April 14, 2026
Description
Look into the Hypnotic wind spinner, not around the spinner, not above the spinner, into the spinner. When I click my fingers, you will print this wind spinner and be mesmerised by the optical illusion that appears to expand and contract depending on the wind direction, that works with even the slightest breeze.
The model includes two mounting options across separate print plates. You can either hold it in your hand and enjoy the motion up close (or wander around and find the most powerful gusts of wind!), or place it on top of a fence using the included mounting options, which come in multiple size options to suit different fence widths. No fixing required, it simply rests securely in place.
Using one of the Makers Supply bearings, the spinner runs incredibly smoothly. Even a gentle puff of air is enough to get it moving, and once it starts, it really comes to life.
Printing and assembly are straightforward, though you will need a 2.6 × 8 self tapping screw and a 12 mm bearing. Both are listed and linked in the Bill of Materials for convenience. I'd also recommend gluing in the blades as even though they are push fit, with the speeds the blades can spin around, I've had them fly out! - Instructions below on how best to do this.
Be warned, staring at it for too long might have you seeing patterns long after it stops spinning.
Boost Me🍭 If you like this print, a boost is a great way to support me on here 💨
Having a clean print bed and hot end(s) free from filament is essential in getting that crisp, clean look. Here's some tips on what to do to get the best print possible;
Clean your plate first, following your usual routine. Dish soap works best, clean and then rinse thoroughly, ensure the plate is dry and free of debris before putting back in the printer.
Leftover filament residue on your hot end can cause unwanted colour streaks, which will show very clearly against the surface of the print. Please inspect your hot end before starting the print, if you spot any clumps or leftover filament, follow Bambu's recommended cleaning guide to remove.
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This model is split across multiple plates depending on how you plan to use it:
If you're printing the fence mount, choose the size that best matches your fence width. The design is intended to sit on top securely without needing screws or adhesives. I've put three options, 45mm, 35mm and 25mm.
Once printed, allow parts to fully cool before removal to avoid any warping or stress on the thinner sections.
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PLA works perfectly for this model. If placing outdoors, consider a more weather resistant material like PETG. Filaments I've used are listed in the BoM.
Depending on the printer, you might have to rearrange the blades to fit over multiple plates. The rule of thumb here, is Blade 1 is top centre, then blade 2 is the one to the left and so it repeats, anticlockwise. So please remember which blades are going onto what plates and assemble them in the correct order.
I would highly recommend a small dab of glue for each blade, this can really get going when the wind is strong and I can tell you from experience, even the push fit blades can go flying!
First off, lay out your blades in the correct order to form the pattern.
Dry fit each blade first as you go along (as the holes on the centre piece are very tight initially
Once you've completed the dry fit, remove, add a small amount of glue to the inserted section and re-insert
Then do this the whole way round, my tip here, is when you get near the end and you can't really hold it well enough to insert, rest the spinner on your work surface (ideally protecting it with something) and push them in whilst holding the centre.
You'll then end up with something like this:
Now we need to insert the centre piece, to finish the illusion, again, a small amount of glue might be helpful here. Line it up as per the below picture, then push into place.
Once complete, move aside to let the glue set, whilst we build the handheld stem, or the fence post stem, depending on your preference.
Assembling the handheld stem / fence stem
I'd recommend you print yours in white or black, but I took these photos in green from a flower spinner build I made before, the build instructions are exactly the same for the handheld or fence mounted option, the ‘stem’ part is just a different size / shape.
The handheld stem requires a small amount of cleanup from the support / build plate with a deburring tool, the fence mount needs the supports removed before using. I found the supports were a bit too wide to pull through the gaps without breaking apart first, so bear that in mind during assembly.
Insert the 12 mm bearing into the centre of the bearing insert. It will be a snug fit.
I would recommend turning this over now, and pushing the bottom of the bearing holder downwards to force the bearing in, rather than just doing it with a finger or thumb!
Now insert your stem of choice into the bearing and push flush
Then, through the hole in the bearing holder, insert your screw and tighten until the screw is flat against the inside of the stem. This causes a slight expansion of the stem, locking the bearing in place.
Once complete and the glue has dried on your spinner, you can push the flat part of the bearing holder into the back. You again can use a small amount of glue to hold everything in place, just make sure you don't get any on the bearing!
Once the glue is dry, you can give it a spin!
If using hand held, go outside and find that breeze 😊 - If fence mounting, put the fence mount in place and insert the fence stem through the gaps.
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Model Doesn’t Match Preview / Wrong Colours / Odd Layout / Dots instead of lines or shapes
If your model looks misaligned, missing colours, or prints incorrectly, please make sure you are using the supplied 3MF print profiles, not the raw STL or STEP files.
The 3MF files contain all the model specific tuning, including:
To use them properly:
Avoid using the raw STL or STEP files unless you specifically want to rebuild your own profiles, they do not include the tuned print settings.
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This model contains moving parts. Please ensure the bearing and screw are fitted securely before use, especially if placed in areas accessible to children. Please be careful in general with this and small children / animals, it really can pick up speed.
Prolonged viewing may result in temporary visual effects… you’ve been warned 😄
License:
Standard Digital File License
Dave W
