Dragon Fly - Assembly Instructions
Dragon Fly - Assembly Instructions
Everything snaps together
Quick print
One small thing to glue
Print List: - DragonBodyV2 - 15% Infill, raft, supports - 2x DragonWingsV3 - 100% Infill, no raft, no supports, 1 shell, .4mm thickness, 60 speed - 2x DragonLegsV1 - 100% Infill, no raft, supports, 60 speed
Item List: - Plastic bag from department store (Wal-mart or similar) - 2x paperclips - Rubber band
Tools: - Glue stick - 1/16th drill bit or similar size - Pliers
Dragon Fly - Assembly Instructions
Step 1 - Body
The Dragonfly body was made with a sturdy frame that allows you to wind the rubber band tight without worrying about compromising the frame.
- Using the 1/16th drill bit, drill the existing holes in the center of the body and the end tail. The center of the body has 3 walls that the drill will go through.
- File down the hole faces. The key here is to make the faces of the holes as smooth as possible to reduce friction from the paperclip crankshaft.
The back end of the tail hole should be filed to follow the contour of the X frame.
- Shape the paperclips using the bracket provided in the instructions. Bend the paperclip to the exact shape and size.
- Body paperclip - Leave both ends of the crank straight. Slide in one end of the paperclip through the center wall going from the inside of the wall. Then squeeze together both ends of the crankshaft and squeeze in the other end of the paperclip through the front walls. Open the paperclip and space it so that the humps cover the area of the wing axle above. Now curl the end of the paperclip that is extruding from the center wall. This hook will hold the rubber band.
Tail paperclip - Curl one end and slide other end through tail hole. Bend to correct proportions.
Tip: The Body Crank paperclip should turn effortlessly along the axle. Give it a flick and it should spin freely.
Dragon Fly - Assembly Instructions
Templates
Crank Shaft
Tail shaft
wing pattern
slim wing pattern
Dragon Fly - Assembly Instructions
Step 2 - Legs
We wanted to mimic the iconic shape of the Dragonfly so we paid extra attention to the legs. They are more of an aesthetic but they do cushion the landing while not adding significant weight.
Grab the legs with 3 finders with the thumb pressing on the top/middle of the leg. If you press your thumb down the legs go up and the bracket arms on the legs open. Slide in one bracket around the X frame and open the bracket slightly to slide in the other end. It should be a very tight fit.
Tip: Consider printing an additional pair of legs. They are brittle and maybe damaged after some time.
Dragon Fly - Assembly Instructions
Step 3 - Wings
Sit back and enjoy the process of building this enchanted design. Take your time with the wings. We wanted to get the design of the wings with function and visuals considered. The reaction of the first print was amazing, everyone loved it and we where even more ecstatic when it flue if only a few times. The wings are brittle but with the addition of the plastic bag film they get a lot stronger.
File out the excess plastic residue in the wing shafts. Get a flimsy plastic bag from your local department store. We prefer the bags from Wal-Mart. Cut one side of the bag out and tape it onto the bracket provided in the instructions. Cut 4 wings out Using a glue stick place glue starting from the center to 2/3rds of the under wing. Apply the wings onto the underside of the wings. The glue should hold nicely.
Special wings - To create forward acceleration try bending the wings in a wave shape.
Test wings - When the glue is dry grab the center of the wings and rapidly turn back and forth like in a flying motion. The ends of the wings should flap up and down. When the wings move upward they allow air to pass through the frame. When they swing downward the plastic film flaps up to catch the air. This repeat motion allows the wings to sustain flight.
Using the 3 finger hold squeeze your thumb down a little to open the cavity in the center of the wings. Snap in both wings onto the body. Place the crank arms in between the wing forks.
Rubber band - Wrap one end around both hooks.
Dragon Fly - Assembly Instructions
Congratulations you have completed the build
How to fly I can feel your anticipation similar to how we felt. If you got everything right get ready for a thrill, there's no going back from this point. Well ... you can still make adjustments ;)
With your fore finger and thumb hold the crank and wings forks. Crank the tail paperclip as much as you can. The rubber band should wrap over itself. You are trying to achieve 2 beats per second. Get ready! Throw...
Everything snaps together
Quick print
One small thing to glue
Print List: - DragonBodyV2 - 15% Infill, raft, supports - 2x DragonWingsV3 - 100% Infill, no raft, no supports, 1 shell, .4mm thickness, 60 speed - 2x DragonLegsV1 - 100% Infill, no raft, supports, 60 speed
Item List: - Plastic bag from department store (Wal-mart or similar) - 2x paperclips - Rubber band
Tools: - Glue stick - 1/16th drill bit or similar size - Pliers
Dragon Fly - Assembly Instructions
Step 1 - Body
The Dragonfly body was made with a sturdy frame that allows you to wind the rubber band tight without worrying about compromising the frame.
- Using the 1/16th drill bit, drill the existing holes in the center of the body and the end tail. The center of the body has 3 walls that the drill will go through.
- File down the hole faces. The key here is to make the faces of the holes as smooth as possible to reduce friction from the paperclip crankshaft.
The back end of the tail hole should be filed to follow the contour of the X frame.
- Shape the paperclips using the bracket provided in the instructions. Bend the paperclip to the exact shape and size.
- Body paperclip - Leave both ends of the crank straight. Slide in one end of the paperclip through the center wall going from the inside of the wall. Then squeeze together both ends of the crankshaft and squeeze in the other end of the paperclip through the front walls. Open the paperclip and space it so that the humps cover the area of the wing axle above. Now curl the end of the paperclip that is extruding from the center wall. This hook will hold the rubber band.
Tail paperclip - Curl one end and slide other end through tail hole. Bend to correct proportions.
Tip: The Body Crank paperclip should turn effortlessly along the axle. Give it a flick and it should spin freely.
Dragon Fly - Assembly Instructions
Templates
Crank Shaft
Tail shaft
wing pattern
slim wing pattern
Dragon Fly - Assembly Instructions
Step 2 - Legs
We wanted to mimic the iconic shape of the Dragonfly so we paid extra attention to the legs. They are more of an aesthetic but they do cushion the landing while not adding significant weight.
Grab the legs with 3 finders with the thumb pressing on the top/middle of the leg. If you press your thumb down the legs go up and the bracket arms on the legs open. Slide in one bracket around the X frame and open the bracket slightly to slide in the other end. It should be a very tight fit.
Tip: Consider printing an additional pair of legs. They are brittle and maybe damaged after some time.
Dragon Fly - Assembly Instructions
Step 3 - Wings
Sit back and enjoy the process of building this enchanted design. Take your time with the wings. We wanted to get the design of the wings with function and visuals considered. The reaction of the first print was amazing, everyone loved it and we where even more ecstatic when it flue if only a few times. The wings are brittle but with the addition of the plastic bag film they get a lot stronger.
File out the excess plastic residue in the wing shafts. Get a flimsy plastic bag from your local department store. We prefer the bags from Wal-Mart. Cut one side of the bag out and tape it onto the bracket provided in the instructions. Cut 4 wings out Using a glue stick place glue starting from the center to 2/3rds of the under wing. Apply the wings onto the underside of the wings. The glue should hold nicely.
Special wings - To create forward acceleration try bending the wings in a wave shape.
Test wings - When the glue is dry grab the center of the wings and rapidly turn back and forth like in a flying motion. The ends of the wings should flap up and down. When the wings move upward they allow air to pass through the frame. When they swing downward the plastic film flaps up to catch the air. This repeat motion allows the wings to sustain flight.
Using the 3 finger hold squeeze your thumb down a little to open the cavity in the center of the wings. Snap in both wings onto the body. Place the crank arms in between the wing forks.
Rubber band - Wrap one end around both hooks.
Dragon Fly - Assembly Instructions
Congratulations you have completed the build
How to fly I can feel your anticipation similar to how we felt. If you got everything right get ready for a thrill, there's no going back from this point. Well ... you can still make adjustments ;)
With your fore finger and thumb hold the crank and wings forks. Crank the tail paperclip as much as you can. The rubber band should wrap over itself. You are trying to achieve 2 beats per second. Get ready! Throw...
