December 15, 2024
Description
A medium and small replica of common injection molded pill bottles used by pharmacies (such as Walgreens).
The size and threads of the bottles are compatible with authentic bottles.
Comes with a working locking protection mechanism. When the cap is screwed on, it will not unscrew unless the thumb-lever is pressed first.
Some features that seemed related to the injection molding process were ignored from the model.
The cap doesn't come with ridged edges. I gave it an initial shot, didn't like the outcome, and moved on.
See video,
https://youtu.be/nzEkMZeIeP8
for demo, assembly, and source file walkthrough
Pick a size, and print a bottle, cap, or both.
No supports, raft, or brim needed.
Models should already be oriented correctly, so that the correct side is on the print bed.
PLA prints the best, in my experience.
On the PrusaXL (w\ a satin powder-coat steel sheet), I couldn't finish a PETG print because the modeled-in brim would keep lifting - even when printing with an additional brim added via slicer settings.
The bottle design has a modeled-in raft. This should be carefully broken off before usage. When printed, the modeled-in raft will probably be semi-fused to the pawl; make sure not to break the pawl when breaking off the raft.
Usage is the same as the bottle it is modeled after. Screw in the cap all the way to close. Press down on the lever before (and during) unscrewing to unlock the cap.
The parts also have features modeled for using the reverse-side threads (screwing the cap upside down) to bypass the protection mechanism.
The designs should be compatible between these 3D printed things and the authentic dram pill bottles that this was modeled from (used in common pharmacies).
The lever is tougher to use than authentic polypropylene bottles. Excess force may be required that will deform the 3D printed lever a little bit - but it will still work after being deformed and make it easier to open for subsequent uses.
The Blender source file is included. See the second half of the project video for a brief walkthrough.
It can be parameterized for different dimensions, but things get weird if the parameters are too extreme.
License:
Creative Commons - Attribution