Tanya

3d printing friends!
Can you investigate the plausibility of printing a pad and tampon dispenser?

Not 3d printing friends!
What woodworking alternatives are there?

Random thinkers!
All other alternatives!

Requirements:
Cheapish
Mountable on a stick
Weatherproof for a British summer

Apr 10 at 6:14pmWeb
Show threadMarta 🌿🍃1d ago
@solderandchaos There are plenty of dispenser models, but usually indoor ones and free-standing or wall-mounted, so you'd need to model it. And I suppose it's reasonably big, so a long print.
I think woodworking is a better option.
Show threadCera1d ago

@triffen @solderandchaos

My thinking goes to lasercutting instead of 3D printing. 🤔 Be it plywood or acrylic (for weatherproofness).

Show threadcmars 🅅1d ago
@triffen @solderandchaos I'd suggest PETG for printing. Cheap, easy to work with, can withstand a Texas summer, sort of UV resistant, less toxic to work with (the S in ABS is Styrene, not good to inhale).
Show threadChip1d ago
@solderandchaos Outdoor and weatherproof probably means you’d want to print with ABS (or at least *not* PLA), which would make it harder to print. Basic woodworking is probably more accessible.
Show threadWorkshopshed1d ago
@solderandchaos folded aluminium or stainless steel sheet? Clay pot with lid?
Show threadDavid JONES1d ago
@solderandchaos a retired postbox (with key or lock disabled)
Show threaddiscontinuity1d ago

@solderandchaos I feel like someone's bringing a phone booth which would already be weatherproof - why not use a little space in there to store the supplies? Then you can use whatever box the stuff comes in just double sided taped to the wall?

Or put it in the same tent as the swap shop?

Show threaddiscontinuity1d ago
@solderandchaos or... Just taped to the inside wall of the bathrooms?
Show threadconcretedog1d ago
@solderandchaos looking at printables theres a stack of tampon dispenser prints. Likewise for pads. Might be worth a look there and see if you find something that looks viable?
Show threadconcretedog1d ago
@solderandchaos totally happy to tweak a close design or print some etc.
Show threadAaron O1d ago
@solderandchaos unclear dispensing needs, but a good old ammo case is cheap, durable and water proof. Not sure it qualifies as a dispenser for your specific use case
Show threadSven1d ago
@solderandchaos regarding weatherproofing, some kind of enclosed box (with a heat source potentially, even if just a lamp) might be needed to keep dew under control in the mornings?
Show threadAria.DNE19h ago

@solderandchaos May I recommend some... Whimsy?

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3162829

VAG - Tampon PEZ dispenser by plasmatree

This project is based on the idea of Simone Giertz and Laura Kampf:It is a tampon case/dispenser in style of the famous Austrian candy dispenser (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pez).This particular version fits up to 5 super O.B. (16x53mm). Different sizes can possibly be made by scaling (haven’t tried yet) but might lead to problems with thin walls during slicing, since the thickness will vary. This model has 1mm walls and should be sliced with 0.5mm print width (~0.4mm nozzle). I found "random start points for each layer" usefull to minimize buildup up artefacts at the start/stop points. The springs are printed in ABS and annealed for 1h at 100°C. This gives the best form stability. If you find an even better material for the springs, please post it as a comment! PLA will adjust to the deformed state and lose the springiness over time.The head is printed with 3 walls and no infill.Just for shits and giggles (and because I didn’t have any simple PLA left…) the body is made from thermo sensitive (color changing) PLA and the head from glow in the dark PLA. If you are interested I can add different sizes adjusted in CAD.

Thingiverse - Digital Designs for Physical Objects