LATEST VERSION: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3548762

A salt shaker, made with OpenSCAD.

The idea was to use the linear_extrude module with the twist parameter to create a "screw". It turns out that it's not a good idea. That feature is quite messy, create concave surface and it's hard to control.

I found a screw library http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:8793 but I'm not satisfy with the result. It doesn't respect its parameter. The screw is longer then its length parameter, wider than its radius parameter, etc. I will either try to understand the library better, find another one or write my own.

I found an alternative to OpenSCAD called ImplicitCAD, but the project is still quite immature. I will wait before investing time learning that new software.

[2017-03-24] Uploaded version 3. It's the same shaker, but this time it's using my helix_extrude library (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2200395). It's the first time I use that library, so it might have some issue. OpenSCAD render the STL without any warning, but Slic3r warns about some auto-repaired errors.

[2017-06-15] I finally received my Prusa i3 MK3S! Yay! I tried to print this thing and I quickly realised that it's unprintable. I'm currently doing adjustments. I will upload a new version when I will be satisfied.

[2017-06-16] I created my version 4 with the corrections required to make it printable. I printed without supports, it works beautifully.

There is what I modified:

• Less tolerance in the threads: I used Angus' tolerance gauge to find what would be the best tolerance to use: youtu.be/TYuLVN3YHw8
• I make the threads in the inside of the shaker goes all the way down. Starting the threads in mid air was causing trouble with printing.
• I made the tip of the hole in a steeper angle to facilitate printing.

Post-Printing

1. Clean the small holes at the top of the shaker. A small Allen key works nicely.
2. Put the cap at the bottom and screw it in using the handle of a fork or a spoon.
3. Screw the cap in and out a few times to loosen the threads. The cap should go a few millimetres deeper than the base of the shaker.
4. Remove the cap.
5. Hold the shaker upside down covering the holes with the palm of your hand, to prevent the salt from leaking while filling it up.
6. Add some salt in it. Do not fill it completely, about half way should be enough.
7. Screw the cap all the way in.

WARNING: PLA plastic is known to be food safe. However, the threads in the plastic are likely to trap bacteria. I would not recommend using any 3D printed parts to hold food. Use at your own risk.

How I Designed This

I'm an OpenSCAD enthusiast. I like challenges, like creating usable threads using the basic functionalities of OpenSCAD.

Some very useful OpenSCAD's features, such as adding text using custom font, are not yet available in the official release. I downloaded the latest nightly build and used it since. I designed my libraries with it. Unfortunately, it seems that I'm using a feature that is not yet available in the latest official release. I will see what I can do to fix that.

The main objective of this object was to try my "helix_extrude" and my "bezier" libraries with a real life object.

Category: Kitchen & Dining