Design of the Week: Spill Proof Oil Container

By on August 14th, 2017 in Design

Tags:

 It's a 3D printed spill proof oil container!
It’s a 3D printed spill proof oil container!

This week’s selection is the practical spill proof oil container by YouTuber Vice Chief.

The “Chief” produces a number of interesting videos related to building parts in a workshop, often including 3D scanning and 3D printing. The expertise is obtained through his normal work, which evidently involves providing 3D Printing, CNC Milling, CNC Routing, Laser Cutting, Laser Welding, Foam Cutting and MIG+TIG welding services for clients. 

This item is a spill proof container for use with active CNC machines that require constant lubrication during operation. 

The project involves printing a specially designed cap for common spray can lids, transforming them into a practical container. Why not use a regular can with some oil in it? 

 Designing the spill proof oil container
Designing the spill proof oil container

It’s because you can easily spill a regular can for two reasons: first, the CNC machine is likely vibrating and could shift your can off the edge, and secondly because you might tip the can over as you are constantly applying oil using a hand brush. When the brush hits the can, it could tip over. 

These issues are solved with the container lid, which simply snaps onto a spray can top. While the file is provided at the link below, what’s far more interesting is to examine the process by which it was developed. 

Vice Chief efficiently walks through the development process, starting with a rough sketch, measurements, design in Fusion 360 and eventually iterating through a couple of prototypes to get the design correct. 

I advise anyone interested in making custom objects to watch this video as you’ll very quickly pick up the idea. 

While the file is provided at no charge, I’d advise trying to design and build this one yourself from scratch as it is a fairly simple project. Good luck!

Via YouTube and Vice Chief

 

By Kerry Stevenson

Kerry Stevenson, aka "General Fabb" has written over 8,000 stories on 3D printing at Fabbaloo since he launched the venture in 2007, with an intention to promote and grow the incredible technology of 3D printing across the world. So far, it seems to be working!