MatterHackers 3D Printed Science Projects Models

This set of models is a sampling of those in the book 3D Printed Science Projects. The book teaches you how to modify the models to explore a wide variety of topics, and explores the science in depth. To get you started, here are seven models the book teaches you how to create, with a note of which chapter explores the relevant topics.

Camellia: a model of the structure of a typical flower (Chapter 6).

Truss: a model to understand the forces in a 2D truss (Chapter 8).

Wing Model 1 and Wing Model 2: two classic wings on a stand. The models have the same cross-section, NACA 2412, but one is swept 30 degrees and tapered, with a shorter wingspan. Assemble these models by taping or gluing the two halves together, setting the angle of attack (how the wing points into the flow). You can then create a “micro wind tunnel” by weighting down the base, putting the whole thing on a postal scale, and blowing a fan on it (see picture above). As the fan blows air over the wing, the wing generates lift and apparently weighs less as seen on the scale. We have included two wings here to show the range of possibilities that can come from this base model (Chapter 4).

Water Molecule: half of a water molecule, which you can print out in quantity and assemble into ice crystals (Chapter 7).

Halleys Comet: the base of this model is the elliptical orbit of Halley’s Comet. The height of the model is how fast the comet is traveling at that point in its orbit. It speeds up near the sun and slows down when it is way out in the solar system (Chapter 3). This model includes a cooling tower to make the tall point print more cleanly.

Wedge.stl: a 30-degree wedge, for students learning about simple machines (Chapter 5).

Note: This material is derived from material in "3D Printed Science Projects", Apress (2016), ISBN978-1-484213-24-7, available at http://www.apress.com/9781484213247.

Printing tips: Models print without support, and work well in PLA. We do not recommend scaling the size of these models. They were designed to print within a 5” x 6” x 5” print area. To fit in this area, some of the models (such as the truss model and the Halley's Comet orbit model) may have to be rotated 45 degrees about the Z axis (as shown in the screenshots).