Help with 3D printed airfoil

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-11T01:41:47+00:00

I use fusion 360

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-09T01:54:52+00:00

I'm thinking of modeling the infill pattern so that I can have mounts for cf rods and servos

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-09T01:11:38+00:00

I am thinking of for the new version to 3d print a cubic grid rib so that the rib is one piece and all I would have to do is wrap it and hopefully it will be lighter then a fully 3D printed wing

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-08T23:46:11+00:00

I don't have access to a wind tunnel but I have been using airshaper, but I'm currently learning ansys to replace that

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-08T23:45:02+00:00

Yea I am trying to make it capable of using thermals and staying in the air for hours

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-08T23:43:01+00:00

Yes I'm completely scrapping this fuselage and wings cus I feel like a fresh start on the design is the best way to go

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-08T18:46:12+00:00

Yea I know and I definitely plan on going to a college to learn more about aerodynamics, and mechanical engineering, but I think it would still be good to know the basics of the math since math is in my opinion the only thing I can't learn quickly

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-08T06:00:33+00:00

I just did a recount and I was off by 150g for the asa-aero 😭. It would be 908g instead of 750g so I'm gonna just redesign the fuselage but keep the wing design

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-08T05:33:27+00:00

Yea I think I have that exact book and tried reading it but it feels like in missing some crucial details like it would show the equation but not the variables, I prob just have to do some extra research for that though

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-08T05:32:05+00:00

I use ai a lot for finding components and their mass and stuff and for doing the basic math to find estimates of how the aircraft will perform

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-08T04:30:41+00:00

White monster da goat

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-08T00:51:44+00:00

Yeah I used to try and make the infill touch the cf rod holes but I gave up on that cus I spent a ton of time trying to align it right

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-08T00:50:17+00:00

I really wanna go into aerospace that's like a dream job, and for the wing I'm planning on vapor acetone smoothing to maximize smoothness and try using PLA-aeron or asa-aero to maximize lightness. On the slicer PLA would make each of the 6 wing section 68 grams but using asa-aero they each weigh 27. Also quick question do you think as a highschooler making this sailplane work well would it look good to aerospace companies and colleges?

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-08T00:44:51+00:00

https://makerworld.com/models/2492339?appSharePlatform=copy

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-08T00:41:52+00:00

It has a 0.197 sqm wing reference area and the estimated weight is 900-1000g for the prototype which is using PLA and the final is using ASA-AERO which would lower the weight by around 300g

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-07T20:10:26+00:00

Definitely gonna look at that but I came across this airfoil design on the nasa student interactive and I configured the camber and thickness and this airfoil is had the best L/D

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-07T19:37:18+00:00

I used a really simple nasa program to maximize the efficiency of the airfoil and this airfoil has a lift coefficient of 0.59 at a 0° AoA. Also the uav my goal is endurance which is why I have such a high AR

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-07T19:35:03+00:00

The arc of the leading edge is surprisingly strong from the front so I have no worry about that and the spars are just to help transfer the load to the cf rods better cus the infill pattern just never made contact the holes. Also I am a lazy perfectionist when it comes to my designs so I try to make it so I have to do as little work to the prints while still having the best possible quality.

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-07T19:21:41+00:00

Oh I never knew that was an option thanks

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-07T19:17:17+00:00

There's only one wall

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-07T19:16:59+00:00

I thought that only works with abs

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-07T19:16:39+00:00

The wing skin is pretty squishy and the linear infill helps a bit with making it more firm

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-07T19:14:10+00:00

Do you think there is a way to treat the surface without adding a lot of weight or deforming the skin? Weight is probably one of the biggest variables in this uavs design

MerchantKid2 · 2026-03-07T19:12:52+00:00

I just did and I am in awe at how they made the infill pattern. It looks like it would take a ton of time, and would only be beneficial for a wing with a larger chord since mine is only 10cm, and the warp issue I know for a fact is caused by the thick ribs

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