Project TippeTop

Tippe Top Project

As a little boy—a long, looong time ago—I had a small spinner that would flip itself over when started correctly.

Recently, I decided to recreate that toy using 3D printing.

This became much more than a single model. It developed into an experimental project in which I tested different sizes, shapes, mass distributions, stem dimensions, cutouts, starting methods and contact surfaces.

It took a lot of experimentation before I achieved a satisfactory result. As expected, the position of the centre of gravity is very important, but it is not the only factor. The spinner’s shape, dimensions, moments of inertia, friction, starting speed and the surface on which it rotates all have a major influence on its behaviour.

With the help of ChatGPT, I created a spreadsheet to estimate the centre of gravity and other relevant values. This allowed me to compare different designs and improve the models systematically.

Project files

The results of the project are included in the files named Basic Tippe Top.

These include:

• STL files

• STEP files

• the parametric Fusion 360 file

• the Excel calculation spreadsheet created with ChatGPT

The Fusion 360 file is provided as a ZIP archive because Printables would otherwise not accept it.

The Basic Tippe Top files are intended as a starting point for your own experiments. In the Fusion 360 model, you can change the parameters and generate your own versions. The spreadsheet helps estimate the centre of gravity and compare the calculated values with useful target ranges.

Working model with starter

As an additional download, I am also publishing a complete working version with a simple rack-and-pinion starter.

This model is the best-performing design that resulted from the project. It is intended for users who would rather print a tested version than begin with their own experiments.

The starter makes the initial speed more consistent and makes it much easier to compare results on different surfaces.

Material and print settings

All my experiments were carried out using PETG from Purefil, Switzerland.

The spreadsheet includes a material-density parameter, but I have not yet verified the calculations with other materials.

I printed all spinner parts with:

• 100% infill

• 0.20 mm layer height

• random seam position

The infill percentage and pattern have a significant influence on the actual mass distribution and therefore on the position of the centre of gravity and the moments of inertia.

To keep the calculations reasonably accurate and the results reproducible, I recommend printing the spinner parts with 100% infill.

The parts of the rack-and-pinion starter do not necessarily require 100% infill.

Assembly

For easier and cleaner printing, the spinner is divided into two halves. Print both parts with their flat cut surfaces on the build plate.

A small alignment hole is included in each half. Insert a piece of filament approximately 5 mm long into the hole and use it as an alignment pin while gluing the halves together.

The pin helps keep the outer spherical surface correctly aligned. I use a small amount of superglue because it produces a very thin glue seam.

After gluing, check the joint carefully. Any ridge that can be felt with a fingernail may influence the motion of the spinner. Carefully remove excess glue and lightly sand the seam if necessary.

Using the Tippe Top

The starting speed and the surface on which the spinner is used have a major influence on its behaviour.

The best results are usually obtained on a very smooth, hard and flat surface, such as:

• glass

• a ceramic cooking surface

• a smooth ceramic tile

A model that works well for me may behave differently on another surface or with another material.

The Tippe Top may require some practice. It must be started fast enough, but an extremely fast start is not always the best one. Experiment with different starting speeds and surfaces.

Continue the experiment

This remains an experimental project rather than a single definitive design.

Have fun experimenting—and be patient! I needed more than 20 prototypes before I achieved a satisfactory result.

When you create a better-working version, please share your experience, settings and model. That will help others understand which combinations of geometry, material, surface and starting speed work best.

As always:

❤ If you like my work, please give it a heart.
📷 If you download and print it, please share some pictures and tell us about your experience.
💬 If you have any questions, just ask.