Windvane /weathervane

This windvane is something I only saw in the movies, so I decided to design one of my own. In fact, the Polymaker HT-PLA Design Challenge on Thingiverse is how I got the impulse to begin. It's meant to work outside, in the sun, so you have to choose the filament wisely.

This project spawned 2 more with it:

• If you want the spinny windmill, go here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7075964
• If you want the bird house North spoke, go here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7072677

This is a work in progress. I may add some new swivelling designs (maybe Pacman? idk, ideas welcome), make some small changes if the design falls short and so on.

OK so: this is a multi component print. It will require a few screws and even some ballbearings. It was made so each component could be printed without supports (just find a way to orient it properly on the bed) and was designed tough (with like... 7 walls, 10%+ infill). The top part is swivelling, which is supposed to change position with the wind direction. The bottom part has 2 mounting versions: for a 2x2cm metal profile & a wall mount. It is customisable, and might add designs for it in the future. (even added the base so you can add your own design if you want - 10_Swivel_Slide.stl)

The rest of the parts are fixed since they're supposed to indicate the cardinal points (N S E W). After mounting the bottom part, you can adjust it within a 20degree precision by screwing a small bolt, thus fixating the indicator orientations.

The fixed parts are held together with a long center screw, which after adjusting the indicators, can be tightened in place. The top part is swivelling with the help of a 608 ballbearing. After centering a bolt through the ballbearing and through the upper swivelling part, this needs to be glued in its snug spot (you want this set level). (When I get the chance, I'll take a picture of how the ballbearing and the screw are supposed to fit together.)

Everything apart from the huge swivelling part and the thicker arrows are printable on a small bed.

L.E: I added 40cm long and thicker indicators (NSEW) in a different style, and you can print them diagonally on a 300x300 bed. They are sturdier and look better from afar. Made them in Blender (as opposed to Fusion360) and they're a little bit more artistic than the other ones

I made a center hole through the wind swivel for the center screw, in case you want to mount the screw from the mount up. It helps with stability (though it's fine without it) I added a round top in case you don't want to add the deco wind swivel... and instead want a WindArt Deco (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7075964)

Materials: Filament: Heat resistant filament, especially for the thin N S E W indicators (a good chance to test the new Poly HT-PLA I just ordered)

Bearings: 608 608ZZ 608RS Deep Groove Ball Bearing 8227 8x22x7 MM Double Shielded Miniature High-carbon Steel Single Row 608ZZ ABEC-7 22mm outside diameter / 7mm width / 8mm inside diam links: ali: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006860856972.html 3d printed: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5978208

Screws: 3 M4x20 (the wind swivel decoration) 1 M6x60 (flat head for the center bolt) 1 M4x22 (the small screw which fixates the orientation) 1 M3x10 (for the bar mount) or 4 M4 wall screws (for the wall mount version) Nuts : self locking preferable, especially for fixating the ballbearing around the center bolt

My printed parts come out 2-3mm smaller than the designed model and these screws and bearings fit snug in place. If your parts come out better, use more glue and screw the nuts a bit tighter.