bushes to suit each part. I just think if you was going to the trouble to have them made you may as well get them right. No point otherwise, may as well by origional parts

How much these parts will be stronger than the original parts?

Prel - I'm trying to track down the guy who made the heli parts that are on Shapeways. Maybe he'll be able to comment on the tolerances. What should the tolerances be?

edit - I found a thread on the Shapeways forum about the helicopter parts -

Link

Here's an image of tail rotor parts -

Link

Unfortunately they're quite rough looking. It looks like the technology needs to improve a bit :(

P3tras - No idea, but the original parts don't seem particularly strong. I'm a little worried that ring like o-rings made with Shapeways' material would be too strong and not break quickly enough, transferring damage down into more expensive parts. There's bound to be trial and error involved in getting it right - but surely there are people here who enjoy such things? I think it's seriously cool.

LInk

It's been done! There's video of the heli flying.