3D LabPrint Piper J-3 Cub User manual

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Fully 3d printable
Piper J-3 Cub
User Guide
rev. 2 22/ 5

Piper J-3 Cub
fully printable R/C plane for your desktop 3Dprinter
Fully 3D printable RC model of the classic plane, specially designed as a cheap and easy to
build SuperStable RC model for everyday flying. Many scale details such as airframe plating
encourages to create realistic paint jobs. This plane has been designed for printing from
PolyLight 1. LW-PLA active foaming filament, that allow even the small printed planes to be
as light as any other RC plane building technique. Get ready for flying with this great per-
forming flying legend!
The first fully printable airplane files prepared for your 3Dprinter, with flight char-
acteristics, comparable or even supperior to classic build model airplane.
This is not a dream, now you can print this HI-TECH at home. Simply download and print the
whole plane or spare parts anytime you need just for a cost of filament only about $1 .
Extensive hi-tech 3d structural reinforcement making the model very
rigid while maintaining a lightweight airframe and exact airfoil even it’s just a plastic. This per-
fect and exact 3d structure is possible only thanks to additive 3dprinting technology. So wel-
come to the 21st century of model flying and be the first at your airfield.
Easy to assembly, you don’t need any extra tools or hardware, just glue printed parts
together and make pushrods for control surfaces. The rest of the assembly is very easy. Sim-
ply add brushless motor, ESC, servos and radio system. Don’t worry, detailed step by step
PDF/VIDEO is included. You’ll get a superb performing airplane with highly ecient power-
plant capable of flying 7+ minutes at full throttle and speeds exceeding 8 kph. Low stall
speed is achieved for easy landing on the other hand.
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General specifications:
Wingspan: 1 68 mm / 42. inch
Lenght: 675 mm / 26.6 inch
Height: 31 mm / 12.2 inch
Wing area: 18,15 dm2 / 1.94 square feet
Wing loading: 31 g/dm2 / 15.3 oz/square feet
Center of gravity: 44 mm / 1.73 inch from leading edge
Airfoil: LHK12 modified by 3DLabPrint
Print weight (LW PLA): 224 g / 7.9 oz
Empty weight (w/o battery): 38 g / 13.4 oz
Takeo weight (3s 13 lipo): 5 g / 17.63 oz
Max takeo weight: 7 g / 24.7 oz
Never exceed speed, VNE: 7 km/h / 5 mph
Design maneuvering speed, VA: 5 km/h / 31 mph
Stall speed, VS: 15 km/h / 9.4 mph
Recommended setup
Motor: Leopard LC283 98 KV (for 3S setup)
ESC: Turnigy 2 A / 3S or similar
Propeller: two blade GWS 8 x 4 (ugly orange)
Battery: LiPol 13 mAh / 3s
printed PET motor mount
Performance measurement
Max speed VH (level flight): 1 5 km/h – 56.7kn – 65.2mph with GWS 9x7,5
Rate of climb: 2 m/s (5 373 ft/min) with GWS 9x7,5
Flight time (3s 13 mAh/full): 7:3 with GWS 8x4

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Piper J-3 Cub
OThe Piper J-3 Cub is an American light aircraft that was built between 1938 and 1947 by
Piper Aircraft. The aircraft has a simple, lightweight design which gives it good low-speed
handling properties and short-field performance. The Cub is Piper Aircraft‘s most-produced
model, with nearly 2 , built in the United States. Its simplicity, aordability and popularity
invokes comparisons to the Ford Model T automobile.
The aircraft is a high-wing, strut-braced monoplane with a large-area rectangular wing. It is
most often powered by an air-cooled, flat-4 piston engine driving a fixed-pitch propeller. Its
fuselage is a welded steel frame covered in fabric, seating two people in tandem.
The Cub was designed as a trainer. It had great popularity in this role and as a general aviation
aircraft. Due to its performance, it was well suited for a variety of military uses such as
reconnaissance, liaison and ground control. It was produced in large numbers during World
War II as the L-4 Grasshopper. Many Cubs are still flying today. Cubs are highly prized as bush
aircraft.

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Included:
1. 3MF 3D files (primary)
Used instead of STL files
3mf files can be used instead of standard STL files, but also include information about slicing
in the new version of Prusa Slicer (since version 2.4). Open them directly in the Prusa Slicer
as a project or import to the slicer of your choice. The files contain settings for printing on a
direct drive printer with dimensions 2 x2 x2 mm, that can be further adapted to suit
your printer. The generic settings are compatible with Prusa MK2/3/3S printers.
2. Factory files for Simplify3D slicer
contains all the necessary settings to slice the models along with suggested bed layout. We‘re
using PRUSA i3 ORIGINAL printers so you may need to adjust the basic printing parameters
to match your printer or use these files as a start point for you.
3. Printing Guide in our Help Section
Apart from this userguide, please see the Printing Guide for PrusaSlicer,Simplify3D or Cura
to find some Tips and Advice for airplane printing (Thin Wall Printing).Remember: We use
retraction and .4- .5 flow with LW-PLA.
4. Gcodes
Basic Gcodes prepared for direct use, as universal as possible. Should work on i3 style
printers, Give it a try, but we can‘t guarantee it will work on your printer. Wall thickness
should be .55- .67mm.

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5. Scale markings PDF
You could print and cut the PDF in scale from thin self adhesive advertisement foil and place
it on the model as needed.

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Wing area: 18,15 dm2 / 1.94 square feet
Piper J-3 Cub
Center of Gravity
44 mm
Wingspan: 1 68 mm / 42. inch

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Lenght: 675 mm / 26.6 inch

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Step By Step PDF/VIDEO userguide
1.Choose airplane at www.3Dlabprint.com, visit our Facebook for latest info.
Basic requirments for A6M2 Zero are 2 /2 /195 mm
volume, nozzle .4mm recommended ( .35 or .5mm
alternativelly). Heated bed recommended. Designed to be
printed with Polylight LW-PLA filament by 3DLabPrint.
Contact: [email protected]
2. Create account, download
You will receive download link to all the zipped files to your
email right after the checkout (please check your spam folder
if not). If you are logged in with your account while purchasing
the model, you will find the download link in your account’s
Downloads section on our website. Please contact
[email protected] if you have trouble getting the files.
3. Prepare Gcodes
option A Gcodes:
if your printer is i3 comptatible you can use prepared gcodes directly. Just save them to the
SD card and let the 3d printer do it‘s job. HE temperature is set to 24 °C so the layers fuse
together well, you can adjust speed and temperature only through your printer‘s LCD. If these
Gcodes does not work for you, please proceed to the next options.

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option B Factory files Simplify3D:
We prepared all you need in these files (FFF process settings, parts layout on bed, etc...)
You can use these settings as a start point. Adjust according to your need (adapt for your
printer), print single parts and so on... Most 3d printers should work just with these settings,
but please go through the settings and amend if necessary, we are not liable for any damage
resulting from using our settings. If this still does not work for you, please proceed to the
next option.
option C Prusa Slicer 3mf files (recommended)
Please follow the guide in the Help section of our website about Prusa Slicer setup.
Drag and drop the 3mf file to the Prusa Slicer window and open it as a Project. It will create
a Generic 3DLabPrint printer, printing profile and materials. Please use these as a starting
point instead of your printer profiles provided by your printer manufacturer. Strong thin-
wall printing is a dierent discipline than printing Benchys what are the stock profiles usu-
ally optimized for. Once you tweak your profiles (retractions, etc.) you can easily switch the
profile everytime you open the 3mf file. All the slicing tweaks, such as added top/bottom
layers etc. are stored in the models below, so it won’t be overwritten.
Remember: We are using .5 multiplier and retraction with LW-PLA.
3MF

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option D CURA or MatterControl
MatterControl and CURA are free and provide satisfactory results. The airframe is still strong
enough, but don‘t expect the best quality. Both slicers lacks some very useful features, and
finer settings, like multiple processes according to Z height, retraction options, layer start,
etc.
Please try to find the best extrusion multiplier and temperature for good weight and best
possible layer bonding. Look at parts weight list for proper multiplier settings.
As a starting point you can use our predefined CURA or MC slicer setting file - see below
(always adapt it for your printer, change build volume, filament diameter, etc...
according to your printer!!!)
Please check our CURA guide on the website for the latest basic profile. Please visualise our
presliced gcodes to see how the result should look like and try to achieve the same in your
slicer. Remember: We are using .5 extrusion multiplier and retraction with LW-PLA.

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4. Print it
Save the Gcodes to the SD card and insert into your printer. Prepare your printer and start
printing, we prefer to use SD card rather than direct USB connection. Scaling the model will
lead to unusable result!
you will need: LW-PLA filament - (Polylight LW-PLA)
3DLac, Strong hair spray, PEI or your favorite adhesive bed surface
Razor blade
AND... please watch our VideoGuides:
Basic Tips and Advice
While stadard PLA filament could be used, this plane has been designed to be printed from
foaming LW-PLA that means about 5 % weight reduction on printed parts.
Please Experiment with temperature and extrusion multiplier ( .55- .67mm Wall thickness).
Hotend temperature is very important (22 ° up to 26 ° celsius). The temperature determines,
how much the LW-PLA foams while printing. Cranking up temperature means, you can go
lower on multiplier as the material will gain on volume. Turn OFF cooling fan for better layer
adhesion (HE fan should be ON). We dont need it for thin wall printing. Heated bed is very
recommended, 55-6 ° Celsius (to prevent warping ends).
Price of the LW-PLA may look a bit steep at first glance, but since we’re using 5 % less
material thanks to the foaming feature, the cost dierence is not so high as it looks.
Please see the Printing Guide (Help Section)

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How to print PolyLight LW-PLA?
The basic print setup is almost the same as we use for standard
PLA. The only dierence is in extrusion multiplier set to .5 and
turning o the retractions completely.
This results in parts with half the weight and still suitable
mechanical properties, this model is designed mainly in VASE
mode, even that expect some stringing inside and outside in
some inpossible spots. Of course you can try to tweak the
retractions for less stringing inside the parts, but there‘s a high
risk of clogging the nozzle or throat. Increasing the retraction
distance above 1 mm is not recommended at all and leads to
nozzle clogs caused by foaming. Cleaning the hairy, but
functional parts after printing with retractions completely
disabled seems to be more ecient method. The nozzle is
permanently pressurized and you don‘t need to worry about
print failures. This method works fine even for bowden
printers.
Extrusion multiplier ,5 has been tested for easy print with
massive weight saving around 5 %. Feel free to experiment
with extrusion multiplier and temperatures at will for the best
results on your printer. This airplane is designed for 0.55 -
0.67mm Wall thickness.
Cosmetic issues of the prints are easily fixed with snap knife or
sand paper, as the LW is easily sanded and cut.

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3DLabPrint Piper J-3 CUB weights (LW-PLA)
fuselage
F1 26,2 g ,92 oz
F2 24,4 g ,86 oz
F3 13,9 g ,49 oz
F4 1 g ,35 oz
fuselage cover 1 1,8 g , 6 oz
fuselage cover 2 5,3 g ,19 oz
fuselage cover lock ,5 g , 2 oz
engine valves (pair) 12,2 g ,43 oz
wings
wing CENTRE 12,3 g ,46 oz
wing L1 18,2 g ,64 oz
wing L2 18,4 g ,65 oz
wing L3 12,7 g ,45 oz
wing L4 4,8 g ,17 oz
wing R1 18,2 g ,64 oz
wing R2 18,4 g ,65 oz
wing R3 12,7 g ,45 oz
wing R4 4,8 g ,17 oz
aileron L1 2,9 g ,1 oz
aileron L2 2,9 g ,1 oz
aileron L3 3,6 g ,13 oz
aileron R1 2,9 g ,1 oz
aileron R2 2,9 g ,1 oz
aileron R3 3,6 g ,13 oz
tail
horizontal stabiliser L1 2,5 g , 9 oz
horizontal stabiliser L2 2,5 g , 9 oz
horizontal stabiliser R1 2,5 g , 9 oz
horizontal stabiliser R2 2,5 g , 9 oz
elevator L1 2,1 g , 7 oz
elevator L2 1 g , 4 oz
elevator L3 ,9 g , 3 oz
elevator R1A ,5 g , 2 oz
elevator R1B 1,8 g , 6 oz
elevator R2 1 g , 4 oz
elevator R3 ,9 g , 3 oz
rudder 1 ,5 g , 2 oz
rudder 2 ,5 g , 2 oz
rudder 3 1 g , 4 oz
rudder 4 1,2 g , 4 oz
elevator junction 1,4 g , 5 oz
gear
gear main legs 23 g ,81 oz
gear disc (pair) 7,6 g ,27 oz
gear tyre (pair) FLEX 11,6 g ,41 oz
tail wheel disc ,4 g , 1 oz
tail wheel tyre FLEX ,4 g , 1 oz
accessories
motor mount 5,1 g ,18 oz
battery holder 2,2 g , 8 oz
cooler & exhausts 3 g ,11 oz
rubber band holders 3 g ,11 oz
printed weight 3 8 g 1 ,87 oz
oats
float L1 23 g ,81 oz
float L2 7,6 g ,27 oz
float L3 11,6 g ,41 oz
float L4 5,4 g ,19 oz
float R1 23 g ,81 oz
float R2 7,6 g ,27 oz
float R3 11,6 g ,41 oz
float R4 5,4 g ,19 oz
tail rudder fin 1,7 g , 6 oz
front float holder 13,1 g ,46 oz
back float holder 13,1 g ,46 oz
printed weight
with floats 421 g 14,86 oz

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5. Assembly of printed parts
5.1 Wing assembly Piper J-3 Cub
Glue wing parts wing CENTRE and L1-L4 together. The new 3DLabPrint lock system will help
you. Repeat for the right side. Glue both halves of the wing together. Use the CA glue,
(position locks and wing pins will help you to align the parts), and use activator to speed up
the glue curing. Press in and glue a piece of PolyAir, PLA, PETG or 1.5 mm carbon rod into the
top and bottom openning to create a wing spar and improve the rigidity of the wing.
On a flat surface glue the ailerons L1-L3 and repeat for the right side. Use a filament or
suitable ,8mm - 1,5mm carbon rod as a hinge for the ailerons. Just slide it in, there‘s no need
to glue the hinge for easy aileron or servo replacement. Wall thickness should be .55- .67
Video guide Piper J-3 Cub wing assembly
you will need: CA Glue - medium +Activator for CA Glue
PolyAir or PLA filament (alt. carbon, fiberglass, Al or steel wire)
Snap knife, SandPaper Some cloth for wiping CA glue...
wing L1
18,2g/ .64oz LW
wing CENTRE
12,3g/ .46oz LW
wing L2
18,4g/ .65oz LW
wing L3
12,7g/ .45oz LW
aileron L1
2,9g/ .1 oz LW aileron L2
2,9g/ .1 oz LW
aileron L3
3,6g/ .13oz LW
R wing
completed
wing L4
4,8g/ .17oz LW

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F1
26,2g/ .92oz LW
F2
24,4g/ .86oz LW
F3
13,9g/ .49oz LW
F4
1 g/ .45oz LW
ball pen spring
motor mount
5,1g/ .18oz PET
rubber band holders
3, g/ .11oz PET
engine valves
12,2g/ .43oz PLA
cooler & exhausts
3, g/ .11oz PLA
cover 1
1,8g/ . 6oz LW
cover lock
,5g/ . 2oz LW
cover 2
5,3g/ .19oz LW
5.2.1 Fuselage assembly Piper J-3 Cub
You can use snap knife for cleaning the surface of printed parts, but mostly it is not necessary.
Glue fuselage parts F1-F4 with CA glue together. The new 3DLabPrint lock system will help
you. Check the alignment of F4 part compared to the wing before glueing. Do not glue
rudder part before tail and elevator assembly. Use any hot tool to remove the unnecessary
material from F4 tail part for the elevator arm.
Insert printed rods making a rubber band wing holders. No need to glue it for easy
replacement. Wall thickness should be .55- .67.
For fuselage cover arm use a ball pen spring. Put it to the part 2 and glue with part 1 together.
See video guide Piper J-3 Cub fusselage assembly
you will need: CA Glue - medium +Activator for CA Glue
Snap knife, SandPaper Some cloth for wiping CA glue...
BallPen Spring

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5.2.2 Tail assembly Piper J-3 Cub
Glue L1 and L2 parts of the stabilizer and elevator. The profile is symmetric, so the left and
right sides are identical. Glue the stabilizers perfectly perpendicular to the fuselage. Assemble
both sides of the elevator with the elevator arm on a flat surface. Make a Z bend on the
elevator and rudder ,5 mm pushrod wire. Mount the elevator assembly to the stabilizer
using the piece of PET filament. Elevator should move freely controlled by the pushrod and
servo. Glue rudder part together and mount to the fuselage by piece of PET filament. Check
the functionality of the elevator and rudder assembly carefully.
See video guide Piper J-3 Cub tail assembly
you will need: CA Glue - medium +Activator for CA Glue
Snap knife, SandPaper Some cloth for wiping CA glue...
2x ,5 mm steel wire for pushrods
stabiliser L1
2,5g/ . 9oz LW
elevator L1
2,1g/ . 7oz LW
elevator R
1A, 1B, 2, 3
stabiliser R
complete
elevator L2
1, g/ . 4oz LW
elevator L3
,9g/ . 3oz LW
elevator arm
normal PLA!
1,4g/ . 5oz
elevator arm – normal PLA!
Tip: After gluing, the elevator coupling is smoothed into a perfect shape using a drill and sandpaper.
stabiliser L2
2,5g/ . 9oz LW
rudder 1
,5g/ . 2oz LW
rudder 3
1, g/ . 4oz LW
rudder2
,5g/ . 2oz LW
rudder 4
1,2g/ . 4oz LW

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5.2.3 Landing gear assembly Piper J-3 Cub
Put gear tyres on the rims. Insert one nut into the printed chassis and use the other nut on
the wheel axle as a counter-nut. Adjust the tightening of the bolt and the counternut so that
the wheel turns freely. Tie the centre of the chassis legs together with an oce rubber band.
Tie the center of the chassis legs together with an oce rubber band. Use the remaining
1mm wire to shape the rear chassis to your taste. Secure the rear wheel against sliding out
with a small washer and cover with glue or crimp the small brass servo bushing with pliers.
Weave the entire rear wire into the rudder and bend towards the rear. Check the functionality
of the landing gear assembly carefully.
See video guide Piper J-3 Cub landing gear assembly
you will need: 2x M3 x 28-3 mm screws for main wheel axle
4x M3 nuts + washers
Small piece of 1.5 mm steel wire for tail drag wheel axle
4x Self-tapping screw 3x1 mm
oce rubber band
gear tyre (pair)
11,6g/ .41oz FLEX
tail wheel tyre
,4g/ . 1oz FLEX
main gear disc (pair)
7,6g/ .27oz PLA
tail wheel disc
,4g/ . 1oz PLA
main gear legs
23g/ .81oz PET
tail drag wheel axle
1,5 mm steel wire
M4 nut inside

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5.2.4 Floats assembly Piper J-3 Cub (experimental)
Glue the float parts 1 - 4 together for both sides. Paint the float well for perfect
watertightness. The float attachment is marked with an arrow in the direction of flight to
avoid confusion. Secure the entire main float to the hull with four screws.
The rudder tail fin is used to guide the direction of the aircraft on the water. Glue it to a 1.5 -
1.75 mm thick carbon rod. Glue the whole assembly into the rudder. The rear rudder
extension has been experimentally determined to be xx mm and will be fine-tuned according
to experience with flying on the water.
you will need: 2 mm of carbon rod 1,5 - 1,75 mm
4x Self-tapping screw
back float holder
13,1g/ .46oz PET front float holder
13,1g/ .46oz PET
float R1
23g/ .81oz
8 mm
float R4
5,4g/ .19oz
float R3
11,6g/ .41oz
float R2
7,6g/ .27oz
tail rudder fin
1,7g/ . 6oz LW
left float
completed

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6. Servo installation
Cut the servo holder ears on aileron servos. Install the prepared servos to wing servo bays.
Use a 1mm steel wire with Z bends as a linkage between the servos and aileron control horns.
Elevator servo will be fixed by servo holder or directly glued in the fuselage.
See video guide Piper J-3 Cub servo assembly
you will need: 4x HXT9 or any similar sized servos
23x12x26 mm / .74x .42x .78 inches
Servo cable extension
Snap knife, Z pliers
7. Motor & ESC & battery holder
Fix the battery by velcro tape and mount it in the front of the fuselage, find the perfect
balance and CG position by moving it. Mount the motor using 4x M3 screws and nuts to the
printed universal motor holder 16 x 19mm. For long motors you can flip the holder to the
front (as at picture). Glue universal motor mount with motor into the fuselage in right
position.
See video guide motor setup
you will need:
4x M3x3mm screws
LW planes setup (23 W)
Motor: any 283 1 KV, opt1,opt2 or similar
ESC: any 2 A/3s, opt1,opt2,opt3 or similar
Propeller: two blade GWS 8 x 4 (ugly orange) or opt1 or any 8/4 CCW
Battery: 13 mAh/3s, opt1,opt2,opt3 or similar
Batt. connector: XT6 or Gold Conn
printed PET mount 16 x 19 mm