Rick's Portal Gun - Rick and Morty EARLY ACCESS

This design is intended to be simplified, modular, accessible, and fully customisable.

Simplified

This can be quite an involved project but we’ve done our best to make the barrier for entry as low as possible. The parts are able to be printed on any standard FDM printer with a bed size that can print 220x220x250mm. Print orientation has been optimised, and manual supports are built into the larger parts to get the best prints within those constraints – just drop the models into your slicer, choose your quality settings and get printing! The electronics require only basic soldering skills and tools- assembly uses breadboards, wires and pins with no complex circuitry, but if you feel like channelling your inner Rick you can make them as fancy as you would like!

Modular

This is the base model of the portal gun that resembles the prop from the show. There are two main modules in the portal gun – the LED projector module in the front, and the illuminated quantum transport solution and speaker module in the middle. It can be customised to your liking with different quantum transport solutions (the illuminated dome on top) and different portal projectors. Modules are keyed into mounts in the outer case and fastened using bolts and nut inserts. Stay tuned for exciting new modules slated for release soon!

Accessible

All electronic components in the portal gun have been selected from parts available at [Adafruit](http://adafruit.com/) and/or [Digikey](http://digikey.com/) so that you can order from anywhere in the world and have all the necessary parts arrive in one package. In the same spirit, If you have a preference for other components or vendors then feel free to make substitutions – the 3D models are in STEP format to make modifications easy, the design is sufficiently modular that you will likely only need to modify the modules instead of the whole casing, and the Arduino code can be changed to function with your chosen components

Fully Customisable

Make it your own! Get creative with your quantum transport solution! It really is an illuminated display cloche for any miniature art you can think of. Perhaps you want bootleg portal fluid (or mountain dew) in yours? You could showcase miniatures or a cool geometric resin print, or you’ve got some neat looking crystals you could mount in there that look the part. The front LED projector module is also customisable, with plenty of room for some of the more spectacular portals you can shoot out of this thing (check back for more of these modules releasing soon). And besides the design being editable and modular, the Arduino code is also up for customising! Add your own universe with custom sounds and lighting effects or add some extra tech and functionality to your portal gun. It’s a mad garage scientist’s dream!

Project Requirements

This is an intermediate level maker project, and you will need some basic maker resources available to you. Please also check the Bill of Materials below to make sure you either have or can get the required components before committing to this project. You will require:

-          A FDM printer with at least a 220x220x250mm bed size

-          Black, white, and transparent FDM filaments (see print requirements below)

-          Soldering tools: at least a soldering iron and solder

-          A computer with Arduino IDE installed (see build guide for required libraries and board drivers)

-          A microSD card reader for your computer

-          The basic list of materials from the BOM below

A comprehensive build guide is included in the download, with instructions for printing, wiring, assembly, and installation, as well as links to the Arduino code.

This project is actively being developed so please check back for updated print files, code, documentation, and support for components as well as some exciting new projector modules that we have in the works. If there are any design changes that you feel your fellow makers could benefit from, any universes you would like to visit, or *constructive* criticism please feel free to contact on Cults.

ALL Voxel_Studio designs are protected by Copyright Law. When you purchase, you do NOT have the right to sell any digital file or printed model of my designs without my explicit written consent. Please help support the creative work of 3D designers and NEVER share or sell a digital file.

This is a fan-made model. We do not claim ownership of the original characters or IP.

Resources

Bill of Materials - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQ53y1A6dBZ4qALe5FRmRkvUMr67dCx9e5_3H1uwh4IYr_YzsIvq1NRWfh71SwLVtcFKHL67ekiVwQf/pubhtml?gid=0&single=true

FAQs

Does it shoot portals? - The base model does not shoot portals, but is intended to look like the prop from the show. We will be releasing portal shooting modules soon, so keep and eye out for those

Why Adafruit Feather? - Firstly, accessibility. They can be purchased easily and ship internationally. Secondly, the Feather ecosystem has all the components this project requires including an alphanumeric display that is exactly the size we need, and a speaker system that works seamlessly. The feathers also have a hefty amount of processing power which is great for audio playback, and it all fits within the size constraints of the portal gun

Can I make one without all the fancy components? - Sure, all you should really require is a few green LEDs, a switch, and a battery, and you can print a faux alphanumeric display with black/transparent filament to display, say, C137 permanently. If there is enough demand for this we may upload some files to supplement this

3D Printing Settings:

Manual Supports and No Supports versions included for Portal Gun Base and Portal Gun Cover. Manual Supports are *highly recommended*. No Supports is intended for easy file modification. Manual Supports may leave very minor artefacts on the parts which can easily be removed with a sharp blade. Ensure that you have a bed material with good adhesion, cleaned with warm soapy water especially for the larger prints.

White Prints

These prints are recommended to be printed with your choice of strength printing parameters at 0.2mm layer height, and a gyroid infill for good strength/weight ratio. Best printed with any white filament that is not prone to warping, as there are large flat surfaces. i.e. eSun PLA+ works well

-          Portal Gun Base

-          Portal Gun Cover

-          Quantum Transport Solution Bracket (requires support for 90 degree overhangs)

-          3 x Fresnel Lens Standoff

Black Prints

These prints are ideally printed in black to prevent light bleed from the LEDs, and using strength printing parameters to increase the amount of material to absorb light. Gyroid infill is also preferred here as the pattern has the largest amount of material boundaries to absorb the light.

-          Pilot Light Frame Bottom (requires support for 90 degree overhangs)

-          Pilot Light Frame Top (requires support for 90 degree overhangs)

-          Speaker Bracket

-          Front Faceplate Standard

-          Rotary Encoder Knob

-          3 x Fresnel Lens Retainer

Transparent Prints

Transparent prints can be difficult on FDM printers, but choosing a good transparent filament (like PETG) and ensuring that it is DRY before you print can make all the difference. Choose strength printing parameters and check to make sure there is no infill in your prints. Post processing by brushing on clear resin (such as UV resin can also help with the transparency.

Alternatively, if you have a resin printer you could print these parts using a clear resin. Post processing by brushing on clear resin and curing with UV light helps turn the matte surface clear and glossy.

-          Quantum Transport Solution Diffuser

-          Quantum Transport Solution Dome

-          3 x Fresnel Lens

-          Quantum Transport Solution Sculpture Insert (Optional)

The only component where optical clarity is preferred is the Quantum Transport Solution Dome, the others can also work well with opaque or white filament. If you want perfect clarity for the dome, consider purchasing a 37x80mm glass dome (often called a cloche) from Amazon, Etsy, or AliExpress, links are in the BOM.