08 · Multidirectional rotational fidget · modelled, not yet printed
Gyroscopic Spinner
Two rings on two pivots, turning independently in the hand.
This one started with a manga. I was reading JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, where a character named Gyro uses spin to throw his steel balls, and I wanted a fidget whose whole point was spin in more than one direction.
Move across for the outer ring, up and down for the inner
01The mechanism
How it works.
What this one taught me: Nested rotation: gimbals, and how to model two axes that never collide.
A central base, an inner ring, an outer ring and two separate pivot mechanisms. The inner ring is attached to the X-axis pivot, the outer ring to the Z-axis pivot, so both rings rotate independently.
The outer ring supports the inner assembly, while the central pivot structure holds the mechanism together.
In use, the rings are turned in different directions with the fingers, producing a continuous, multidirectional motion based on the mechanics of a gyroscope.
02Parts
Every part, named.
Dimensions are from my STL files. Parts without a file are printed as part of a neighbour or are plain primitives in the model.
- Base and central pivotHolds the assemblyNo file
- Inner ringTurns on the X-axis pivotNo file
- Outer ringTurns on the Z-axis pivotNo file
03Files
Print it yourself.
Shared under CC BY 4.0. My Python script rebuilds the assembly in Blender 3.6 or later from primitives and animates it; the STL parts are the printable components and may need fit tuning for your printer.
Blender file
care-ed-design-8-gyroscopic-spinner.blend