IMPORTANT
Check back for updates as I revise the files

This is an amazing blooming flower! Turn the gear on the bottom and the flower blooms, exposing the beautiful flower within!

Original purpose for this design was creating something to turn rotational movement into linear movement, using something that could be printed on a Makerbot. Figured the easiest to design was something screw-like, but with overhang restrictions, I was unsure whether a tight screw design would work. And it turns out it does!

DESIGN VERSIONS
There are two different versions.
First version uses glue and filament as the hinges for the petals. Pros to this is the petals are much tighter, and don't wiggle around alot. Con is that it requires more glue.
Second version uses links as the hinges. Pro is that less glue is needed. Cons are that it wiggles alot more, because the links require some give to snap into place. Also, when snapping into the base, the base links have a significant chance of breaking off. I have added supports and fixes to prevent this from happening, but there is still a chance. Extra stl for broken links to glue on in case this happens.

DIFFERENT GEARS
NOTE: Applies only to large flowers
In order to turn the gears, I designed two different gear systems.
First version allows the entire bottom to turn, but is more difficult to get on the base.
Second version is easier to get on, but the gear is slightly more difficult to get to, and could prove more difficult for some people to turn.

FILES
Files are placed in zip files, for easy organization.

Credit where credit is due, flower in center is from:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5883

Internal screw is 1 rotation per 20mm rise.
Design files included.
(I apologize for the messy designs, didn't organize or rename anything in the ipt files :P )

NOTE:
For those who want to design a different center piece without the cap, the rod in the center is 5mm diameter. This way you can design the hole directly into your variation.

UPDATES

UPDATE 7/7/2011:
Edited Version 1-Large Flower-Base updated.
EDITS: Forgot to edit the top ring of the small petals, they were 1mm too wide. Also the main circle of the base is several millimeters too small, causing the small petals to be too close to the center shaft. Sorry to those who have already printed this.

UPDATE 7/8/2011:
Edited version of Gear 1 for Large Flower uploaded.
1 zip with all current STL Files as of 7/8/2011 uploaded.
EDITS: Center shaft is not long enough on Gear 1 bottom (Gear 2 is fine). Really sorry I missed this.(Note it says v1, but it is also for v2)

UPDATE 7/9/2011:
Edited version of large flower petal for v1 uploaded.....hinge was too big....
Re-upload of Large V1 zip with correct STL Files.
Revised version updated.

UPDATE 7/12/2011:
Makerbot out of commission ATM, can't test any of the un-built files, but they should work just fine.

UPDATE 7/22/2011:
Hooray! Got my replacement parts, TOM is back up and running, will start printing some new flowers in the next few days!

If you find any other mistakes, please message me.

Print 4 of each of the links, and 4 each of the petals.
Print 1 of everything else.

Everything is designed to print supportless.
Cool->Slowdown recommended, used 10 sec for ABS and 6 for PLA.

NOTE
COMPLETED 100%: Large V2 and Small V1
DESIGNED BUT NOT PRINTED: Large V1 and Small V2. Small V2 should work, had a few problems with Large V1 and am currently printing to see if changes are correct.

INTERNAL SPINNER NOTE
Internal spinner is designed to be inserted in bottom. Twisting extends it up and down. Catches on both the base and the spinner to prevent it from exiting all the way through the top. There are 3 different ways to insert the spinner through the bottom, 1 is correct.
Make sure the long rod on top is pointed up.
Main body should spin through the hole in the top, if not, its not in the correct screw lines, take it out, turn it slightly so the screw lines match up differently, and try again. Will get it eventually :) .

LARGE FLOWER ASSEMBLY
Insert internal spin into base from bottom.
GEAR 1: Line up bottom with spinner, push all the way through. Take two of the top pieces, slid in from the side, making sure they lock the bottom in place. Glue top to base.
GEAR 2: Line up top with spinner, push all the way through. Take bottom and press against bottom, making sure the top gear is in place. Glue bottom to base.

These should allow the gears to spin freely while keeping it attached to the base. Spinning should move the internal spinner up and down.

VERSION 1:
Cut several pieces of filament, long enough to get through the base and the petals. Slide these through one side of base, then petal, out the other side. Glue filament to base, making sure not to get any glue on petal. This should act as a hinge for the petals to move on. Big petals first, then small.
VERSION 2:
Snap the petals into the base. Big petals, then little petals on top.

Snap the small links onto the small petals, and the big links onto the big petals. Make sure the big links are INSIDE the small petals so they dont get in the way.
Slide the big internal link onto the rod. Hook it up with the links joined to the big petals. Slide the small internal link, the thicker side down, onto the rod. Hook up to links on small petal.
Slide cap down rod, glue in place. Place flower on the cap, and glue in place.

And your done! Breath a sigh of relief.

SMALL FLOWER ASSEMBLY
Exactly the same as the large flower, but you only have one layer of petals to worry about.

ANY PROBLEMS -> ASK QUESTIONS!!!
Happy building!