Leonardo Da Vinci Catapult

Last crawled date: 1 year, 11 months ago

This is my entry for the "Da Vinci Gear Challenge".
Link to the Creation: http://members.iinet.net.au/~rmine/Leonardo.html

Printing method used: FDM
3D Printer: Utlimaker 2
Material: M-ABS & Ninjaflex 3mm
Nozzle diameter: 0,4mm
Layer height: 0,2mm
Print time: ~45 hours

Post-processing:
- some pieces don't need support for print, others need.
- no tools or glue needed because of the "carpentery" joints.

- I have chosen this Catapult, because I did exactly the same a months weeks ago, but it was not 3D Printable a this time. So I changed everything.
- First I scalled it down to 7 meters to 500mm. But I've tried to keep the proportion and make it sturdy.
- Then all the joints were made so that the whole structure is sturdy. I asked my father for some Carpentery joints.
- Naturally I have let some tolerances for the joints, for that I used the equation system in Solidworks, so that it is easily changeable. Now the tolerance is 0,4mm.

Is it Printable ?
- I've printed the whole Catapult with my 3D Printer. For that, I used M-ABS, I bought some recently. And I was impressed how sturdy it is !
-So all parts can be easily printed with an FDM printer.

Update 14/05: Last Update, the Catapulte works ! To prove it, a little video of the catapult shooting a 9.5 mm ABS ball. It goes quite far I think !

Update 08/05: As I said yesterday, I've printed the Ninjaflex core of the upper arm (Part T2). But it doesn't work because of the shape of T2, I have to cut a slide away (see picture). I will print the newer part, and see if it works. I've also updated the Zip files of the functionnal catapult.

Update 07/05: I've added the Ladder that Leonardo DaVinci made to load the catapult with projectiles. I will also print the ninjaflex inlay and the ladder tomorrow (08/05).

Update 01/05: I've printed the arm, and winch. And it works !! The catapult shoots litlle 9.5mm balls 2-3 meters away ! But the arm is not finished, I've just printed the outer part out of ABS, I will print Wednesday the Ninjaflex part (inner core).

Update 30/04: I did a 6th version of part T2, but a special one.. the outside of Part T2 will be printed in ABS (1.5 mm widht) and the inner core in Ninjaflex ! I think this is gonna be the best solution, so that the Catapult is functionnal. The part can be seen in the folder "Part T_Simulation" - " Part T Flexible Core".

Update 27/04: Little update, I did 5 different versions of part T2: I did a test with 10N, 20N, and some of them 50N to see if they will bend/break.

Update 26/04: I did some simulation with 4 different types of Arms (Part T2) to see what kind of modification I have to make: Make a groove in the arm, make it smaller, bigger...

Update 24/04: The "Catapult Functionnal" zip file has been updated.
I've Printed A1-A2-B1-B2-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q, it's looking pretty good so far, I will adjust some parts in the next days.

Update 23/04: - Part T is now in 2 seperate pieces: T1-T2. Special Feature, the Original piece (T) was already bend, so it was not functionnal.. but now Part T2 is straight and fixed with a Scarf Joint to part T1 so that you can "charge the catapult ! And a big slot is carved into Part T2, so that the part won't break !
- I've zipped the two different version of the Catapult: the first one is "Catapult Not Functionnal), the seconde one "Catapult Functionnal"

Update 17/04: Part K-L-M-N are now printed, you can see the picture in "Cura Test Print", the fit is great and the ultimaker 2 did a great job !

Update 16/04: I added some pictures of some pieces that I will print, to show how it fits together. (Part G-H-I-J)

Update 16/04: I have Printed the parts G-H-I-J with an Ultimaker 2 using Neofill ABS. I used fast printing settings, but with a 0.4mm tolerance, it's a nice fit.
Pictures of the print are in the "Cura test prints" folder
I also added: Part A-B-C Splitt in two seperate pieces, so that they are printable.
The joint that I use for the Parts split in half is in the folder "Part A-B-C in seperate pieces".

STL, IGES and SW Files are included in the ZIP.

During the next Weeks, I will print the parts and show how it prints.
Thank you Stratasys for bringing up this challenge !

I hope you enjoy it !
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