DIY pulsar

Update 29/01/20: Realised one of the internal cones was slightly off centre; is fixed in DIY_pulsar_2.stl.

3D print and assemble a model of a pulsar. Print in parts: 2x half-spheres with radiation cones, and a central rotation axis. Small holes around magnetic poles to allow insertion of magnetic field lines (scaled to fit in 1.75mm PLA filament, but also works with brim offcuts).

A pulsar is a really small (~10km wide), really dense dead star. They can spin hundreds of times every second, and have extremely strong magnetic fields. Powerful radio waves are emitted from the magnetic poles (which may or may not be aligned with the rotation axis). If one of these beams of radio waves points towards Earth as it spins round, we see a pulse — like a cosmic lighthouse!

This thing was made with Tinkercad. Edit it online https://www.tinkercad.com/things/lEjBBDeRUDU