FBRC 1/18 Scale EDF30 Slipstream

FBRC 1/18 Scale EDF30 Slipstream Introducing the FBRC 1/18 Scale EDF30 Slipstream – a fully 3D printable EDF-powered RC car featuring fully independent suspension, modular construction, and functional lighting. This project was designed to create a fully functional RC car powered by an Electric Ducted Fan (EDF), while remaining easy to build, maintain, repair, and upgrade. Every component has been designed with modularity in mind, meaning there are no irreversible assembly steps, allowing individual parts to be replaced or upgraded whenever needed. To make the build as straightforward as possible, this project includes a comprehensive step-by-step Assembly Manual and Build Guide, both included in the downloadable files. Build Guide: https://www.instructables.com/FBRC-118th-EDF30-Slipstream Designed for Easy Printing Every part has been carefully engineered to print reliably with little to no post-processing. Most components can be removed from the build plate and assembled immediately. Print Profile Guide I have made print profiles for all the parts. A lot of them have been combined instead of having to print each one separately. Here is a list of all the parts to print. You can find which print profile each part is in by the number in the bracket at the end of the name (i.e. ‘Main Chassis (P1)’ can be found in Profile 1). Also each profile lists the parts included. 3d Printed Parts List: - PN 0001 Main Chassis (P1) - PN 0002 Front Subframe (P2) - PN 0003 Front Suspension Bulkhead (P3) - PN 0004 EDF Pod (P4) - PN 0005 Rear Subframe (P6) - PN 0006 30mm EDF Pod (P5) - PN 0007 30mm EDF Pod Intake (P5) - PN 0010 Front Shell (P7) - PN 0011 Intake Cowling (P8) - PN 0012 Canopy - Non FPV (P9) - PN 0014 NS Intake Panel (P10) - PN 0015 OS Intake Panel (P10) - PN 0016 NS Rear Quarter Panel (P11) - PN 0017 OS Rear Quarter Panel (P11) - PN 0101 Steering Bar Upright (x2) (P12) - PN 0102 Steering Bar (P12) - PN 0103 Steering Servo Link (P12) - PN 0104 Steering Servo Plate (P12) - PN 0105 Battery Tray (P12) - PN 0111 OS Front Lower Suspension Arm (P3) - PN 0112 NS Front Lower Suspension Arm (P3) - PN 0113 OS Front Upper Suspension Arm (P3) - PN 0114 NS Front Upper Suspension Arm (P3) - PN 0115 OS Front Suspension Upright (P3) - PN 0116 NS Front Suspension Upright (P3) - PN 0117 OS Front Hub Carrier (P3) - PN 0118 NS Front Hub Carrier (P3) - PN 0121 OS Rear Lower Suspension Arm (P13) - PN 0122 NS Rear Lower Suspension Arm (P13) - PN 0123 OS Rear Upper Suspension Arm (P13) - PN 0124 NS Rear Upper Suspension Arm (P13) - PN 0125 OS Rear Suspension Upright (P13) - PN 0126 NS Rear Suspension Upright (P13) - PN 0201 Wheel Hub For 36x15 Tyre (x4) (P14) - PN 0202 Tyre 36x15 (x4) - PN 0301 NS Rear Wing Blank (P16) - PN 0302 OS Rear Wing Blank (P16) - PN 0401 Prop 5 Blade 40mm P35 (P17) - PN 0402 Prop 6 Blade 40mm P35 (P17) - PN 0411 Prop 3 Blade 40mm P40 (P17) - PN 0412 Prop 4 Blade 40mm P40 (P17) - PN 0413 Prop 5 Blade 40mm P40 (P17) - PN 0414 Prop 6 Blade 40mm P40 (P17) - PN 0415 Prop 10 Blade 40mm P40 (P17) - PN 0421 Prop 5 Blade 40mm P45 (P17 or P18) - PN 0422 Prop 6 Blade 40mm P45 (P17 or P18) - PN 0423 Prop 10 Blade 40mm P45 (P17) - PN 0501 EDF Pod Test Stand (P19)

The model shown in the photos was printed on a Bambu Lab P2S using a 0.4 mm hardened nozzle. Filaments Used: Blue: Bambu Lab Matte PLA – Marine Blue (11600) Purple:>/b> Bambu Lab Matte PLA – Lilac Purple (11700) Black: Bambu Lab Matte PLA – Charcoal Black (11101) About the Project This is my largest and most ambitious design project so far. A huge amount of time has gone into not only designing the model itself, but also ensuring that every part fits consistently, can be replaced easily, and requires little to no modification during assembly. The aim was to create an RC platform that is enjoyable to build, simple to maintain, and fully documented so builders of all experience levels can get their model up and running with confidence. If you build one, I'd love to see it! Please share your makes, leave a rating, and let me know if you have any suggestions for improvements or ideas for future upgrades. Specifications: Model: FBRC EDF30 Slipstream Scale: 1/18 Length: 221.39 mm Width: 112 mm Height: 58.56 mm Wheelbase: 137.5 mm Weight: 314 g Tyre Diameter: 36 mm Tyre Width: 15 mm Power System: 30 mm brushed EDF Compatible with 40 mm 3D printed EDF Powered by a 3.7 V (1S) LiPo battery Recommended battery capacity: 300–1200mAh Maximum battery size: 56 × 31 × 11 mm Features: - Purpose-designed EDF-powered RC platform - 1/18 scale - Powered by a 30 mm EDF or compatible 40 mm 3D printed EDF - Reverse-thrust braking - Fully independent suspension - Functional headlights - Functional tail lights - Functional brake lights - Full metal bearing drivetrain for smooth, efficient operation - Fully modular construction for simple repairs and upgrades - No irreversible assembly steps - Fits on compact printers, including the Bambu Lab A1 Mini (largest part approximately 120 × 110 mm) - Designed for easy, reliable printing with minimal post-processing

FBRC EDF30 Slipstream – Research & Development Many parts have gone through numerous design iterations. They were repeatedly prototyped, tested, modified, and reprinted until they achieved the fit and performance I was looking for. The goal was for parts to come straight off the print bed and fit together with little or no post-processing. EDF Development & Testing One of the main motivations behind this project was to design and develop my own 3D-printed brushed EDF. Creating an efficient EDF at this scale has been a fun engineering challenge, and there is still plenty of room for future development. To help with testing, I designed a dedicated EDF test stand that allows different fan designs, motors, and thrust tube configurations to be swapped and tested quickly. So far, the best result has been approximately 35 g of thrust, which is enough to power the Slipstream successfully. My aim is to continue refining the design and improve the performance even further. If you'd like to experiment with your own EDF designs, the EDF test stand is included with the project files, making it easy to begin your own development work. Wind Tunnel Testing Although the Slipstream is relatively small and unlikely to reach speeds where aerodynamic changes make a dramatic difference, it was still fascinating to see how the design behaved in a controlled wind tunnel environment. Testing different body shapes and airflow characteristics was an enjoyable part of the development process and provided some useful insights for future designs. Designed for Future Upgrades From the beginning, I wanted the Slipstream to be a platform that could continue to evolve. Wherever possible, the chassis has been designed to be modular, allowing individual parts to be replaced or upgraded without redesigning the whole model. Mounting points have also been built into the design so future upgrades can simply bolt straight on. Some of the ideas currently in development include: - Rear Wing Options - Mounting points are already integrated into the chassis for future rear wing designs. - FPV Driving - A dedicated mounting position has already been incorporated above the battery compartment, allowing a future FPV camera mount to be added with minimal effort. - More EDF Options -The custom EDF is almost a project in its own right.

While the current brushed design performs well enough to power the model, there is still significant potential for improvement. The Slipstream has been designed to act as a development platform for experimenting with: - New fan designs - Alternative thrust tube geometries - Different brushed motors - Larger EDF sizes - Alternative EDF pod designs - There is already an option for an off-the-shelf brushed EDF, and I plan to expand compatibility with additional EDF configurations in future releases. A brushless EDF version is also on the roadmap, which should provide a substantial increase in performance.

Improved Braking At present, the Slipstream relies on reverse thrust to slow the vehicle. While this works surprisingly well, it doesn't provide the braking performance of a conventional RC car. Traditional RC vehicles use the drive motor to apply braking force through the drivetrain, but an EDF-powered vehicle has no mechanical connection between the motor and the wheels. Full-size EDF vehicles often use separate braking systems, but on a model this compact, space is extremely limited. Conventional solutions such as mechanical disc brakes are generally too large and complex to fit reliably. I'm currently experimenting with several alternative braking concepts, including electromagnetic braking systems. Once a practical and reliable solution has been developed, I intend to release it as a retrofit upgrade for existing Slipstream models. This project is still evolving, and I have plenty more ideas planned for the future. Thank you for downloading, building, and supporting the FBRC EDF30 Slipstream. I hope you enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed designing and developing it! I am a hobbyist designer and creator with a passion for designing and I love to know how I can improve my designs so any comments or advice on how my Designs, Guides or Print Profiles could be improved are always welcome! Thank you for reading and have fun making!