3D Printing a Hovercraft
ValRC built a custom RC hovercraft from scratch with a 3D printer and a few basic electronic components.
It is not at all uncommon for hobbyists to create their own radio-controlled (RC) cars. Custom hovercrafts, on the other hand, are pretty hard to come by. Despite the additional challenges involved, YouTuber ValRC recently set out to build a custom RC hovercraft, completely from scratch.
The majority of the vehicle is 3D printed. Everything from the body to the fan mounts was designed and printed, before ValRC assembled them to form the base of the hovercraft. This was to be more than a display piece, so naturally some electronics were required as well. A pair of drone motors and propellers were included for lift and propulsion, with a servo being installed to control the direction of the top fan for steering.
Next, an off-the-shelf RC receiver was installed in the hovercraft so that it could be controlled with a standard RC transmitter. To finish things off, a rechargeable battery pack was installed, and a skirt made from a plastic bag was screwed to the bottom of the frame.
While testing the vehicle, ValRC found it to work better than expected. However, the drone motors were a bit overpowered for the light frame, so it did tend to flip over on tight turns. No worries, though. That’s nothing that can’t be fixed with a little more tinkering.