Rippl3D’s Hovercraft Challenge enables players to 3D print thrusters to add a new level of fun to the balloon & CD Hovercraft experiment. Players design thrusters that control where the supply air (balloon) is directed and how fast it is released. These simple parameters offer a surprising number of teaching opportunities. The challenge can be played on any smooth surface (tables, hallways, gym floors). This challenge is fast paced and always good for some laughs.
Forces, thrust, air pressure, lift, and stability
Using a stopwatch, record the time it takes the hovercraft to traverse a given distance.
The hovercraft is build from the following components
In the Design Challenge the Control Cylinder is designed and built uniquely for each attempt! Each player will design these solutions in the web app.
In the Type Challenge, ten different types of Control Cylinders are pre-printed and the participants pick the ones they think will perform the best.
The Control Cylinder has 4 parameters that can be adjusted to change performance.
All parts have been designed around the use of 9 in latex balloons.
Although lungs will work to blow them up, they also come with moisture and colds…
We suggest a balloon pump! This allow balloons to be reused and keeps moisture out that can increase weight. Moisture will impact performance and is unsanitary at public events. We have designed an adaptor that can be used to make it easier to engage the balloon end tube for filling, get the STL in resource section below.
TRICK: Fill balloon with pump and then give the balloon a couple of twists to close it off. This makes it much easier to assemble the hovercraft parts and get it positioned for launch! When ready carefully untwist the balloon and off you go!
To get the diameter and height of the balloon you will need calipers. In the resource section below there is an STL file that uses a common rulers and yard stick to make a caliper.
You will need a smooth and level area roughly 8 feet long and 2 ft wide. Tables and the floor have been successfully used. It helps to have walls on each side to keep hovercraft on the track. But, if you want to increase the difficulty of the challenge, make a rule that any out-of-bounds doesn’t count. If you are expecting large crowds, it is also helpful to shield the track from traffic and breezes that can have a huge impact on the direction the hovercraft will travel (note that the balloon is a big sail).
This Challenge uses 10 predefined Control Cylinder configurations (see resources below)
The Design Challenge plays the same as the Type Challenge except that the Control Cylinders are designed and built custom. Players use the design tables to configure unique designs and then download the STL file for printing.
After learning what provides the best results, use your knowledge to design your own hovercraft and further optimize it’s performance. See just how fast and consistent you can get your design to perform.
Job sheets are very useful for keeping track of design decisions and test results.
The Caliper Hub is designed for the following items specifically, but you could custom design one for any combination of rulers and yard sticks!
$0.25 School Smart Scale Ruler made of selected wood features a multiple-coat, clear lacquer finish. 12 in Ruler with non-metal edges is scaled in 1/8 in. Ruler has a thickness of 5/32 in and width of 7/8 in.
$2.00 School Smart Yard Stick is made of hardwood with a multiple-coat, clear lacquer finish. It is scaled in centimeters and also divided in both millimeters and eighth inches. Storing is made easy with a hole for hanging. The stick measures 1 meter x 1 inch x 1/4 inch.
Use this to simplify how the hand pump engages the balloon section for inflating the balloons.