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Folding Propeller Adapter kit

bampi2k

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Description

Very often once you have the entire power/drive train calculated and ironed out for max efficiency, you do not get the perfectly sized folding prop.

Here I try to explore the concept of having a kit that transforms any prop to a folding prop.

As a starting point i present only the very popular 10x4.5" prop. This is to go with a A2212/1000kv motor onto a Blunt-Versa wing. (in my case!!)

The print layer direction has been very specifically chosen to optimize on print strength. Hence the supports are also included to work perfectly. Do not use auto-generated supports for this print. I include a few Gcode files for use as examples to setup the built plate in your slicer of choice. This is important.

This prints fine in PLA and I have tested the setup on a 3S lipo with 700gms thrust. The blades are stable and vibration free. Probably ABS is better (only after thorough acetone treatment!!) But most people have their printers setup to print PLA reliably so I chose to use PLA.

As always, I would thank the community to have taught me so much. And ask anyone/everyone to take forward my work and improve it. I include source files in the post. Hopefully some other very popular props. Maybe someone does some more tests and improves the design. I would love something more 'universal'.

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

RepRap

Printer:

Prusa i3 Rework

**Rafts:**

Doesn't Matter

Supports:

**Resolution:**

0.2mm

Infill:

20%

Notes:

NOTE/WARNING: the part spins at very high speeds so it is dangerous. Take necessary precaution. PLEASE!.

Make sure your printer is very well tuned and you get generally strong parts.
You can bump up the print temperature a couple of degrees to get much better inter layer adhesion.
If your print in ABS, do make sure you do a through acetone treatment to fuse layers.
Never miss out on balancing your props before putting on a motor.
Make sure you have a vibration free motor and mount.
Wear eye protection when running tests. Post-Printing

Assembly

Remove supports and sand off the support marks.
Carefully drill the M3 and M5 holes making sure you do not get a layer separation.
Run thin CA glue on the layers (PLA) to make the parts stronger.
Assemble using appropriately sized M3 screws and lock-nuts. (or thread lock)
Place the assembly and the prop on a M5 rod/screw/bolt and mark the propeller for cut marks using a sharpie. The target is to keep the final dia of the folding-prop to be same as the original fixed-prop.
Cut the original prop using a hacksaw. (careful with a dremel / highspeed tool. It will deform the plastic prop shape)
Sand the ends of the blade so that it gets into the blade-holders. check fit.
fix the blades to the blade-holder with epoxy. (use a slower one for better strength and penetration)

TIP: all you have to make sure is that the propeller is symmetric on both the blades.

Category: R/C Vehicles

License:

Creative Commons — Attribution

Folding Propeller Adapter kit

Folding Propeller Adapter kit

Print Settings

Wear eye protection when running tests. Post-Printing

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