MrCarml.Krafts

Bill Byrd

This is an upgraded version of a K-cup dispenser we&#39;ve been using for a couple of years. The older one worked great, but this one&#39;s much better.&nbsp;Note that both STL and 3MF files are available including some test files. You can use the test files to print parts for testing fit of joints.&nbsp;No supports are required assuming you print everything in the proper orientation. The tubes should be printed with the point of the teardrop shaped window facing upward.&nbsp;I used SUNLU brand standard PLA. I had never used it before and I don&#39;t know of anything special about it. So you can probably use anything you like.&nbsp;My temps were 220/55 for all layers.&nbsp;I currently print with the Bambu Lab PS1 and the A1 Mini with textured PEI plates. I used the PS1 for this project, and I used mostly default settings. I did increase the quality setting from 0.20mm Standard to 0.16mm High Quality because I was in no hurry and thought the print would be better. I&#39;m happy with the result.&nbsp;As the tubes are the most likely thing to fail by falling over, I have set a brim for them and placed them on individual plates.&nbsp;I suggest you print the test files to make sure that everything fits using your printer. &nbsp;I purposely made the joints tight. Glue is optional but you might want to use a drop or two (I didn&#39;t). I actually used a hammer and a block of wood to tap the parts together.&nbsp;The finished product will be 368mm (about fourteen inches) tall and about 12 inches wide. Each tube holds 8 K-Cups.I used six #8 x 1/2&#34; flathead screws to fasten the dispenser to the plywood that encloses my refrigerator. If you&#39;re going to hang it on a wall, you&#39;ll need longer screws and wall anchors.&nbsp;FLAVOR BADGE CUP PROCEDURE:&nbsp;I used a clear plastic produce container and scissors to make some lenses.&nbsp;Hold the lens template against the lens material and trim around it with scissors (one for each flavor). With an X-Acto knife, cut the labels off of the four used K-cups you intend to stock.&nbsp;Press the cups onto the square projections on the mid-section frame. This is a very tight fit.&nbsp;Press the labels into the cups flattening them so you don&#39;t see the puncture. Press the lens over the label.&nbsp;Then press in a badge lens retainer ring to hold the lens in place. (The rings can be pried out later with a pocket knife to change flavor labels.)&nbsp;FYI: The mid-section frame and top-section frame use the same joint plate. &nbsp;Printing the teardrop shaped holes may leave some excess plastic inside the tube. I used a pocket knife to scrape it away where necessary so the K-cups wouldn&#39;t snag on it. It doesn&#39;t have to be perfect.&nbsp;ASSEMBLY:&nbsp;Join the three frames together with the joint plates. The top and mid-section frame use the short joint plates. You may have to tap them together with a hammer and block of wood.&nbsp;After the base-section halves have been joined together, push the lower tubes in place. It&#39;s a pretty tight fit and you may want to remove and replace them a few times to make sure they are properly seated. Don&#39;t worry too much about alignment as the mid-section frame will pull it all together.&nbsp;Attach the mid-section frame onto the lower tubes making sure the splines on the tubes line up with the slots in the mid-section frame. Some light tapping with a hammer and block of wood brings it all together.&nbsp;Now insert the upper tubes into the top-section frame (not the mid-section frame). Each upper tube has one spline and the top-section frame has one slot per hole.&nbsp;Now insert the upper tubes into the mid-section frame.&nbsp;Attach the dispenser and fill it up with beverages of your choice.

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