Bacterial Flagellar Motor/Engine

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Update 2024.12.27: About efficiency

I made a small change to the model. The efficiency on the label changed

From “100%” to “~100%”

 

The efficiency of this kind of motor varies depending on many factors like bacteria type, torque, rotation speed, flaggelum length, etc.
So the stated efficiency is not permanent around 100% but only under certain conditions.

 

Sources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006349506719853#bib24 (Table 2; thanks to @dogbark for this article)

https://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/gold/pdfs/teaching/ufk_papers/membrane_proteins/bergreview.pdf (page 39)

 

 

Introduction:

What you see here is a model of one of the smallest (or maybe the smallest) engines existing.

You might think:

It is the bacterial flagellar motor. Which is the drive train for bacteria, sperm cells and such.

For some basics check:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagellum

For some details about the engine specifications (which are displayed on this model) check:

https://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/lauga/papers/149.pdf

 

 

Specifications

• 100% Scale: Model size: 420mm x 190mm x 180mm
• Actual diameter in reality: 45 nm (Nanometer) which is 0,00005 mm
• Torque: 1000 pN nm (Pikonewton Nanometer)
• Rotation speed 300 Hz (300 rotations per second)
• Efficency almost 100%

Assembly

• Only 3D printed parts and some glue needed
• Please check assembly instructions that are attached

Print profiles

• There will be 3 print profiles
  • 100% scale
  • 75% scale
  • 50% scale
• All print profiles can be printed with every Bambu printer, 
  • Even A1 mini (a shorter Flagellum must be used in this case)
• The 50% scale profile is hard to print
  • Parts are small, tolerances are tight, etc.
  • If you want to challenge yourself or your printer, go for it :)
  • For everybody else I recommend 75% or 100%
• All print profiles can be printed without AMS, however I recommend using AMS if you have it

Read this before printing

• Please read the attached assembly instructions
• The tolerances of this model are pretty tight (0,2mm). Please make sure your printer is calibrated and print a few parts and test if they fit. I recommend Flagellum_3, Flagellum_4 and P-Ring as test files
• Scalability: You can scale everything down to 50%. However the tolerances will become even smaller. So some sanding might be needed. I do not recommend to scale smaller than 50%.
• There are a few optional files/replacements
  • Flagellum_4:
    • Normal size, clean version
    • Normal size, fuzzy skin
    • Long size (when scale is 75% or smaller)
  • Label:
    • Normal label (every scale)
    • Small label
    • Fun label
  • P-Ring and L-Ring
    • standard version for use with stand (like in the pictures)
    • When no stand is used

Feedback

Please let me know what you think about the model and if the print is going well on your machines!

I will be happy to improve this model based on your feedback.

If tolerances are too tight or you find design flaws/improvements. Let me know and I will fix it :)