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Free Engineering and structuresArt and pattern

Spinning top with your own pattern

Build a three-dimensional spinning top with a disc featuring your own radial pattern and a short PLA shaft. Join the parts, let them cool and test the spin on a smooth tabletop.

Age
10+ years
Length
approx. 70 min
Level
Easy
Where you teach
Home
Purpose
Creative
Worksheet Guide (colour) Guide (ink-saving)

Slides for the session

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How to run this session

Stages and timing
  1. Build the disc outline
  2. Start the radial fill
  3. Complete your own pattern
  4. Make the shaft with a grip
  5. Fit the shaft in the centre
  6. Reinforce the joint
  7. Spin it and see your pattern

What gets built

Build a small toy that you can set spinning yourself.

What it practises
  • Joining supported PLA strands.
  • Creating your own pattern while maintaining balance.
  • Assembling and testing the toy yourself.

Success criteria
  • Once cool, the shaft is rigidly joined to the disc.
  • The disc is centred, perpendicular to the shaft and filled to a similar degree on opposite sides.
  • When you test it on your own, the spinning top makes several full turns; the axle stays firmly fixed, and the edge of the disc does not rub against the tabletop.

What you need
Filament
PLA
Colours
your own disc colour, your own shaft and joint colour
Also
PLA-compatible 3D pen — 1 pc., Transparent mat suitable for PLA — 1 pc., Printouts of the two templates at 100% scale — 1 copy each., Ruler marked in millimetres — 1 pc., Standard paper scissors — 1 pair., Smooth, level tabletop for testing — a clear area of about 30 × 30 cm.

Files

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How did the session go?

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Version 2026-09-29 Updated 2026-09-29

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