The Helical/Archimedes Adaptable Wind Turbine mk9 published on Thingiverse by user “RumblingWW” offers a modular and 3D printable solution for small wind power applications. The design is based on a helical geometry and its open construction allows it to be combined with different motors or generators. The components are designed so that they can be produced entirely on an FDM printer with an installation space of 256 × 256 × 256 mm, such as a Bambu A1.
At the center of the design is a hollow rotor shaft that accommodates a 10 mm shaft – a common dimension for which ball and thrust bearings, pulleys and shaft connectors are readily available on the market. The rotor blades are designed so that they can be mounted on the shaft using a press fit. Optionally, the central bore can be enlarged and the components bolted together.
The nacelle allows flexible adaptation to different drive concepts. Whether with direct drive, belt transmission or torque support: the rear mounting unit of the turbine can be adapted as required. A slip ring developed in-house, consisting of two axial bearings, 1 mm wire and shrink tubing, was used for the electrical transmission of rotating parts. Alternatively, a commercially available slip ring can be integrated.
In addition to standard screws (M4 × 30 mm), the parts list also includes radial bearings of type 6000RS, axial bearings (F10-18M and F12-21M) and an aluminum tube with an inner diameter of 32 mm. According to the developer, all components can be obtained from standard online retailers. Autodesk Inventor was used for the design.
Printing is preferably done slowly and in several individual passes to avoid distortion due to thermal stress. The model files and further information can be downloaded free of charge from Thingiverse.
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