Custom Steel Beyblade
Custom Steel Beyblade
Designed and manufactured a custom steel Beyblade aimed at creating the “ultimate” design by balancing attack power, durability, and spin longevity.
Beyblades are spinning-top systems designed to compete through a balance of attack, defense, and stamina, where performance is governed by mass distribution, rotational inertia, material properties, and impact dynamics.
I set out to design an “ultimate” Beyblade by intentionally breaking the usual trade-offs between attack, defense, and stamina, creating a custom steel/nylon design that excelled in all areas and pushed far beyond the limitations of commercial Beyblades.
The blade is the metal component that directly contacts opposing Beyblades, responsible for transferring spin energy during collisions and influencing attack, defense, and stamina performance. For my custom design, I used stainless steel with a fully symmetrical, rounded geometry to reduce drag and maintain uniform mass distribution. This maximized spin stability, allowed consistent energy transfer on impact, and enhanced overall performance by balancing attack, defense, and stamina characteristics.
The ratchet holds the bit in place and connects securely to the blade. It consists of three components: the spring, spring enclosure, and contact wheel. The spring, made from Nylon 1172Pro (SLS), provides elastic clicking when the tip is inserted, while the spring enclosure, printed in PA12-HP Nylon (MJF), houses the spring and supports the contact wheel. The contact wheel, also PAC-HP Nylon, has projections that interact with other Beyblades during collisions. These material selections were chosen to balance flexibility, strength, and wear resistance, resulting in a ratchet that is secure, durable, and effectively unburstable.
The bit is the tip of the Beyblade that makes contact with the stadium surface, directly affecting spin, movement, and energy transfer. I designed four geometries to explore different performance characteristics. The Wide Defense bit was created twice, once in 8001 resin and once in stainless steel, to compare the effects of surface interaction, durability, and material stiffness on stability during collisions. The Flat bit was made with LEDO 6060 resin to provide smooth, low-friction contact for high-speed spin, and the Semi-Flat bit used 8001 resin to balance durability and controlled friction. Each material and manufacturing method was selected to match the intended geometry’s mechanical demands and surface performance.
Through this project, I gained a better understanding of additive manufacturing processes and how different materials behave under stress and impact. I learned how 3D printing tolerances can influence part fit, assembly, and overall performance. Designing the Beyblade also taught me the importance of rotational mass and how weight distribution influences stability, spin time, and energy transfer. By experimenting with multiple geometries and materials, I was also able to learn more about the tradeoffs for durability and performance.