3D printed pump top
3D printed pump top
Somebody 3D printed a pump top, including the clutch and torsion springs. The only non 3D printed parts are screws.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJcNTB6myL0
The instructions and stl files are here: http://www.otvinta.com/download15.html
I'll probably print one in the future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJcNTB6myL0
The instructions and stl files are here: http://www.otvinta.com/download15.html
I'll probably print one in the future.










Re: 3D printed pump top
Another one. The top is not as nice, but the video has a detailed explanation of the design:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geReOCHCWkg
The files in Thingiverse:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3822746
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geReOCHCWkg
The files in Thingiverse:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3822746










- Jeremy McCreary
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Re: 3D printed pump top
Just found this LEGO pump top by a well-known and very clever Japanese builder:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1v2fIeDWZg
He's written several books full of ingenious LEGO mechanisms and whimsical machines. My kind of guy.
This one could easily be improved by lowering the CM and doubling the yellow flywheel ring.
My own attempts at a LEGO pump top all failed for lack of a suitable screw, LEGO or otherwise. Looks like LEGO now makes the screw. Off to www.bricklink.com ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1v2fIeDWZg
He's written several books full of ingenious LEGO mechanisms and whimsical machines. My kind of guy.
This one could easily be improved by lowering the CM and doubling the yellow flywheel ring.
My own attempts at a LEGO pump top all failed for lack of a suitable screw, LEGO or otherwise. Looks like LEGO now makes the screw. Off to www.bricklink.com ....
Last edited by Jeremy McCreary on Tue Mar 12, 2024 12:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Art is how we decorate space, music is how we decorate time ... and with spinning tops, we decorate both.
—after Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1960-1988
Everything in the world is strange and marvelous to well-open eyes.
—Jose Ortega y Gasset, 1883-1955
—after Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1960-1988
Everything in the world is strange and marvelous to well-open eyes.
—Jose Ortega y Gasset, 1883-1955
Re: 3D printed pump top
Nice!
I'm guessing the elastic bands to pull up the screw are there because the top is too light for the friction of the screw and you would lift the top if you just pull up. But this has the disadvantage that the resting position is with the screw up what raises the center of mass (although you could argue a tall top looks more elegant).
I'm guessing the elastic bands to pull up the screw are there because the top is too light for the friction of the screw and you would lift the top if you just pull up. But this has the disadvantage that the resting position is with the screw up what raises the center of mass (although you could argue a tall top looks more elegant).










Re: 3D printed pump top
Jeremy McCreary wrote: ... Looks like LEGO now makes the screw. Off to www.bricklink.com ....
Great Jeremy! This topic reminds me of the topic where we discussed gravity powered tops and some ideas that remained just ideas at the time. So Jeremy, once you have that screw and you build a top similar to the one in the video, I also want you to consider a version that accelerates the top not when the handle is pushed down, but when the top is lifted by the handle (similar to this video) but with that clever mechanism so you can do it repeatedly. I imagine that principle to be a good way to start really big tops.

In the broader world of tops, nothing's everything! — Jeremy McCreary
- Jeremy McCreary
- ITSA
- Posts: 3,789
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Re: 3D printed pump top
Worth a try for my 2nd gravity-driven top. As you may recall, here's my first:ortwin wrote: Great Jeremy! This topic reminds me of the topic where we discussed gravity powered tops and some ideas that remained just ideas at the time. So Jeremy, once you have that screw and you build a top similar to the one in the video, I also want you to consider a version that accelerates the top not when the handle is pushed down, but when the top is lifted by the handle (similar to this video) but with that clever mechanism so you can do it repeatedly. I imagine that principle to be a good way to start really big tops.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T__qa3CGs4
Art is how we decorate space, music is how we decorate time ... and with spinning tops, we decorate both.
—after Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1960-1988
Everything in the world is strange and marvelous to well-open eyes.
—Jose Ortega y Gasset, 1883-1955
—after Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1960-1988
Everything in the world is strange and marvelous to well-open eyes.
—Jose Ortega y Gasset, 1883-1955
Re: 3D printed pump top
Jeremy McCreary wrote: ...
Worth a try for my 2nd gravity-driven top. As you may recall, here's my first:
Yes, I recall that gravity-driven top. But it was not your only one. Here you show a photo of another one.
And another "But": "But are not all tops gravity driven?" I mean if you trace back the energy form you supply a top with, you always end up with gravity. Or do you have a different view on that?

In the broader world of tops, nothing's everything! — Jeremy McCreary
- Jeremy McCreary
- ITSA
- Posts: 3,789
- Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2015 10:26 am
- Contact:
Re: 3D printed pump top
Wow, your memory's better than mine! Alas, never got that one to release the top properly.ortwin wrote: Yes, I recall that gravity-driven top. But it was not your only one. Here you show a photo of another one.
And another "But": "But are not all tops gravity driven?" I mean if you trace back the energy form you supply a top with, you always end up with gravity. Or do you have a different view on that?
Had to think about the gravity question. In the end, feels too contrived.
Art is how we decorate space, music is how we decorate time ... and with spinning tops, we decorate both.
—after Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1960-1988
Everything in the world is strange and marvelous to well-open eyes.
—Jose Ortega y Gasset, 1883-1955
—after Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1960-1988
Everything in the world is strange and marvelous to well-open eyes.
—Jose Ortega y Gasset, 1883-1955
Re: 3D printed pump top
Jeremy McCreary wrote: ...
Had to think about the gravity question. In the end, feels too contrived.
Had to look up the word "contrived". In the end, feels you are right.
(Do you ever get sentimental when you see the kitchen in your former house in those videos?)
Last edited by ortwin on Wed Mar 13, 2024 10:55 am, edited 1 time in total.

In the broader world of tops, nothing's everything! — Jeremy McCreary
Re: 3D printed pump top
J’ai fabriqué la toupie à pompe. Impression 3d en densité 20, 30 ou 50 suivant les pièces
Elle pèse 610g.
Je l’ai offerte à mon copain Claude qui lui me fabrique des toupies en bois.
Les premiers essais n’étaient pas concluant, il a mis de la paraffine sur la tige et surtout il faut trouver l’astuce pour qu’elle tourne. Ne pas appuyer trop fort et donner un mouvement de rotation sur la poignée à chaque pompe.
Photo et vidéo sont de Claude.
https://youtu.be/pUUuRaZi9JE?si=kf18v7a6sy1euesn


Elle pèse 610g.
Je l’ai offerte à mon copain Claude qui lui me fabrique des toupies en bois.
Les premiers essais n’étaient pas concluant, il a mis de la paraffine sur la tige et surtout il faut trouver l’astuce pour qu’elle tourne. Ne pas appuyer trop fort et donner un mouvement de rotation sur la poignée à chaque pompe.
Photo et vidéo sont de Claude.
https://youtu.be/pUUuRaZi9JE?si=kf18v7a6sy1euesn


Re: 3D printed pump top
Elle est belle!
Nicely done.
Maybe if the screw is made of ABS and then the surface is smoothed with acetone vapor, it would have lower friction.
Nicely done.
Maybe if the screw is made of ABS and then the surface is smoothed with acetone vapor, it would have lower friction.









