Locking Pill Box | The Capsuleer v3

Yes, I Made the Pill Box Even Better

The original Capsuleer became far more popular than I ever expected. I put a lot of time into designing and iterating it, and while I eventually stopped at something that worked and made me happy, I knew there were still a few ideas left on the table.

Version 2 brought many of those ideas to life—and I was genuinely pleased with how it turned out.

So what’s Version 3?

Refinement. More refinement than I promised myself I’d do. Capsuleer v3 is sturdier, smoother, snappier, grippier, and has no filament restrictions. After burning through 8+ kilograms of filament in prototyping (and learning things the hard way), I can confidently say this is the very best Capsuleer yet.

The Capsuleer is a seriously awesome pill box that money can’t buy. It locks, isolates pills, and makes refills easy—which, surprisingly, is not a common combination. If you need something to handle AM/PM or two weeks worth, check out the x2 version.

(On a side note, if you need something to cut PTFE tubes that's precise, safe, and seriously satisfying, you won't want to miss out on my Bowden Puck Pro!)

What’s New in v3?

• Far sturdier - The bins now print as a single solid piece, which means fewer fragile features and fewer moments of quiet disappointment at your workbench.
• Smoother & snappier - The dial now snaps more confidently into position, so alignment feels clearer, more deliberate.
• More grippy - Added grip notches on the sides and bottom—especially helpful if your hands are wet, slippery, or just not cooperating that day.
• No filament restrictions - By eliminating the cantilever joints and moving to a solid bin design, v3 frees you from the “only use this filament” fine print. Matte PLA? Go for it. Functional filaments are still best, but now you’ve got options.
• Support-optimized dial - The dial geometry has been tweaked to reduce support scarring, because sanding tiny curved parts is nobody’s favorite hobby.

Features

• Smart - The cover allows you to empty one compartment at a time, but also slides completely out of the way for easy refills. (Pro tip: pour the entire compartment into your hand—trust me.)
• Secure - Lockable, because loose pills in a toiletries bag are chaos.
• Grippy - Custom knurling on the dial and grip notches on the body. Overkill? Maybe. Helpful? Definitely.
• Stylish - See-through tambour roller cover that’s equal parts functional and oddly satisfying to operate.
• Customizable - Days of the week are applied in the slicer, not baked into the model—so customization is just a few clicks away in Bambu Studio.
• Dual-sized - Full and mini versions included (7 or 4 bins; individual bins are approx. 20×32×10mm).
• Fun - Designed for easy two-color printing—no AMS required.
• Unique - A lockable, flashlight-shaped pill container that isolates pills, simplifies refills, and uses a snappy twist dial to control everything. Yes, that’s a weird sentence. Yes, it’s accurate.

Important Printing Notes (Please Read These)

I don’t include this section because I want the model's description to be longer—it’s here because I’ve personally made all of these mistakes so you don’t have to.

• Warping near the curved end? - Make sure your build plate is very clean. In my case, replacing a worn plate solved weeks of frustration instantly. Lesson learned.
• Let the cover cool completely - Removing it early can cause warping or brittleness. Patience here saves heartbreak later.
• First layer quality matters—a lot - Any bulging or waviness increases friction and the chance of breakage. If your recent first layers look questionable, fix that first.
• Cover material recommendation - PETG is strongly recommended for durability, though PLA will work.
• Dry PETG is critical - Moist PETG leads to sadness. Dry filament leads to joy. Choose wisely.
• Use the provided print profile - The orientations, modifiers, angles, infill directions, and other settings are intentional. Changing them might work, but also can very much not.
• Remove supports promptly - For best results, remove supports within two hours of printing.
• Break-in period - The cover and dial loosen up after a few days of use. Things get smoother. Relationships improve.
• Printer performance matters - This model has tight tolerances and moving parts. If your printer is having an off day, it will show.
• Bambu X / P Series - Uncheck flow calibration when printing the cover.
• OrcaSlicer users - You must set Support Type to Tree (auto), Support Style to Tree Hybrid, and Solid infill direction to 0. Orca changes other stuff too, but these settings are non-negotiable.
• v2 compatibility note - v3 is not compatible with v2 due to structural changes—these changes were necessary to support the bin printing in one piece.

Assembly steps

1. Decide on the size you want and then print the corresponding bin, cover, and dial
2. Remove support from the bin, and the brim ears at the end of the full size model, and pay extra close attention to make certain no support is left in the dial area
3. Gently rub a crayon along all the edges of the cover, so the sides, start, and end; while this step might not seem important, it will significantly improve the smooth scrolling of the cover and should not be skipped (if you don't have a crayon, just borrow one from your neighbor's kid)
4. Slowly and carefully insert the cover into the bin starting from the top; make certain it's upright and start with the non-handle end first
5. Slowly slide the cover back and fourth once or twice across all the bins to start the break process; the smoothness of the cover's movement will improve after a few days of use and you might need to push/pull the cover from both ends during this break in period
6. Slide the cover so it is completely inside the bin area and not protruding into the dial area
7. Snap the dial onto the front of the bin; tolerances are tight, so you might need to press hard
8. Rotate the dial fully several times to start the break in process; like the cover, the dial's movement will improve after a few days of use
9. Turn the dial to the single thick horizontal line to refill and make certain to line it up with the protrusion on the top of the bin; while it should snap into place, it is important that the protrusions line up and the dial is in the correct position or the cover will be difficult or impossible to slide
10. Slide the cover to expose all the bins; a portion of the cover will temporarily come out of the bottom of the dial
11. Refill the bins
12. Slide the cover to close all the bins; make certain the handle of the cover is lined up with the front of the bin and not protruding into the dial area
13. Turn the dial to the single vertical line to dispense and make certain to line it up with the protrusion on the top of the bin
14. Slide the cover to the appropriate day to expose contents
15. Gently pour the contents of a bin into your hand
16. At the end of the week, close the cover all the way and repeat steps 9-13
17. If you need to lock the bins, close the cover all the way and turn the dial to the double vertical lines to lock

Changelog:

Mar 3, 2026: Improve support generation
Feb 27, 2026: Improve bin warping resistance and ease of brim removal