Unless you have been in a cave since 2006 or so, you have likely seen the various postings of instructions on how to make a small USS Enterprise from the metal bits of a 3-1/2 Inch Floppy Disk. If you have been in a cave since then, I trust that you have been making far more interesting widgets, Mr. Stark.
The oldest references I could find for the Floppy Disk USS Enterprise are these:
Here!
Here!
For those too young to remember the floppy disk, it was the pinnacle of 1980's file transfer technology. You may recognize it as resembling the cryptic "Save" icon used in software still. Over time it became less floppy, but smaller. It was a simpler time when files were smaller than 1.44Mb and placing your backpack on a strong magnet would make your thesis disappear. It eventually became the 3-1/2 inch wide plastic square seen in the image with a metal hub for the magnetic disk inside and a metal sliding door that was just asking to be opened. Opening the door revealed the magic black insides that, when touched, made your thesis also disappear.
By 2006 there were vast numbers of these disks that held obsolete files and poor quality vido games. Desperate to find a use for them, Floppy Disk Crafting was born. You can still find them in old desk drawers, backs of computer stores, and some specialized applications where they might still be used. Use them while they are still out there!
You may be thinking, "Where are the Star Wars models?" or "How are you reading my thoughts?" The answer is "Here." and "With the Force."
In this Instructable we will go through the steps to make a TIE Advanced X1 as seen piloted by Darth Vader in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and an Imperial Shuttle.
As a bonus, I will also include, at no extra charge, a super secret bonus model. (If you skip to the end you will find out it is a Borg Cube from Star Trek)
You may find it helpful to have my 3D model as a reference. I have attached both an Autodesk 123D file of the model and a PDF with an imbedded 3D model to this step.
If you need Autodesk 123D, it can be found here.
The 3D model can also be found and viewed online here.
The oldest references I could find for the Floppy Disk USS Enterprise are these:
Here!
Here!
For those too young to remember the floppy disk, it was the pinnacle of 1980's file transfer technology. You may recognize it as resembling the cryptic "Save" icon used in software still. Over time it became less floppy, but smaller. It was a simpler time when files were smaller than 1.44Mb and placing your backpack on a strong magnet would make your thesis disappear. It eventually became the 3-1/2 inch wide plastic square seen in the image with a metal hub for the magnetic disk inside and a metal sliding door that was just asking to be opened. Opening the door revealed the magic black insides that, when touched, made your thesis also disappear.
By 2006 there were vast numbers of these disks that held obsolete files and poor quality vido games. Desperate to find a use for them, Floppy Disk Crafting was born. You can still find them in old desk drawers, backs of computer stores, and some specialized applications where they might still be used. Use them while they are still out there!
You may be thinking, "Where are the Star Wars models?" or "How are you reading my thoughts?" The answer is "Here." and "With the Force."
In this Instructable we will go through the steps to make a TIE Advanced X1 as seen piloted by Darth Vader in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and an Imperial Shuttle.
As a bonus, I will also include, at no extra charge, a super secret bonus model. (If you skip to the end you will find out it is a Borg Cube from Star Trek)
You may find it helpful to have my 3D model as a reference. I have attached both an Autodesk 123D file of the model and a PDF with an imbedded 3D model to this step.
If you need Autodesk 123D, it can be found here.
The 3D model can also be found and viewed online here.
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Signing UpStep 1: Required Tools and Materials
While many people will tell you that "tools" are required, this is not strictly true. Your will alone is enough. Try shouting at it.
Go ahead, I'll wait.
I have found that at least one pair of needle nose pliers will make things go much easier.
You will need to cut the metal as well. For that many recommend using wire cutters. If you have a pair of scissors that you don't like then they can be used also.
I would rather spend my money on beer, and so will fatigue the metal. For our purposes fatigue is a technique of sharply bending the metal back and forth until it splits. Now, my material professor would be screaming at me now that fatigue is a material failure mode caused by crack propagation from cyclical loading but he has no authority here and I already have my diploma and he can't take it back. (editor's note: They can take it back and I have to go back to college now.).
To make metal fatigue faster you should start with cheap metal (which we have) and bend it sharply. If done right you will get a nice straight clean split in the metal. If you bend it against the jaws of your pliers you will get the best results.
For your models you will need the following raw materials:
Tie Fighter: 5 Floppy Disks
Imperial Shuttle: 2 Floppy Disks
A note on safety: the sheet metal edges are probably already very sharp. Cutting or bending them will only make them sharper, pointier, and stronger. Take a lot of care working with the pieces or you could get bad cuts.
Go ahead, I'll wait.
I have found that at least one pair of needle nose pliers will make things go much easier.
You will need to cut the metal as well. For that many recommend using wire cutters. If you have a pair of scissors that you don't like then they can be used also.
I would rather spend my money on beer, and so will fatigue the metal. For our purposes fatigue is a technique of sharply bending the metal back and forth until it splits. Now, my material professor would be screaming at me now that fatigue is a material failure mode caused by crack propagation from cyclical loading but he has no authority here and I already have my diploma and he can't take it back. (editor's note: They can take it back and I have to go back to college now.).
To make metal fatigue faster you should start with cheap metal (which we have) and bend it sharply. If done right you will get a nice straight clean split in the metal. If you bend it against the jaws of your pliers you will get the best results.
For your models you will need the following raw materials:
Tie Fighter: 5 Floppy Disks
Imperial Shuttle: 2 Floppy Disks
A note on safety: the sheet metal edges are probably already very sharp. Cutting or bending them will only make them sharper, pointier, and stronger. Take a lot of care working with the pieces or you could get bad cuts.
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http://www.instructables.com/id/Millennium-Falcon-and-X-Wing-from-Floppy-Disk-wit/
I even found a way to make a Death Star with one hub disk and a rubber band ball, which I hope you like.
Great work with the floppys, do you think you could do a stop motion animation with them?
I could make a stop motion animation with them, but that takeas a really incredible time commitment that I don't have. If you do one I'd love to see it!
L