Custom Fidget Spinner
We were tasked with designing a customized fidget spinner and manufacturing one. The main body is created by milling fidget spinner molds into blocks of Aluminum and injection molding those molds with Polypropylene. The caps were then 3D printed, and the final project was assembled to create a fully-functioning personally-designed fidget spinner.
All parts and molds were modeled on Solidworks. CAM process was created using Fusion 360. Full assembly was tested using drop test simulations on Solidworks.
Tools
Solidworks
Fusion 360
Timeline
August 2021 - December 2021
DESIGN
Given a 100mm radius, there were a multitude of designs possible. I wanted to keep 2-5 bearing to optimize performance. With these constraints, the number of possible designs was limited. However, I aspired to be creative with my designs and was inspired by the world around me.
MODELING
I modeled my design for a fidget spinner body and bearing caps on Solidworks. From the body model, I created molds on Solidworks. Then, I created an assembly and performed drop test simulations to test the durability and monitor stresses. Finally, I used Fusion 360 to create the CAM process needed for milling the fidget spinner body molds.
MANUFACTURING
I decided not to manufacture my particular chosen design as it was too complex and fragile for manufacturing. However, I still manufactured another design by milling Aluminum to create molds. Then, I injection molded those molds with Polypropylene to create the fidget spinner body. I 3D-printed bearing caps, and assembled the bearing caps, fidget spinner body, and bearings to create a fully-functioning fidget spinner.
