In May, Instructables user DesktopWorkshop released the design for a 3D printed pneumatic actuator. S/he has followed up this month with the unveiling of a much more complex creation: a complete pneumatic motor. Unfortunately, the printed pieces have not yet arrived and so there are no photographs of the prints nor a fancy YouTube video showing it in action. However, given the nature of the 3D print world, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if that’s remedied rapidly either by DesktopWorkshop or the army of print warriors at large.
DesktopWorkshop introduces the creation on Instructables:
“I’ve been working on creating a 3D printable engine for a few months now and this project combines the best of all my attempts. The upper section contains a valve system which allows the piston to extend, only after being depressed (ie on the ‘upstroke’), letting the engine run both forwards and backwards and reducing the amount of tubing to a minimum.”
“The seal mould will produce a thick 0-ring and the actual piston piece is pushed into the piston mould, containing the rubber mix, to produce a ‘rubber cap’ that will form an airtight seal once assembled,” DesktopWorkshop explains.
The tutorial guides the user through the steps from print to assembly and promises nothing less magical than a working pneumatic motor. Learning from the errors of hubris committed by many inventors, DesktopWorkshop remains humble and recognizes that there will always be improvements to be made:
“I’m still waiting on my prints so no pictures of a working model yet, but I should have them in the near future. It is recommended you either print a flywheel or add a small, offset weight to the end of the crankshaft for smoother motion.”
Have you considered printing out and assembling this motor? Let us know in the 3D Printed Pneumatic Motor forum thread on 3DPB.com.