Thin Wall Nose Cones
 

is it possible with 3D printers to make small nose cones that have a very thin shell like those white ASP nose cones that are vac formed? Comparable lightweight and thin wall? just wondering.
TIA

From the 3D stuff I've seen, I doubt it. Boyce's 1/100 escape tower is pretty thin, but I bet that's about as thin as they can get it and still have some integrity. If you are doing a sheet or NC at that thickness, by the time you sand it smooth there may not be enough structure left in some spots.

I've printed a number of single wall nosecones. Mostly 2-3" diameter, but at least one for BT50.

At 0.4mm thickness, I'm not sure they are extremely light. Also, they are fragile enough that I foam fill them.

I've done 0.6mm thickness that felt much sturdier.

Even though foam is light, I imagine it makes up for the thinner wall in weight.


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If weight is that important, it' s better to stay with polyethylene. These plastics have the benefit of being both durable as well as lightweight.

But you are stuck only with the shapes available. That is where 3D printing shines.

Sure. All of the models I flew at N60 used single-wall vase mode printed nose cones, from bt5 to the egglofter.