Parametric Heavy-Duty Tube Roller Squeezer Wringer Thing

Description

Most "tube squeezer" designs are based on forcing the tube through a fixed slot. This is either achieved by manually cramming the tube through a slotted novelty-shaped plastic toy or by using a flimsy rotating key in a feeble attempt to pull the tube through another flimsy plastic part. These designs cannot compensate for differences in tube thickness or the presence of folds or buckles such as can be expected with heavy aluminum tubes that have been crumpled. Most are intended to be left on the tube, which is inconveniently bulky, wasteful, and typically unnecessary. They're almost universally cumbersome to use and often ineffective at the task. Of the few roller-style tube wringers I've found on Thingiverse, none appear to be practically printable without modification. None appear robust enough for practical use, and of course none are configurable. So I guess I'll make one. The goal is to make something that works adequately even with heavy aluminum tubes and viscous products. A hinged wringer design can adjust to various tube thicknesses and can accommodate tubes with folded closures and wrinkles/folds which would otherwise not fit through a fixed-slot contraption. The corrugated rolls help with traction and they periodically crimp the tube tail, making it easier to neatly fold or roll the tail afterwards -- a convenience for heavy aluminum tubes. The end gears allow the rolls to stay synchronized over a wider range of spacing. This helps prevent slipping under load. The redundant gears compensate for some degree of frame twist. Compared to the metal tube wringer I have, the roller design is a lot less prone to slipping and the handles are more comfortable. It's also configurable and available. On the downside, it's still made out of plastic, so it's still a bit bendy. I've made at least some effort to make it robust. While I haven't broken one yet, I'm not going to say it can't be done.

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