Cattle ear tags

thingiverse

Identification ear tags have long been a significant challenge. When using blank tags and writing with an ear tag pen, the ink fades quickly, rendering them unreadable. Alternatively, commercially printed (ink-based, not 3D) tags require large orders, are expensive, and cannot be replaced if one is lost. Twelve months ago, I experimented with my first 3D-printed ear tags and have had a perfect success rate so far. These durable tags are printed from TPU and are easy to read, allowing for customization as needed. They also prove to be significantly cheaper than traditional options. Colours can be changed for year, sex, or paddock identification purposes. The tags fit standard ear tag applicator guns, such as the Leader Products Flexible Tag Applicator Standard (http://www.leaderproducts.com.au/products/flexible-tag-applicator-standard). The male part of the ear tag requires a separate purchase, similar to commercial ear tags. This can be obtained from Allflex (https://www.allflex.com.au/our-products/cattle-products/product/male-button-01). To create customized tags, copy this Onshape workspace and edit the text and size as needed: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/5863832aeed541b703b8579a/w/a5c30d8d412f17253335b119/e/c1d6dfc8dbf670c13c504623. A screencast is available to assist with editing the text: https://youtu.be/BBkoqZsQ8L4.