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YOU CAN 3D PRINT A PARTIALLY FUNCTIONAL TURBOFAN MODEL NOW

A wildly detailed turbofan model that shows how airline engines work, with panels that open and fans that spin.

by Adrian Barsotti (CADLY)

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

Workshop

Built withArduino3D printing

difficulty
●●●○○
time
a weekend-plus
license
license not specified
repo
repo 0 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

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COMPAREE VERDICT

This is a desk-sized electric turbofan model inspired by the CFM56-5 engines on Airbus A320 jets. It is not an exact replica and it does not produce thrust, but you can lift the cowlings to see the 5-stage compressor, combustion chamber and exhaust turbines, a DC motor spins the fan, and four small servos swing the pivoting thrust-reverser doors. Two levers on a control panel, wired to potentiometers, run the power and the reverser. The numbers from CADLY: 149 printed parts, about 96 hours of printing, roughly 3.1 kg of PLA, and a minimum build plate of 256 mm. The STL files are a paid download on Printables (36 dollars) under a Standard Digital File License, while the 215-page build guide is free and includes a full bill of materials with quantities and prices (about 265 AUD of hardware and electronics, plus roughly 80 AUD of filament). The electronics are simple Arduino work (Nano with an expansion shield, L298N motor driver, 12 V geared motor, SG90 servos, LM2596 buck converter), but the build has over 180 steps and needs soldering. If you have printed multi-part assemblies before and want a moving engineering model rather than a static display, this is a satisfying long project. It also works as an unpowered model, since the rotors still turn by hand.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • —STL files and three preconfigured .3MF print profiles are a paid download on Printables (36 USD).
  • —The free build guide (v1.1.6, 215 pages) has the bill of materials with quantities and prices, a wiring diagram, required tools and step-by-step assembly.
  • —The guide tells you to upload the provided Arduino sketch TurboFan_Pivot_Rev1.INO to the Nano.
  • —Electronics: Arduino or Elegoo Nano, Nano expansion shield, L298N motor driver, 70 RPM 12 V DC motor, 4x SG90 servos, LM2596 buck converter, 2x 10K linear potentiometers, 2x WAGO 221 connectors, 12 V 3 A power supply.
  • —Licence: the Printables files are under a Standard Digital File License, and the build guide says (c) 2026 CADLY, all rights reserved. CADLY also sells a separate commercial licence.
  • —Designed by Adrian Barsotti, who runs CADLY.

Parts to buy

12 items

From our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.

  • Nano expansion I/O shieldFind
  • L298N motor driverFind
  • 70 RPM 12 V DC motorFind
  • 4x SG90 micro servos with extension cablesFind
  • LM2596 buck converterFind
  • 2x 10K linear potentiometersFind
  • 2x WAGO 221 5-pole connectorsFind
  • 2.1 mm power jackFind
  • 12 V 3 A power supplyFind
  • 248x M2.5x6 and 8x M2x6 hex screwsFind
  • 2x 8 mm and 3x 20 mm bearingsFind
  • 8x 8x3 mm neodymium magnetsFind

Can I build this?

Print149 PLA parts (about 3.1 kg): fan, compressor and turbine stages, combustion chamber, cowlings, thrust-reverser doors and linkages, control panel, model stand and a wheeled transportation stand. Three preconfigured .3MF profiles are included with the files.
BuyFrom the build guide BOM: Arduino or Elegoo Nano, Nano expansion I/O shield, L298N motor driver, 70 RPM 12 V DC motor, 4x SG90 micro servos with extension cables, LM2596 buck converter, 2x 10K linear potentiometers, 2x WAGO 221 5-pole connectors, 2.1 mm power jack, 12 V 3 A power supply, 248x M2.5x6 and 8x M2x6 hex screws, 2x 8 mm and 3x 20 mm bearings, 8x 8x3 mm neodymium magnets, wire, heat-shrink and wire wrap.
Tools3D printer with a 256x256x256 mm build plate (or slice the largest parts), 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm hex screwdrivers, Phillips and flat screwdrivers, soldering iron with solder and flux, pliers, wire strippers, sandpaper, optional super glue, and the Arduino IDE to upload the sketch.
SkillsMulti-part 3D printing and assembly, basic soldering and wiring, and uploading an Arduino sketch. Patience matters more than advanced skills.
TimeAbout 96 hours of printing plus a long assembly of over 180 steps.
CostAbout 265 AUD for hardware and electronics and about 80 AUD for filament (CADLY's figures), plus 36 USD for the model files on Printables.
SafetyLow-voltage DC only (5V and 12V). The motor and fan blades spin, so keep fingers clear when powered. No mains voltage, no lithium cells, no lasers. Standard workshop care.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

Videos

My most COMPLEX 3D PRINTED Model YET

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Gallery

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Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Read the free build guide (It is free and has the full bill of materials, wiring diagram and every assembly step, so you can check the whole build before paying for the files.)
  2. 2.Buy and download the model files (The STL files and three ready-made .3MF print profiles cost 36 USD on Printables.)
  3. 3.Order the hardware and electronics(Use the BOM quantities. Screws and bearings come in packs, so the 248 M2.5x6 screws mean three packs of 100.)
  4. 4.Print the parts on a calibrated printer(Let parts cool before removing them. Warped parts can make the compressors grind against the stators.)
  5. 5.Wire the electronics and upload the code(Upload the provided TurboFan_Pivot_Rev1.INO sketch to the Nano, then follow the guide's wiring diagram for the motor driver, servos and potentiometers.)

Resources

Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.

KNOWN ISSUES

  • It is a long print: CADLY quotes about 96 hours and 149 parts, plus roughly 3.1 kg of filament across several colours.
  • The largest parts need a 256 mm build plate. On a smaller printer you will have to slice those pieces yourself.
  • The build guide's troubleshooting page warns that a warped print bed, or removing parts while they are still hot, can make the compressors and turbines grind against the stators. Calibrate your printer and let parts cool before removing them.
  • Screws and bearings come in bulk packs: the build needs 248 M2.5x6 hex screws, so you will need three packs of 100. If you cannot find the 20 mm bearings, the guide includes a printed bearing, but it is not as smooth as a metal one.
  • There are over 180 assembly steps and the thrust-reverser linkages are small multi-part assemblies. Follow the guide carefully and check that you have the latest guide version, as CADLY asks.

Is this an exact scale replica of a CFM56-5 engine?

No. It was inspired by the CFM56-5 family used on A320 jets, but it is a simplified model designed for 3D printing and mechanical demonstration, not dimensional accuracy.

Does it actually produce thrust?

No. The fans spin and the reverse-thrust flaps move, but it does not compress air or burn fuel. It is a mechanical demonstration model, not a working engine.

What size 3D printer do I need?

CADLY lists a minimum build plate of 256x256x256 mm. A smaller printer can work if you slice up the larger pieces.

Can I print this in PLA?

Yes. CADLY lists PLA as the material, and the build guide's filament breakdown is all Bambu Lab PLA (including PLA Metal), about 3.1 kg in total.

Do I need the electronics?

No. CADLY says the model can be printed and used without electronics, and the fan, compressors and turbines still rotate. The electronics add the motor drive and the moving thrust-reverser doors.

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Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

The fans spin, the reverser doors swing, and you can open it up to see the compressor and turbines, all from a desktop printer. Would you build the powered version or just the hand-turned model?

CompareeTEAM1d ago

Practical notes from our check: the build guide is free and complete, with a priced bill of materials (about 265 AUD of hardware and electronics), the wiring diagram and over 180 steps, so read it before you buy the 36 USD files. CADLY's own video shows the finished model running. The main costs are time and filament: about 96 hours of printing and roughly 3.1 kg of PLA. Let parts cool before removing them, because the guide warns that warped parts make the compressors grind against the stators.

Adrian Barsotti (CADLY)

Adrian Barsotti sells 3D-printable mechanical models under the CADLY name. This turbofan follows his earlier Electric Turbo Prop model, and he calls it his most complex and functional build so far.

Web

Star the project on GitHub

DISCLAIMER

  • Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
  • Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
  • Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
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