This week’s selection is the Pythagoras Cup by MakerWorld contributor B.Doom 3D DN.
At first glance, this is a simple 3D printable cup, and it has little to note from the outside. The secret is inside.
The Pythagorean cup, also historically known as the Tantalus Cup, has a special feature. If you fill it past a certain point, then it automatically empties itself out the bottom. Surprise!
The design is quite old, having been known over 2000 years ago in Ancient Greece. There’s even a Wikipedia entry about this design.
How does it work? There’s a central column that has an outlet to the bottom of the cup. At some point, the fluid in the cup reaches the top of the column, and it starts flowing out. However, the top of the column is protected by a cover, enabling a siphon to develop. This pulls all the fluid from the cup.
I haven’t tried this myself, but it should be quite shocking when the cup suddenly leaks out the bottom.
This looks like a very easy print to complete.
One concern is food safety, of course. You probably don’t want to drink from this 3D printed vessel, since both materials and the machine are not food safe. In addition, the layers of the print will create crevices where bacteria and debris can collect without easy ways to disinfect it.
However, the Pythagoras Cup should work just fine as a party trick.
Via MakerWorld
