Zhang Heng earthquake ball — 3D-printable model preview

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Science & education Medium

Zhang Heng earthquake ball

Detect a tremor when a marble balanced on a slender column falls into the dish

In 132 AD the Chinese astronomer Zhang Heng built the first seismoscope: eight bronze dragons each held a ball, and a tremor made one drop its ball into the mouth of a bronze toad, clanging the alarm and showing the direction of the quake. This is the one-dragon version. A marble sits in a shallow cup on top of a tall, slim screw-in column; a door slam, heavy footsteps or a real tremor tips it off and it lands in the dish with a clatter. Place it on different floors and see which part of the house shakes most.

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Size (Base A): Ø 140 mm, 20 mm tall
Shape: Round
Walls: 2.4 mm
Volume: 75.8 cm³
Est. weight (PLA): 94.0 g
Parts to print: 1
Category: Science & education
Made by: Krypto
Built in: 14 steps

What’s in it

Round, Ø 140 mm, 20 mm tall, with 2.4 mm walls
Raised text: “QUAKE”
One more base built on (Base B)
Base B: round, Ø 30 mm, 5 mm tall (stacked)

How to print it

Every part prints flat: screw the column into the dish and the cup onto the column. A smaller marble or a shallower cup makes it more sensitive.

Prints as shown on its floor, no supports. Stacked parts are fused into one print.

Filament: at most about 94.0 g of PLA printed solid (roughly $1.88 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 zhang Heng earthquake ball model?

The zhang Heng earthquake ball model measures Ø 140 mm, 20 mm tall. That is Base A; one more base is built on. You can change every size in the free SO3D.xyz generator before you download it.

Does it need supports?

No. Every part prints flat: screw the column into the dish and the cup onto the column. A smaller marble or a shallower cup makes it more sensitive. Prints as shown on its floor, no supports. Stacked parts are fused into one print.

How much filament does it use?

At most about 94.0 g of PLA (75.8 cm³ printed solid), roughly $1.88 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 zhang Heng earthquake ball model in your browser, then download it for your printer. Free, no CAD needed.

Customize this model