custom rc car gearbox

3rd generation RC car Chassis DESTINY

3Dprinted RC car BUILD POST (DESTINY v.X.3)

Post date:

How to build our new Chassis DESTINY a 3Dprinted RC car Chassis?

The whole design is made for scale 1/10. This is our third 3rd generation self-developed Chassis.

From here on in, each upgrade will be available for all of our cars.  This means there will always be one up top super massive chassis for a car Body Kit with the latest developments and even more…

You can build a Chassis for any bodies (which only you have, we don’t) with Custom DESTINY.

New File Accessibility

There is only one Compressed file you need to download and you will have access to all Chassis variations, to all of our Body Kits and Custom DESTINY.

Here are the most important Changes/Upgrades

ANY WHEELBASE ANY Front and Rear track 3Dpirinted chassis by Model FACTORY

VARYING” parts (orange ones)

In the new downloadable WHOLE file package you will get main folders in which there are Constant/Base and so called “Varying” parts. With these changeable parts you are able to set any width and any desired length to the chassis.

Clicking on above button there is information about the latest features added!

The “Varying” parts:

The Wheelbase is adjusted by the Connecting part. Front and Rear Track are set/adjusted by all the others.

  • Varying parts listed from left:
    1. Wheelnuts Rear Tamiya: Base-0mm/+1mm/+2mm/+3mm/+4mm
    2. Wheelnuts Rear 3Dprinted: Base-0mm/+1mm/+2mm/+3mm/+4mm
      • You have to choose which one to use: 1. or 2.
    3. DogBones: for the Rear Track in 7 sizes
    4. Rear Rocking Arms: for the Rear Track in 7 sizes
    5. Connecting Part: in 66 sizes (235mm-300mm Wheelbase)
    6. Steering Sides: in 7 sizes, 3 different versions for ball heads 4/4.8/5mm
    7. Front Rocking Arms: for the Front Track in 7 sizes
    8. Wheelnuts Front: Base 0mm/+1mm/+2mm/+3mm/+4mm
      Here the Wheelnut is also the front shaft.
    9. M3 Threaded Rods for Front and Rear Turnbuckles length set by You! Not on the picture.

Let’s take an example. You want to build a chassis having a Front or Rear track of 177mm. You need a Rocking Arm part 175mm and a Wheelnut +2mm.

All other parts (not the orange ones) will always be the same for all chassis versions!

Posts showing You with what parts to build DESTINY for our Body Kits:

All of the fixing M2 screws changed to M3 ones.

The M2 screws were too tiny and weak. With the M3 ones the chassis is more stable and robust. The assembly time is being reduced thanks to one type of screw being used mostly everywhere.

rc car screw with m3 screw

Two exceptions had to be made where we had to use different sized Screws/Rods. One is in the middle at the Body Mounting part which has M4 threaded rods. We needed to have these one size bigger, because this section of the chassis takes up a lot of stress during “gaming” and has to withstand enormous forces.

The second exception is the DogBone. We used cut M2 screws for one of the most vulnerable section of this vital part. Some other kind of little metal material can also be used, like a nail.

3Dprinted DogBone with M2 rod

3d printed rc car dogbone
cut M2 screws (blue) used in DogBone

I really don’t know why we didn’t start with a 3Dprinted version at the very beginning.
“Why oh Why Mr. Anderson !?”
The engineer brother really did not have enough faith in printing this item. He feared would break after 10 meters the RC car made. Well, by now we have tested this multiple times and so far so good!

One thing is sure though, we highly recommend this to print with 100% infill! It will warp a little, but becomes as strong as it gets. The length of the cut M2 rod is 13mm.

Printed connectors to the Ballheads are now available in three different sizes

3d printed rc car ballhead connector

In DESTINY we are using 8 Ballheads. At the turnbuckles(4 pcs) and at the steering (4 pcs).

Single Ball_joint_M3-for-3dprinted-rc-car-chassis

As it came to our senses, we realized that the three most common Ballheads in a 1/10 scale RC system are the 4mm/4,8mm/5mm. Now you have flexibility, if only one of the below ballhead pieces are available to obtain in your area. You choose which one to use! Just make sure the thread on it is M3.

Magnets fixing the body to the chassis 

Magnets-rc-body-kit-mounting-system-fixing to-the-rc-chassis-DESTINY

The mounting system has also been improved slightly since the last design. This solution quite works, so onward we will be fixing the rc body kit to the chassis with magnets (grey in the section views). The orange parts are glued to the rc car’s bodyshell.

Magnet Size: 8mm diameter, width 4 mm
All together 8pcs will be needed, 4 pieces at the frontal mounting and 4 in the middle. In the middle section there also the possibility to fix the body to the chassis with screws.

New Front Wheel Section

Rc-car-chassis-front-shaft-sectionview

The new bearing is the same which is in use at the differential. Size: 10x15x4 mm.  

The bearings are the two brown parts on the upcoming picture. The printed yellow shaft which is screwed together with a printed cap and the rim wheel holds the bearings. The red assembled printed part can rotate with the two M3x6m screw “axis”. 

The turnbuckle (head attached with the orange ballcup) is changeable in length thanks to the rc car chassis specific grey M3 threaded rod.

The ballconnector head (on orange ballcup) comes in three different sizes just as the steering system sides: 4mm/4,8mm/5mm.

Rear bearing with two alternatives

Rear_shafts_alternatives-for-3Dprinted-rc-car-chassis-DESTINY

The big bearing (10x15x4mm) is also available at the rear axle with printed parts (left side on next pic). We fixed the rim to the 3Dprinted shaft (light red) with M3x12 screw (blue). The yellow is the wheel adapter or wheelnut (hexagon).

If you choose the bigger bearing with 3Dprinted shaft you will stick to the one bearing being used through out the whole chassis building/assembly. When not applying the Tamiya wheel axle means another cost cut for you, around 10 bucks! But, of course it is still available to the chassis to be built with it!

“Ebay” Differential Inlet Shaft with 10x15x4 Bearings instead of 5x11x5

Two bearing options at differential 5X11X5 or 10X15X4 mfactory rc chassis DESTINY

Changing this was because of the idea to make it possible to use only one type of bearing throughout the whole Rc car Chassis. This is why we created this new design. The yellow and the turquoise blue part are 3Dprinted, the two brown are the bearings.
For this variation there is also a new housing that holds this.

This bigger bearing will also be in use if you 3Dprint the whole Bevel Gear Set. Upcoming headline below.

3Dprinted Bevel Gears

Rc chassis printed bevel gear section with parts
Rc Chassis printed Bevel Gear section with parts

3DPrint it in order to spare another 10 dollars from ebay! But you’ll not have a differential! This option is providing a simple direct drive bevel gear set, if you decide to incorporate.  Anyway, the number of teeth, the gear ratio and the size is the same.

In this case all the 4 bearings (brown on the picture) are the same size: 10x15x4 mm

Assembly steps:

  • Place Bearings (brown) into both sides of the Housing (green).
  • Put the Dogbone holder (nut version – butter white) into the bearing, then pull on the Driven Gear (red).
  • Place the two Bearings on the Drive Gear (pink), after that you can screw it with the Clutch (turquoise blue) with an M3x25.
  • Place the Drive Gear (pink) on the Driven Gear (red) inside the housing. After that, fix the two sides of the housing together.
  • Click in the other Dogbone holder (bolt head version – yellow).
  • Screw the Driven Gear (red) the two Dogbone holders together with an M3x25.
  • Lastly, screw the housing together with four M3x10s.

Three different sizes of Rear Shock Absorber brackets. New Receiver and Controller Brackets.

rc chassis Rear suspension holder motor and receiver containers
  1. Motor controller bracket, 2. Receiver bracket, 3. Rear shock absorber holder.

We designed those two brackets for the receiver and the controller. Attention! It will only work for the exact same type of devices. Check the sizes before printing if it’ll be good for you! Receiver bracket is 20x12mm. The Controller bracket is 30x36mm.

The Rear Shock Absorber bracket now is coming in three different sizes! The height of the fixing arch is changing for Rear Suspension hole to hole distance: 50mm/55mm/60mm. We did this in order to help You out, if you cannot find one kind of suspension in any shops near you. Now, there are two more options for you to build this chassis with. For the frontal suspension you will only need the spring. The spring holder both up and down are 3D prints so you can have the shortest Hole to Hole distance. This means any sports car which hood is extremely low can be built.

There is an important decision for YOU to make!

Buy or not Buy?

Obtaining More Parts
(Making Destiny with Factory pieces)

Forcing Low Cost
(3Dprinting as much as possible)

  • Motor
  • Motor controller
  • Pistol Grip Transmitter with Receiver
  • Servo
  • Ballhead
  • Bearings 10x15x4
  • Suspension
  • Differential
  • Differential Inlet Gear
  • Tires
  • OPTIONALS:
    • Flange Lock Nut M4
    • Tamiya Wheel Axle 2pcs
    • 5x11x5 Bearing
  • Motor
  • Motor controller
  • Pistol Grip Transmitter with Receiver
  • Servo
  • Ballhead
  • Bearings 10x15x4
  • Suspension
  • Tires

Bill of Materials /DESTINY

Threaded rods:
M4    2 pieces    ~47mm long *car chassis specific
M3    2 pieces    ~15mm long *car chassis specific (Rear Turn Buckle)
M3    2 pieces    ~11mm long *car chassis specific (Front Turn Buckle)

Magnets:
D8x4     8 pieces

M3 ball joint         8 pieces

Bearings:
5x11x5       (6 pieces OPTIONAL (Tamiya Rear Axle and Bevel Inlet Gear Bearing))
10x15x4     12 pieces (8pcs for the wheels and 4pcs for the differential)

Screws and nuts:
M3x6                    4 pieces
M3x8                    6 pieces Servo arm (2pcs), Gearbox housing fix (4pcs)
M3x10                   52 pieces most common
M3x20                   19 pieces
M3x25                   2 pieces        + 2x M3 nuts (3Dprinted Bevel Gears)
M3x30                   6 pieces        + 4x M3 nuts (Rocking Arms + Connecting Part)
M3x40                   3 pieces        + 2x M3 nuts (Rear Frame Fix)
M3x50                   2 pieces        + 2x M3 nuts (Connceting Part)
M3 nut                  30 pieces

STL files archived with WinRAR

3D printing settings we used

3D Printer: Creality Ender 3 V2 NEO, Zortrax M200 plus
Technology: FDM
Used material: ABS filament
Slicer program: Zortrax Z-SUITE, Prusaslicer

Settings:
Infill: 20%
Recomended layer height: 0.19 mm
Support was set automatically by the program

Got a question about building Know-How?
Ask us on Facebook!

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NEEDED Parts

Motor 540

  7.2 – 12 V , 20.000 rpm

Servo

model factory

 Feetech FS5103B
get it on ebay

Ball cups for steering

ball joint m3 for 3dprinted rc car chassis

4.8 mm ballhead with M3 thread. Tamiya 50592

10x15x4 bearing

12 pcs 8 for the wheels and 4 in to the differential

Suspension

shock absorber

Hole to hole distance: 60mm

Wheels

RC car wheels

Fastrax scale 1:10 Tyre diameter is: 65 mm Product number: FAST0078GM
Get it on ebay

Magnets

8 pcs D8x4mm

Battery

battery or RC Chassis

We use LI-PO 102x35x20mm (LxWxH) 2200mAh

Motor Controller

60A

Pistol Grip Transmitter with Receiver

Transmitter and receiver for Rc car chassis

6 channel

OPTIONAL Parts

Differential

HSP 94103

Bewel gear inlet

this is the inlet gear to the differential

5x11x5 bearing

Alternative Bearing for gearbox-2pcs and for the rear wheelaxle 4 pcs when tamiya 50823 is used get it on ebay

Flange lock nut

mfactory33.com

Tamiya: 53024

TG10 Wheel Axle 2 pcs

set for 3D printed RC car

Tamiya: 50823

Metal Clutch

get it on ebay

Ball cups for steering

ball joint m3 for 3dprinted rc car chassis

4.8 mm ballhead with M3 thread. Tamiya 50592

Most Used TOOLS

Scalpel&Allenkeys&RASPs

Scalpel for removing print support. Keys for screws. Every kind of Rasps to get the surface smooth and even.

Most Used Parts for Assembly

Super glue

Both Gel and Liquid ones. Use GEL when putting parts together. When it holds use LIQUID on the surface.

Super glue for assembly

Glue Gun

It’s adhesive sets very quickly. We used it only inside the body kit, because on the surface leaves nasty traces.

mfactory33.com

Full Assembly Video

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20 responses to “3rd generation RC car Chassis DESTINY”

  1. Hello! I’m very interested in printing out this chassis and giving it a try. When will it be ready for downloading? Looks really great!

    1. Hi JK!

      Today is the day! I am making the finishing touches. Hopefully, in the afternoon will be set good to go!

      1. FANTASTIC! I just downloaded all the files and am going to begin purchasing the hardware. I already have a body printed that I was hoping to use (1/8 scale Volvo 145 wagon).. would it be possible to generate the parts to increase the Wheelbase to 330mm?

        1. Hey,
          300mm is the maximum as for the wheelbase. The whole chassis is designed for 1/10 cars. I suggest you print it in 1/10 scale.
          In blender of course you can try some modifications be as creative as possible, but unfortunately we cannot help.
          We are working on the next short film and the chassis assembly video! Peace OUT! Happy building!

  2. Any chance you’re putting together an assembly guide? looking at all the pieces i feel like ill put something on backwards.

    1. Hi Dalton!

      I am working on the chassis assembly video, which will be around 45mins. It’ll include everything!
      Unfortunately, I cannot tell you when it will be ready 🙁

      1. Awesome! in the meantime ill just work on getting all the pieces printed and ready

  3. Hyun Chul Bae Avatar

    Hi, It’s very awesome that I can customize the width and the wheelbase!

    I want to make 1/18 cars with about 125mm width.

    Would it be possible to 125mm width chassis by adjusting provided STL files?

    1. Hi Hyun,

      Well, it is certainly smaller so in theory you can, but the design is still optimal for 1/10th cars. You can try and “LEGO” your way out, but even the wheel holding pieces should be monstrous to your 1/18 project, or whatever… Good luck! 🙂

  4. Made the Chassis and I have to confess it is a work of art. Congratulations guys. Had to make a couple of mods to handle my stock battery and controllers but nothing that interfered with the chassis construction
    Just working on the body now.

    1. Thanks Derek!
      It is far from being perfect as you can read it in the forum when we put a stronger motor in it. (so hence the journey together 🙂 The chassis right now is kind of designed around to this motor we’ve been using. We’d like bigger, better and then still be very sturdy… Please feel free to post your changes/inventions ideas to the thread
      Let’s get this thing even more cool together! 🙂

  5. I can’t get all the partd i need💔

  6. I can’t download – says network error 🙁 I need 258mm WB to complete it…

    1. I am sending it to you via WETRANSFER

  7. thank you so much…. great work, you think it can be done with petg?

    1. Hey Fabio

      It is more flexible than ABS. We printed some parts with PLA, we never tried PETG. If you can allow yourself some testing (to see if it works or not) go ahead!

  8. Hello, can you make a printing guide because it is vary confusing to me which parts to print. Thank You

  9. Links to buy the parts would be awesome, I get a lil lost when trying to find all the parts needed or sometimes I don’t know what I’m looking for.

    1. There were links but they most propably not working anymore. We try to get them back up as soon as we can

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