This week’s selection is the eminently practical Flexible Paper Tool Roll Holder by Thingiverse contributor Eric Veber.
California-based mechatronics engineer Weber explains his motivation for creating this ridiculously simple and effective design, honestly and brilliantly:
I didn’t find any paper towel holders that I liked so I designed this one.
I can’t disagree with that.
While this print, when deployed, looks exactly like a plain paper towel holder, there is a brilliant feature.
It bends. (Hence the “flexible” in the title.)
This is how you load a roll of paper towels into the holder:
It takes advantage of the fact that plastics are in fact bendable to some degree, even though we often design objects with the intention of them being entirely rigid.
The length of the holder arm is more than sufficient to allow a bend able to accommodate loading and unloading of the spool. If you bend too much and break it, well, just print another one!
Only one 3D model is required; just print it twice. However, two 3D models are provided: one has a hollow section in the middle. I suppose you can choose which one suits your aesthetics better.
This simple 3D model is available at no charge from sharing site Thingiverse, under the Creative Commons – Attribution – Share Alike license.
Via Thingiverse
