Summary

This is a simple model of NASA's SLS rocket.

I hope you have as much fun printing this as I did drawing and sharing it.

Instructions

The rocket consists of 5 parts to make it easier to build.

I printed this on the MakerBot Replicator 2X. Each part took an hour or less to print. I printed all parts vertically except the top. I printed each of these at the “Low (Faster)” resolution using the MakerWare defaults (number of shells: 2, layer height: 0.30 mm, extruder speed: 90 mm/s, travel speed : 150 mm/s). The only setting I changed was the infill to 25%.

The top I printed horizontally. I originally printed it vertically, but the abort motor came out like a nice swirled ice cream cone. I printed this part at the “Standard” resolution using the MakerWare defaults (number of shells: 2, layer height: 0.20 mm, extruder speed: 90 mm/s, travel speed : 150 mm/s) Again I changed the infill to 25%.

I used a raft on each part, but only used supports for the top and bottom parts. The Replicator 2X allows me to print using a break away support material, but I also printed a copy using the build material as the support and I was able to remove it, just not as easily. I did have a problem with it sticking to the build plate, but I paused the build after the raft was down and used blue painters tape to tape around the edges. This worked every time.

Depending on the shrink rate of the material used, you may be able to just snap all of the pieces together. On a few builds, I occasionally had to lightly sand/file the pieces to get them to go together. And on one occasion I had to glue the top piece, since it came out a little loose.

I added a hole up through the center if you want to make a stand, but the rocket should stand vertically as built.

I have scaled it up to 12 inches high, using the same MakerWare settings mentioned, and I have scaled it down to 6 inches, but for that I printed everything at the “Standard” resolution.

SLS Rocket (9 inches tall)