I always wanted a specific tool holder that didn't require drilling holes into my printer. So I thought, what better way to start learning 3D design then to design my own.

So thats what I did.

Neatly designed in Tinkercad.
tinkercad.com/p/acc0b555ff3849bd/397

What you get: (Or at least what it was designed for)
  • 2 holes for common hex keys
  • 1 hole for X-Acto or other precision knife
  • 1 hole for calipers
  • 2 Slots for tweezers
  • +1 Awesome

This is a replacement part for the thumb roller hook that broke on one of my dial calipers. I made the part by injection molding polypropylene. I included the model files used to make the aluminum mold.

I don't know how often these things break but I couldn't find a direct replacement for mine. I did see some company selling a similar part that might have worked for ~$8. I think I bought the caliper for about $15.

Additional information about my injection molding process can be found at home.comcast.net/~sskroch/Injection_molding/injection_molding.html

This is a slightly modified version of LightningPhil's version here:

thingiverse.com/thing:7206

The left-most hole has been widened to allow my tweezers to fit into the holder instead of another allen key.

The left hole now has been elongated to a 6mm designed width. Once printed this will be slightly less of course.

I tried how tiny I could make it, and it was hard to clean without breaking, but works ;-)
The upscaled version has a bit too much play, but before fixing the file, I will try to see if the paint coating will compensate the issue.

I also colored a few things, so check out wap.cc or wait for the updates tomorrow.

More daily earrings and the prologue: thingiverse.com/thing:7120


UPDATE 1: File "Caliper4a.skp" added, which has some minor modifications and text description.
Modifications are: 0.1mm+0.1mm+0.1mm thicker 150% version of the caliper, different loop orientation.
UNTESTED, but from experience, should solve most isues.

Hold a caliper and 3 hex keys neatly on the front of the makerbot. Now I can find them!

Everyone needs a caliper. Much easier to read a digital display than guess fractions of a mm. The hex keys come with the makerbot. Seemed a good holder to put them all together in one place.

In addition to the above, I have a small holder for a craft knife and a tourch. Might draw them again, but didn't keep the STL's.

This was my first go at using Solid Works. Far easier than expected! :)

Since a Thing-a-Week was too often, it's time to try a thing-a-day!
TAD Day 11 - thing-a-day.com/caliper
thing-a-day.com/tag/IHeartRobotics

Previous Adventures
iheartrobotics.com/search/label/thing-a-month
iheartrobotics.com/search/label/thing-a-week

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3D printable vernier calipers

I created a color profile for the Epilog 45W at TechShop Durham.

A laser cut business card that folds into a working caliper.