Modular CD holder with ejection levers
Description
Here I present you a customizable, modular CD holder with ejection levers. I am including a pre-assembled STL with slots for 8 CDs, but it is just an example. This is a modular system consisitng of four (+1) separate parts. Full CAD files are also included if you want to add your own features or for example change the shape of the lever head. - A base with slot to accept 1 CD and one full side. - an internal module that can be multiplied and stacked as many times as you need, the wall is cut out strategically to save filament (more on this later). - A cover to put at the end of your stack of modules. - A lever, which you print once per each CD slot you want. - (A spare bit of filament to act as the commomn fulcrum and retainer for all the levers) So how do I put it together to have more or less slots? The dirty way is to print all the modules flat and glue them together, but lets be honest, it will stink. The pro way is to stack the parts in your CAD software of choice, offsetting each one by 4mm (which is the thickness of all modules, except the cover which is just 2 mm), merge and export as one STL. It may be possible to stack them directly in the slicer but for example in Cura I could not find a way to precisely align and offset STLs, if you do, please check in the preview that the models are actually merged and not just touching each other, or you will end up with outer walls printed inside the model (those will be possible lines of fracture AND eat up unnecessary time and filament). Once you stack up the "sandwitch", the main body prints nicley upright without supports, please just be careful if you have only a few modules, as the final object will be thin and tall, and prone to fall over. One last note about the cut outs in the internal modules. Could I have cut it out more nicley, maybe with a grid pattern of some sort? Yes, but I wanted to keep it as linear as possible since these are meant to be printed upright. Doing so, a grid pattern would have resulted in an horizontal landscape dotted with tyny extrusions and lots of retractions which, for a part that is not even visible once the object is finished, is actually detrimental in my opinion. If one tiny "brach" warps up you have a nozzle strike, if you have too many retractions you can chew it or bake it in the nozzle... in all those cases the print fails and you throw away more filament than you would have saved. Plus if the inside walls turn out "rough" for any reason they may scratch your CDs (granted, if you have precious CDs that you love and coved is is not the best type of hjolder anyways), so it is better (IMHO) to have a simple flat geometry and keep fancy for another day.
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