THE DOUBLE HELIX EXPERIMENT (WITH BONUS SQUIGGLE) 3D Printer File Image 1
THE DOUBLE HELIX EXPERIMENT (WITH BONUS SQUIGGLE) 3D Printer File Image 2
THE DOUBLE HELIX EXPERIMENT (WITH BONUS SQUIGGLE) 3D Printer File Thumbnail 1
THE DOUBLE HELIX EXPERIMENT (WITH BONUS SQUIGGLE) 3D Printer File Thumbnail 2

THE DOUBLE HELIX EXPERIMENT (WITH BONUS SQUIGGLE)

Peter H avatarPeter H

December 23, 2022

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Description

If you've come this far, you've noticed that the ring is printed as a helical coil shape, and you may or may not be intrigued at that thought.

Well it's not.  It's a very simple flat four-minute print, heated and wrapped around a mandrel to the correct diameter.   

It's a simple process that isn't.  Wherever heat is involved (and my weapon of choice is boiling water) there are dangers, so please be careful.

I like to hold the printed part in a cup of just boiled water (just below 100°C) and in a few seconds it will become like wet spaghetti.   Quickly wrap it around your mandrel till you get the required shape. Don't worry if it takes a few attempts,  I don't know what the limits are on reworking PLA, and I haven't found them yet.

You might have to just finesse the ends with another form of heat (ie a hairdryer),  but found with practice you get to know what's happening and it sort of works itself out.

There's a bonus STL included for a “SQUIGGLE” ring produced in the same way - I would like to see where this technique leads with multi layers and folded forms, but we shall see!

Try 50% infill and Aligned Rectilinear top and bottom layers.