Ornithopter Mechanism

Overview

The core mechanism for an ornithopter's flapping motion! I've tried to modularize the mechanism so multiple can be driven (and offset if desired) from a single axel.

v1.1 of the mechanism is complete and functional! I'm going to keep iterating and improving it going forward. This mechanism is 100% 3D printed, and requires no extra material or glue!

I've created an instruction video on how to put together the up-to-date version of the mechanism:

To build this you'll need to print the following number of the components:

• 1 x Herringbone Gear 13
• 1 x Herringbone Gear 40
• 1 x Shaft
• 1 x Wing A
• 1 x Wing B
• 1 x Structural Back Plate
• 1 x Structural Front Plate (optional, not shown in the video)
• 1 x Manual Crank
• 1 x Manual Crank Handle
• 6 x Retaining Clips

In the next major version, I intend to make a few core updates:

• Simplify the gears - herringbone gears demonstrate the concept, but so long as the tolerances are good, I can significantly reduce the weight
• Reduce the weight of the structural frame

Updates

September 29, 2022

The new version works! Tolerances are much tighter (possibly too tight), so I'll run some tests and tune it tonight before uploading. Mass and print time have both been significantly reduced!

September 28, 2022

Did some major updates, re-sizing, and tuning of the device for the next version. Not done yet - but here's a WIP image of the next major version!

September 27, 2022

Created the instruction video (linked above) that walks you through the parts you need to print, and how to put them together to get the mechanism working! No glue or adhesives necessary, just the printed parts.

September 23, 2022

Finished Version 1.1, and uploaded the new models, print, and blend files. I've improved the tolerances for the newly combined gear and axel pieces, so there is relatively wobble once the retaining clips are in place. I've also gone ahead and created a separate model for the Rod and Retaining Clip I designed and have been using all over this mechanism. Hopefully someone else finds it useful for their own work!

I'm working on an instruction video for how to put the new version together - coming soon!

September 21, 2022

Version 1.0 is complete, and I'm publishing the design! A long way to go to get to where I want the design to end up, but as of right now the mechanism itself functions, and results in the desired ‘flapping’ motion.