3d Printed Hinge
3d printed hinged drink coaster design. A hinged drink coaster that can be folded in half. This is one of my novelty drink coaster designs.
As you will see from the video, the design worked as planned, two halves joined with a metal pin.
The main problem was the 3d printing process was unable to print the 1mm pin holes properly and the plastic had welded itself inside of the thin holes where the pin was to be located. The annoying thing was that the 3d model had passed the auto checks and manual checks with Shapeways and in fact still does, but although I don't mind some minor finishing myself I can not risk selling to the public unless it is just a simple self assembly of the parts.
I did manage to drill the plastic out but in one area the drill veered off slightly to the side causing the plastic to blister as you can see in the video. It looks worse in the zoomed in video than with the naked eye. A straightened paper clip was used for the hinge pin.
The total thickness of the coaster is 3mm which is an ideal thickness but I may have to make it around 4.5mm thick with a 1.5mm hole for the hinge pin hole to print successfully. (Not ideal really, I have withdrawn it from sale until I decide what to do.)
3d printed hinged drink mat / coaster.
Hinged coaster design. This drink coaster comes in two parts that need to be assembled by inserting a hinge pin through the middle.
The hinge pin is not supplied, you will need a pin of 1mm in diameter, a wire paper clip can be used by unfolding it into a straight length.
The coaster when assembled is approximately 83mm x 83mm x 3mm when open and 83mm x 43mm x 3mm when folded.
If you have two coasters printed in different colours you can mix and match the two sides of the coaster to have dual colour.