Cardboard Connectors for food boxes
The idea :
3D print a "STEM" kit of 80 cardboard connectors that work for food boxes (not corrugated/Amazon boxes) and deliver them to local food pantries or other organizations to include in their Christmas drives. Kids can cut up food boxes and build stuff.
3D print a "STEM" kit of 80 cardboard connectors that work for food boxes (not corrugated/Amazon boxes) and deliver them to local food pantries or other organizations to include in their Christmas drives. Kids can cut up food boxes and build stuff.
Prototyping :
Designing in Tinkercad is pretty simple. Make a rectangular block (25x5x10 mm), cut out a slot (1 mm), put a small block back in the middle (5x5x10 mm), add some nubs in the slot to hold the cardboard (best version was 0.33). Manipulate that to create the other 7 shapes (180, 360, T, 90, 60, 120, 45, 135) Printing : My Dremel 3D20 and Ender3Pro do a pretty good job of making these. I am using PLA (PolyTerra & Makergear) Iterations : Version 2 was too tight when printed on the Dremel Version 3, some of the slots were a little loose Version 4 worked well with both printers |
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Problem :
A kit of 80 pieces is about 120 grams.
Print time on Dremel is 15 hours , 20 hours on the Ender (combined 9 hours)
I need 200 kits by December 2nd
(local organization is OpenM)
Do the math and I cant make the deadline (nor afford it)
Solution :
CROWDSOURCING!!!
ask everyone I know locally, and many I do not, if they can do some printing for me.
Are you someone who can help me?
Do you have a printer? Some extra filament? Know someplace that does?
Contact me at paul@paulshircliff.org
A kit of 80 pieces is about 120 grams.
Print time on Dremel is 15 hours , 20 hours on the Ender (combined 9 hours)
I need 200 kits by December 2nd
(local organization is OpenM)
Do the math and I cant make the deadline (nor afford it)
Solution :
CROWDSOURCING!!!
ask everyone I know locally, and many I do not, if they can do some printing for me.
Are you someone who can help me?
Do you have a printer? Some extra filament? Know someplace that does?
Contact me at paul@paulshircliff.org

I have 3 versions (V2, V3, V4) of Tinkercad files that I can share.
(These designs are an adaptation of a patent by 3Dux Design, allowed only for this 2022 OpenM project. Not to be publicly shared)
Find the one that works best on your printer.
I have all 8 in 1 Tinkercad file, then 8 individual files.
{some of my Twitter PLN, are playing with them in their classroom for field testing.}
I found some 3x3x3" boxes on Amazon ...$19 for 100.
80 pieces fit with room to spare.
(These designs are an adaptation of a patent by 3Dux Design, allowed only for this 2022 OpenM project. Not to be publicly shared)
Find the one that works best on your printer.
I have all 8 in 1 Tinkercad file, then 8 individual files.
{some of my Twitter PLN, are playing with them in their classroom for field testing.}
I found some 3x3x3" boxes on Amazon ...$19 for 100.
80 pieces fit with room to spare.

I have some "cards" that I need to figure out how to print easily & inexpensively to include in the box, talking about what is in it.
Now I also have the idea to find some people with laser cutters to cut up some foodboxes in various shapes to include. I think 15-20 should fit in the box....but we will have to test it. Or should we cut larger ones, 4" or 5" would be a better size to build with. That can wait since it shouldn't take as much time
And I should probably print a nice label for the box. The Akron Library downtown has a vinyl printer cutter that can do stickers. $1 setup, $2 per foot, 32" wide so 30" printable. If my stickers are just under 3" I could get 9 in a column then 24 or 25 columns for 6'... so total $13.
Now I also have the idea to find some people with laser cutters to cut up some foodboxes in various shapes to include. I think 15-20 should fit in the box....but we will have to test it. Or should we cut larger ones, 4" or 5" would be a better size to build with. That can wait since it shouldn't take as much time
And I should probably print a nice label for the box. The Akron Library downtown has a vinyl printer cutter that can do stickers. $1 setup, $2 per foot, 32" wide so 30" printable. If my stickers are just under 3" I could get 9 in a column then 24 or 25 columns for 6'... so total $13.