Swoop Spinning Toy Top
An elegant top that spins well and makes beautiful patterns as it spins.
This is delicate. There's no way to design a top that spins well and can survive rough play when printed in PLA. The stem will break in seconds. See “Playing with Your Top" below.
Note: My PrusaSlicer project file and GCODE both use GCODE to reduce print temp gradually down to 185C. If that doesn't work for your filament/printer, print at your normal temp and increase the cooling. I tried shifting “Slow down if print time is below” from the default 10 to just 1 with a similar top and the handle printed beautifully at 200C.
Print Settings
- If you plan to give the top to a child or anyone else who will be rough with it, print it in a RUGGED MATERIAL. Do not use PLA.
- Arrange the two halves of the top so the ring is on the build plate and the pointy part faces up.
- Print the top SOLID. Either give it 12 perimeters or print with 100% infill. It needs the mass both for strength and to spin well.
- Print external Perimeters first.
- Best results with 0.1mm layer height.
- I recommend using a brim or supports for better build plate adhesion.
I have included my PrusaSlicer project file (3MF) and GCODE for a Prusa MK3S+ printer. Yes, they are set for PLA. That's all I have and, hey, I'm gentle. I rarely break tops.
I've included an STL of the top as a single piece just in case you want to print it that way or cut it at a different point.
Assembling Your Top
Just add a few drops of superglue to one half, line up the patterns on the two halves, and press them together. Use the index fingers and thumbs of both hands to hold the ring at 4 points to align the halves in the X-Y plane.
If you line up the halves well and the handle still appears to wobble as it spins, look at the tip. Tops spin best if the tip is a sharp, even point. If there's any irregularity, just take a hobby knife and shave the tip. Do a little, test spin it, then do a little more.
Playing with Your Top
- Hold it near the top of the stem.
- Place the tip of the top ON THE TABLETOP.
- Give the top a GENTLE spin WHILE IT IS STILL IN CONTACT WITH THE TABLE.
DO NOT SPIN THE TOP IN THE AIR AND DROP IN ONTO THE TABLE. This will not make it more stable. It will make it more BROKEN. To make it spin smoothly, be gentle, not wild.