Battle Top Evolution – Open Sauce Challenge Remix

Open Sauce Battle Top Evolution

This project builds upon the fantastic 3D Printed Spinning Battle Tops created by stlDenise for the Open Sauce contest.

Rather than redesigning the already proven launcher mechanism, this remix focuses on improving the performance characteristics of the top itself through revised geometry, intentional mass distribution, and interchangeable blade designs for different play styles.

The result is a collection of battle and endurance configurations that remain fully compatible with the original Open Sauce system.

What's changed?

Unlike a simple blade remix, this project redesigns several key components of the original top.

Modified components:

• Redesigned top section with reduced upper mass concentration

• Revised top geometry to shift mass closer to the battle plane

• Redesigned bottom section featuring optimized internal geometry

• Five interchangeable blade variants with distinct performance characteristics

• Components developed specifically around 100% infill printing, allowing geometry itself to define the mass distribution

The original launcher, ripcord, screw, and pin remain unchanged and are required for assembly.

Design philosophy

The goal of this remix was to explore how geometry influences the performance of spinning battle tops while maintaining full compatibility with the original Open Sauce ecosystem.

Material was intentionally relocated away from the upper sections of the top and concentrated lower in the design whenever possible. This approach aims to improve stability during impacts and create a more predictable behavior during battles.

The redesign focuses on:

• Lowering the effective center of gravity

• Improving lower stability

• Increasing resistance to knockback

• Maintaining compatibility with the original launcher system

• Exploring different performance characteristics through interchangeable blades

Blade Variants

Hammer

A balanced battle blade featuring rounded impact surfaces and controlled contact points.

Characteristics:

• Stable behavior

• Controlled impacts

• Good endurance during battles

Bull

An aggressive blade designed to maximize impact potential.

Characteristics:

• Stronger attacks

• Increased knockback potential

• Offensive play style

Hybrid

A compromise between attack and endurance.

Characteristics:

• Balanced performance

• Increased outer mass concentration

• Suitable for a wide range of opponents

Halo Lite

An endurance-focused design using a lightweight outer ring configuration.

Characteristics:

• Easier acceleration

• Reduced overall mass

• Improved spin duration compared to battle blades

Halo Max

An endurance blade designed to maximize rotational inertia.

Characteristics:

• Increased outer mass concentration

• Excellent rotational stability

• Intended for the longest possible spin times

Initial Spin Testing

Initial testing revealed two distinct performance categories.

Battle-focused blade configurations achieved spin times between approximately 1:20 and 1:30, while the endurance-focused Halo variants significantly extended spin duration.

Under the same general test conditions:

• Hammer – ~1:20

• Bull – ~1:30

• Hybrid – ~1:20

• Hybrid Alt – ~1:25

• Halo Lite – ~2:15

• Halo Max – 2:40+

Printing Recommendations

Top and Bottom Components

Material: PLA

Recommended settings:

• Layer height: 0.2 mm

• Infill: 100%

• Perimeters: 4–5

These components were specifically developed around fully solid printing. The internal geometry was designed to define the mass distribution rather than relying on varying infill percentages.

Battle and Endurance Blades

Material: PETG

Recommended settings:

• Layer height: 0.2 mm

• Infill: 50% Gyroid

• Perimeters: 4

PETG offers improved toughness and impact resistance, while the combination of Gyroid infill and multiple perimeters provides a balance between durability and controlled mass distribution.

Required Original Parts

This remix only includes the modified components.

Please download the following parts from the original model by stlDenise:

• Launcher

• Ripcord

• Screw

• Pin

Credits

This project was created as a remix for the Open Sauce Battle Top Challenge.

Open Sauce is the festival for people who make things – a celebration of makers, engineers, creators, and unconventional inventions that encourages experimentation, iteration, and sharing ideas with the community.

A huge thank you to Denise Bertacchi (stlDenise) for creating the original 3D Printed Battle Tops system and making the files available for others to build upon. The launcher mechanism and core assembly served as the foundation for this remix.

This project explores how changes in geometry, mass distribution, and interchangeable blade configurations influence the performance of spinning tops in both battle and endurance scenarios while maintaining compatibility with the original system.

If you test the different configurations, I'd love to hear which setup performs best in your arena.

Keep making things.