***IMPPORTED FROM THINGVERSE***

During the season the Mark Rober’s World’s Smallest Nerf Gun video came out and we wondered if a similar process could be applied to a paper airplane? (https://youtu.be/9c2NqlUWZfo?si=hDiZxToKSbAoWZpr).
The answer is Yes! Even though we didn’t use this during the season, here is a one-piece 3D printed paper airplane launcher.
It just flexes. No rubber bands required. No assembly required. It can be printed on a small 3d filament printer (180x180 mm bed), such as a Prusa MINI, and in a relatively short (2 hour 22 minute) print time (with the Input Shaper feature, which reduces the time).
Included in the video is an easy-to-fold airplane, made from half a sheet of letter paper, that flies straight and consistent, and will go about 4.5 meters (much further than needed for CENTERSTAGE).
The launcher was designed using OpenSCAD (https://openscad.org/) and specifically designed for PETG filament, which has more flexibility and higher strength, than PLA, making for a better flexible (compliant) design.

For this design, when latched:
Force to pull launcher to trigger for PETG is 19.2 Newtons, for PLA is 22 N.
PLA has greater potential energy (35 N-mm) than PETG (30.4 N-mm).
PETG has greater margin to failure than PLA.
Assuming:
Modulus of Elasticity (NEWTONS PER mm^2), PLA = 2344
Modulus of Elasticity (NEWTONS PER mm^2), PETG = 2068

Print Settings

• Printer brand:

Prusa

• Printer:

MINI

• Rafts:

Doesn't Matter

• Supports:

No

• Resolution:

0.20 mm

• Infill:

15%

• Filament brand:

Doesn't matter

• Filament color:

Doesn't matter

• Filament material:

PETG