Functional Printing: James M Bryant Edition

3D Printing & Imaging
Functional Printing: James M Bryant Edition

After publishing the article last week with a collection of functional items to print, I received several great emails with interesting functional items in them. I’d love to get some more too! I plan on sharing them fairly regularly. One email stood out though. James Bryant has made many useful things and took the time to photograph and explain each one. For that, he gets his own edition of “Functional Printing”.

Holder for a voltmeter and probes to keep it handy but off the bench.
Holder for a voltmeter and probes to keep it handy but off the bench.

 

The knob of my gas meter case was under-engineered and broke. The gas company would not sell me a new knob, or even a new door (which I could have fitted myself) but said I must have a new case - which required supply disconnection by their fitter for £150 ($240) in addition to the cost of the case - another £50 ($80). Designing, printing and fitting a new knob took under an hour and saved £200.
The knob of my gas meter case was under-engineered and broke. The gas company would not sell me a new knob, or even a new door (which I could have fitted myself) but said I must have a new case – which required supply disconnection by their fitter for £150 ($240) in addition to the cost of the case – another £50 ($80). Designing, printing and fitting a new knob took under an hour and saved £200.
In Britain letters over 165 mm wide and 5mm thick have a surcharge. This gauge determines whether the surcharge applies.
In Britain letters over 165 mm wide and 5mm thick have a surcharge. This gauge determines whether the surcharge applies.
This custom funnel fits over a pill bottle and is used to refill it when necessary. Custom funnels to fit particular containers are a frequent print of mine.
This custom funnel fits over a pill bottle and is used to refill it when necessary. Custom funnels to fit particular containers are a frequent print of mine.
The entrance to my garage opens onto a busy road just round a blind corner. This LED illuminated SLOW sign before the corner flashes whenever the garage door is open.
The entrance to my garage opens onto a busy road just round a blind corner. This LED illuminated SLOW sign before the corner flashes whenever the garage door is open.
A replacement mounting clip for a brass toilet roll holder would have cost £10 ($16) with 6-8 weeks delivery. A perfectly adequate replacement (totally different shape) took me half an hour.
A replacement mounting clip for a brass toilet roll holder would have cost £10 ($16) with 6-8 weeks delivery. A perfectly adequate replacement (totally different shape) took me half an hour.
A bracket to mount the collet wrench on my Handibot where I can always find it.
A bracket to mount the collet wrench on my Handibot where I can always find it.
Tokens the same size as £1, €1 and 2 Swiss Franc coins for use in airport/railway baggage carts and supermarket trolleys which require a coin or a token which is returned when the trolley is returned. (The trouble with coins for this is that you spend 'em and don't have the right ones when you need 'em. You can't spend the tokens, and if you abandon them because the train will leave before you can return the cart it doesn't cost as much.)
Tokens the same size as £1, €1 and 2 Swiss Franc coins for use in airport/railway baggage carts and supermarket trolleys which require a coin or a token which is returned when the trolley is returned. (The trouble with coins for this is that you spend ’em and don’t have the right ones when you need ’em. You can’t spend the tokens, and if you abandon them because the train will leave before you can return the cart it doesn’t cost as much.)

James noted in his email that this doesn’t even include the countless washers, shims, and random bits of plastic that weren’t photographed. What functional prints have you done? Do you print more simple brackets or fancy tools? Let me know and I’ll share it with our readers!

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I get ridiculously excited seeing people make things. I just want to revel in the creativity I see in makers. My favorite thing in the world is sharing a maker's story. find me at CalebKraft.com

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