Functional Prints for FDM Printing – Part 2
Following up on the blog post we uploaded a couple of months ago titled “Functional Prints for FDM Printing – Part 1”, this blog post will further feature some more 3D printed parts that have a specific functional purpose. Most of these objects were found on open source websites such as Thingiverse, but a couple of them were designed in-house.
Kitchen Roll Holder
Standard pipe design
This simple design was made to support a simple PVC tube that acts as a Kitchen Roll holder. This design features a flange that can be secured to a surface using bolts, and a clip in slot where the PVC tube can be secured. Due to the nature of these dual flanges, the distance between them can be set to any length, as long as there is space for them to be attached to the surface. We recommend a length slightly larger than the width of the kitchen roll.
Quick Reload design
This Quick Reload design is a very easy to use design. It features two one-way latches, that only allow the kitchen roll to be removed and inserted by pushing the latches upwards with the kitchen roll itself. Removing the roll is as simple as pulling it up, and inserting a new roll is as simple as pushing it up.
Knife Sharpening Tool
This knife sharpening tool was created and designed by CNC Kitchen. This design consists of a multitude of parts of varying sizes that all come together with a couple of rods and some bolts and nuts to form the tool seen in the image. Alongside this tool, there are a couple of different angled blocks that can be used to give the knife the desired edge. The design makes use of some magnets that hold the blade in place while the sharpening takes place. CNC Kitchen has a whole video about this tool, and how to print and assemble each part! Be sure to check it out.
pH Probe Holder
This print was another design that was done in house. It was designed to hold two probes of roughly the same diameter and features two separate parts. The bottom part has the base shaped as the Magigoo logo, as well as two flanges that create the support for the top part. The top part is a simple design of a surface which includes two holes for the probes to fit in through. This way, the probes are being held in place at two separate points, on top and on the bottom.
Loose Filament Holder
This design caught our eye immediately, and we printed one to test it out. The Loose Filament Holder was printed in 12 pieces, two main body parts, five side arms, and five moving locks. When assembled, this print allows one to wrap loose filament around it and lock it in place with the rotating locks. It also features small holes in each of the arms to thread the filament through once it’s all wound around so that it stays tight.
Digital Sundial
Being possibly the most intricate print in this list, this Digital Sundial was printed using eSun ABS, in four separate parts and assembled using M5 bolts. When assembled, this sundial shows the time in digital form on the floor, between 10:00 and 16:00, in 20 minute intervals. This is done through the intricate design of the sundial head, which features numerous small gaps and angled flanges that produce a unique shadow with every angle.
Alongside the sundial head, the base was also printed. This part was designed to be attached to a glass jar used for storage of bolts and nuts. This would also serve as a counterweight since the sundial head is hefty and long. We designed our own base, with the Magigoo logo embossed in a pattern all around the round surface.