Dice Dispencer, Sorter and Travel Vault - 12mm D6

Update: Changed the numbers on the wheels so they are separate bodies and don't overlap. 
I've added a print profile for 16mm dice with the newer models. 

For the Grim Dark Future I present a dice dispenser for 12mm dice. 
It sorts the dice, and dispenses them in stacks of 5 for easy access and counting. 

Design

It features a lid on top, which can be closed for travel. The front has a gate which uses a bi-stable compliant mechanism. Close it for travel, and open it and watch the dice slide down. This isn't a dice roller, so the dice are sorted for you to count them quickly in stacks of 5. It is even possible to take out two stacks of 5 at once, making 10. 
Beneath the lid there are CP and VP trackers. 
 

Printing and assembly advice

Use PETG for the gate with the compliant mechanism. PLA does work, but will wear down and eventually break down faster as it is more brittle. It will work for a time though. 

You can glue the gate in place, but as it is a moving part that could eventually break, I highly advice using heated inserts and small machine screws to fix it in place. This way the gate can also be easily replaced. I used four M3 Brass Heat-Insert nuts with four Brass Countersunk slot bolts 10mm in length. 
I added similar parts available from the Maker's Supply store to this model. 

No support is needed. The opening for the dice is done with bridging, as support would be difficult to remove without damaging the print itself. The example is printed without supports. 

I've added a colorized version of the same model in a different the print profile. Be aware that this would need a lot of filament as it would have to switch colors a lot (except if you have a H2D). 

I have used a simple dry brushing to paint this model. 

Designer's Notes

This design is the result of many iterations, all aimed at getting it to work smoothly without jamming. It’s mostly reliable now, though the dice can still occasionally get stuck at the top of the funnel. Usually, a little shake or tossing in a few more dice gets things moving again. I went through a fair few prototypes to get to this point, and while I haven’t included the failed models, I did snap a photo of all the versions. It’s a fun way to look back on the process behind the final version!

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