Hi all,
Kiddo (9yo) got to play with a friends onewheel at the airport the other day… And Now I’m screwed! He wont shut up about it. So much for a minipro lite (I often use a ninebot S) or hoverboard being good enough 
I took one look at the price of a OW - and, yeah - that’s not in my budget.
He found thedigits 3d printed one wheel from a hoverboard. We have multiple printers, I think I’m going to send him down that path - while I build something a little more fun.
Don’t think he’ll be happy longterm with that printed hoverboard hack. But might be a fun project for him to actually complete.
So, one of my concerns with the OW - was it’s definitely got way too much power available to him. Started looking at the funwheel / floatwheel. They look easy enough.
But I’ve got all this excess carbon twill and west systems epoxy lying around from the side hustle. Most of the work I do is pretty boring flat surfaces. I wouldn’t mind learning some new skills, and I’ve got a bunch of time to design / work out all the hardpoints and details - because everything’s getting packed up for a move.
Started with a bunch of bits and pieces I found STLs for, side rails based on the other projects. Kept angles and most dimensions off the original. It doesn’t look like it - but the front/rear still maintain that overall angle - just mine swoops up / tapers - so there will be a longer contact patch when it’s actually on the ground (more surface area)
One of the guys on the floatwheel discord said - looks like what batman would ride 
I can work with this! Kiddo won’t object (he is more into spiderman now but…)
Got a little swoopy for reasons; Thinking of doing the upper shell as basically a full monocoque chassis. Dropped the sides there beneath where we expect the feet will be, bit more room for batteries + longer. Concave foot pads - somewhat like like the 3d carved wood / printed ones, but opens that space beneath. Intention is add some hardpoints; then probably print boxes to fit beneath.
As usual with carbon - structurally, it’s easy - it’s more the banging around the house/yard/on the road that’ll cause issues - by the time you’re strong enough to handle road rash you’re way past structural needs (napkin math said 300lb rider, 12g hits on the wheel and I still had a 3-4x FOS). Going to use a bit of foam core in the side rails, makes for easy closeout/finish + hardpoints + channel for wiring
Pondering the main wheel hardpoints - I’m probably overthinking it, first plan was a 1/2" thick aluminum puck (i’ll just cnc it out on the 3018). But galvanic corrosion is on my mind for some reason, trying to decide if just a layer of fiberglass/kevlar between carbon and aluminum is enough. Usually I use phenolic - but it’s ‘rated’ to 150c - but that’s not really active loads; same with UHMW…
And I’d really like to think up a nice underside vertical hardpoint scenario.
Still debating options on controller / motor&wheel / batteries. Kiddo’s a speed demon, wouldn’t mind if I built this so it could grow in speed as his skills improve.
Thanks for having me and reading my ramble!
