Tri-Helix Pull Copter - No hardware Required!

I designed this based on ideas presented in the Onshape Tutorials I am using with my students, however, none of the dimensions or design elements are the same.  

I wanted to try designing a pull copter that requires no hardware to assemble.

Printing notes.

I'm printing using a 0.4 mm Nozzle on an Elegoo Neptune 2 printer. “Normal” .2mm settings in Cura.

I'm printing with Hatchbox PLA.

100% infill, (the parts are all pretty small so making them solid makes them stronger)

Pay attention to the notes for each part, generally align the largest/flattest parts to the build plate and you should be fine. 

You may want a brim on the Spinner. Sometimes my printer knocks it off just as it's about to finish leaving the last 3 layers or so printing spaghetti.

Make sure to print 2 clips.

The Ring Handle does need support.  Tree supports seem to work well here. 

Assembly instructions. 

Prep and clean all parts.  De-burr as necessary and carefully remove all support material.

Place the spinner up through the “top” piece with the bulge against the chamfered inside edge. Adding a tiny bit of white lithium grease or a dry graphite to the base of the spinner may make it work better.

Place the ring base against the bottom of the top piece. 

Slide the clips on to the notched sections, either direction should work as these were designed to be symmetrical.  Once fully seated they should “clip” into place.  They can be removed by carefully lifting the clip and pushing them back off.

To Fly:

Place the launcher on an appropriate digit. (whichever finger works for you.) Or grasp it in your non-dominant hand if you printed the handle grip.

Push the key into the slot.  The slot should be on the Right side of the spinner when facing the teeth of the key.  

Place the prop (with the stem bit facing the launcher) onto the spinner.

Point the pull copter away from your face, then smoothly and rapidly, pull the key towards you.

See how far you can get yours to fly.  I've managed about 30 feet with mine indoors across a classroom.  

I recommend printing several props, they will get lost behind the furniture.

I'm including a bunch of different configurations of the prop for you to play with.

The file names tell you what each is.  The first number is how many blades it has.

The second part is the thickness of the blades in Millimeters. The third number is the thickness of the rim. The fourth number is the diameter of the whole prop in Millimeters. The Fifth number is the angle of the blades.