First pass at 3D printed cup holder.

[jim lee]

I tossed this together last night. Time to think about it and do version II.

-jim lee

[w30bob]

Jim,

Very nice.......it's hard to tell from the pic, but is the cup holder mounted to the steering column via that bright blue clamp?

regards,
bob

[ashyers]

Jim,
I salute you! I don't have time to drink while driving the M37, too busy trying to steer and shift and steer and shift ! Guess I need more practice...

Andy

[jim lee]

Yep, its clamped to the steering column with the blue bracket.

Its not so much drinking and driving. Its where to put your drink when you get it at the drive through? I like hitting the drive through to grab lunch and take it back to work. This makes that possible.

The neat thing about 3D printing is that you can whip something out, have a good look. Then from that you can do the "Duh! I should have done it this way." And just do it. Once I mounted this one, I could see I'd like the mount to be stronger. My next plan is to incorporate two of the half clamps right into the cup itself. This way the cup will attach directly to the steering column itself with 4 points as opposed to the single point I have now. This should also have the effect of tucking it in a bit tighter.

-jim lee

[w30bob]

Hmmmmm...............your cup holder would also make a good tachometer case...........

bob

[52 M-42]

There is a fairly simple one that slides into the door window channel that I've been meaning to talk to you about that would work great (I bent one up out of aluminium years ago). It is easily installed and easily removed and can be made to fit any sized cup.

I'll try to get it drawn up and scanned to you.

[jim lee]

People were asking, so here's the printers we use.



They are Makerbot Replicator2s. We've had no end of fun with these things. Dream it up, model it and presto! Its real.

-jim lee

[jim lee]

Version II has 4 attachment points. Much more robust. There are nylock nuts embedded into the cup so the clamping screws have something to anchor to. The cup takes 5 1/4 hours to print.



You can get an idea how well tucked in it sits. I'm about 6'4" and its nicely out of the way. I don't find myself kicking it at all.



And it holds Giant plastic drink cups!

Used it today and it was just wonderful!

Sadly, about 3 minutes after finishing the project the truck broke down again! Sigh..

But at least I was able to limp back to the shop. Whewh!

-jim lee