Floating-needle compass bowl — 3D-printable model preview

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Outdoor & adventure Simple

Floating-needle compass bowl

Make a working compass from a needle, a magnet and a bowl of water

The compass the first sailors used. Stroke a sewing needle along a magnet thirty times in one direction, push it through a thin slice of cork and float it in the bowl. With nothing to stop it, the needle swings round and settles pointing north and south. Turn the bowl until the raised N lines up with the needle's north end, and the other directions are read straight off the floor. It also shows children that the Earth itself is a magnet.

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Size: Ø 120 mm, 25 mm tall
Shape: Round
Walls: 2.0 mm
Volume: 39.7 cm³
Est. weight (PLA): 49.2 g
Parts to print: 1
Category: Outdoor & adventure
Made by: Krypto
Built in: 24 steps

What’s in it

Round, Ø 120 mm, 25 mm tall, with 2.0 mm walls
Raised text: “N”, “E”, “S”, “W”

How to print it

PETG. Fill with water to 1 cm below the rim; push the magnetised needle through a thin slice of cork.

Prints as shown on its floor, no supports.

Filament: at most about 49.2 g of PLA printed solid (roughly $0.98 at $20 per kg); normal infill uses less.

To get the files, open it in the generator and choose File › Download STL (one file per part) or Download 3MF (every part on one plate).

Questions

What size is the floating-needle compass bowl model?

The floating-needle compass bowl model measures Ø 120 mm, 25 mm tall. You can change every size in the free SO3D.xyz generator before you download it.

Does it need supports?

No. PETG. Fill with water to 1 cm below the rim; push the magnetised needle through a thin slice of cork. Prints as shown on its floor, no supports.

How much filament does it use?

At most about 49.2 g of PLA (39.7 cm³ printed solid), roughly $0.98 of filament at $20 per kg. Normal infill uses less.

Can I change it?

Yes. Open it in the SO3D.xyz generator (free, in your browser), change the size, walls, dividers, holes, text or anything else, then download it as STL or 3MF for your slicer.

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Make it fit your space

Change the size, walls, dividers, holes and labels of the floating-needle compass bowl model in your browser, then download it for your printer. Free, no CAD needed.

Customize this model