Science Olympiad Helicopter Top Spinner

A replacement for the FFM top spinner balsa piece, which may break. This disk MUST have a balsa disk atop to fit the rules! I use 0.017" thick 4# balsa for the disk, glued on with minimal medium CA. A sewing pin through the top, thread a glass bead onto the pin (or two teflon washers), trim the pin to about 3/8", rough it up, and glue it into the tower atop the top rotor.

Printing light is critical. 0.12mm layers, 0.30mm first layer. Turn on thin wall printing (Cura).

2/23/2026 Updated original spinner, there was some artifacts in teh pin head hole, and made the pocket less deep. Also added a second version with pockets for 0.020" carbon fiber whiskers. I have not tested that in practice, but have printed to be certain the whiskers fit.