Project: Barcelona 3D Printed UAV
Fabber(s): Jonatan Domenech i Arboleda
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Summary
This project is a 3D printed biodegradable drone.
From the school of Industrial and Aeronautic Engineering of Terrassa (ETSEIAT), this aerospace project studies how to conveniently 3D print UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) applications, commonly known as drones. The RepRapBCN 3D Printer was the selected technology. The project develops a method for designing and rapidly manufacturing a biodegradable PLA (plastic) material for this UAV. It has a 1500mm wingspan, 1000mm fuse length, and weighs only 845 grams (equivalent to 1.86 pounds).
Impact
The result of this project is a new concept of fuselage (main body of aircraft) that competes in weight with traditional tech and boom 3D printing tech capabilities. The amazing fuselage has three beams curved, twisted, and tapered, which is only available to manufacture with 3D printing technology. The UAV was made in a home bathroom with CAD software under student license, a 3D printer (740€), and one PLA filament coil (19€). The printing process takes 38 hours and 26 minutes.
Out of the thermoplastics used for 3D printing, PLA lessens warping on parts, allows sharper details without cracking, and leads to stronger binding between layers that makes the printed parts stronger. Additionally, PLA is made from plant products like corn, potatoes, or beets, making it a more environmentally friendly plastic compared to petroleum based plastics.
Assessment
- Earth friendly with its biodegradable PLA material.
- Uses the latest 3D printing technology from RepRapBCN.
- A convenient way to rapidly manufacture drones.
- Lightweight, durable design.
References
Link to FLC Project:
Jonatan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonatandomenech
Barcelona 100% 3D Printed UAV on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFx5aaT2QUkY1d9PPT3t8QA/videos
RepRapBCN Printers: http://www.reprapbcn.com/en
