Nature's Helicopter

The frame rate doesn't do it justice, but it does indeed spin like a helicopter!

Maple trees are a diverse group, boasting around 132 unique species. These trees produce seeds, commonly referred to as double samaras, which come in a range of shapes and sizes. A samara is sometimes called a key and is often referred to as a wingnut, helicopter, whirlybird, whirligig, polynose, or, in the north of England, a spinning Jenny.

I began with a photograph of a maple tree seed as my inspiration for this model. In order to enhance its spin, I have increased the wing surface area of this updated version. Additionally, I have eliminated the sharp edge from the spine's end, making it easier to print and more aesthetically pleasing.

The maple seed measures approximately 100mm in length and requires printing with 0.25mm layers to ensure the wing remains a single layer thick. Achieving the proper weight requires a 100% infill. For optimal durability of the wing portion, I recommend using four perimeters.

Print Settings:

Layer Height: 0.25mm
Perimeters: 4
Infill: 100%

When printed at the downloaded 100% scale this model needs to be thrown outside so that it can fully “stretch it's wings” and twirl. Many makers have found that you can scale the maple seed down to 50% which makes it perfect for flying indoors. When scaled down to 50% you might try a layer height closer to 0.1mm - 0.15mm.