Christoph Laimer
3d-Design & 3d-Printing
Ball-bearings are very popular for 3d-printing. However they often fail for real applications. Using Fusion 360 I've created a parametric design of a "Crossed Roller Slew Bearing". I think the most relevent result of this project is a video-tutorial how to do such a design. It's published on YouTube.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2375124
This is a very powerful, 3d-printed brushless DC electric motor. It has 600 Watts, and performs with more than 80% efficiency. The main components like rotor and stator can be printed with a common FDM-printer. Magnets, copper wire, and ball-bearings are ordinary components. The magnets of the rotor are arranged as Halbach Array. The motor did win an award on www.instructables.com.
This is a quite robust 3d-printable machine vise. It's 100% 3d-printed - no screw or other piece of hardware is needed to hold the individual pieces together. Pieces clip and snap together. It's a demonstration that it is very important to consider forces and material properties already when designing a mechanical object. Hints about proper design are presented in my video.
From a distance it looks like a regular wind turbine. Having a closer look, it turns out that it's also a display. The wind moves the propeller and turns a 3d-printed generator. The electricity supplies an Arduino, which controls LEDs inside the transparent propeller-blades, and writes messages into the air (self-powered POV).
The
world's first 3d-printed POWERFUL electrical motor. Permanent
magnets, copper wire, shaft, and ball-bearings are regular
components. There is basically no ferromagnetic material needed for
the magnetic flux (experiments woth magnetic PLA from ProtoPasta
show minor improvements). At 90W this motor
performs with 70% efficiency. Permanent use heats
it up to 40°C (at 20°C room temperature)
The Laimer Tourbillon is an innovative design
with the heart beating highly visible in the core. The key function
to indicate the time is direct and straight. Balance, Escape Wheel,
Tourbillon Cage, Hands, and Barrel are all arranged co-axial. Gears
for the transmission from the Barrel, and the reduction from
Seconds to Minutes and Hours are placed behind the Tourbillon in
order to keep the design circular. All parts are 3d-printed
except a few screws and pins. The concept also includes a
3d-printed Mainspring. In order to make it 3d-printable, the
complete movement was essentially re-invented
This mechanical clock demonstrates
that 3d-printing is not just for decoration. It's possible to
create intelligent, living things. The clock has an anchor
escapement, and a balance-wheel with a spiral spring. The clock
shows Seconds, Minutes, and Hours. The winding has a nested
planetary gear, which allows that the clock continues to run, while
winding up. Everything is 3d-printed (even the spiral spring),
except e few small screws, some metal pins, the cord, and the lead
for the weight. Designed with Blender. PLA printed with Rapman
3.2.
http://youtu.be/HgZBPYJ2Y-w
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:328569
Contact
Christoph Laimer
Lettenackerstrasse 60
8908 Hedingen
Switzerland
+41 79 609 66 87
About me
I was born in Zurich, Switzerland,
grew up nearby. After finishing my studies in Electrical
Engineering at the ETH in Zurich with a masters degree, I was
working as a software developer - initially in semiconductor
industries, and later many years in life science. Designing and
creating innovative software, interacting with customers, and
managing a small team of software developers was my big pleasure. I
was always taken with mechanical constructions, designed and
experimented with model airplanes. When 3d-printing became commonly
available, a door for a new type of creativity was opened. I had to
open this door, and immediately my focus was attracted by
mechanical watches. I stopped my former job, in order to find more
time for a new adventure as a "3d-print-watchmaker". I believe,
future watches will be highly customizable - not only engraving or
ornaments on the case, but the whole watch including the movement.
Actually I'm passionate to design 3d-objects pushing 3d-printing to
it's limits.
