Cup Holder Tree

thingiverse

<h4>What is it?</h4> It's a cup holder tree that can hold up to seven cups, four on the bottom and three on top. <h4>Core ideas behind it?</h4> Like cities, living rooms are valuable spaces, leading to building upwards for more usage in each area. I wanted easy access to my cups without hiding them in shelves while keeping space compact. A tree-like structure offered a solution: * Multiple cups stored on a visible stand * Upward building direction saves space * Utilizing the volume of common 3D printers * Storage for XXL cups * Lightweight, no support structures, and affordable due to only 3D printed material <h4>Why this and not others?</h4> I found nothing comparable on Thingiverse. I wanted to use a design to save time instead of developing my own solution but couldn't find anything suitable for remixing or adaptation. Originally, I considered buying the hanger tree from Ikea, but it was expensive, simple, and ugly. The 3D print option offered a more attractive alternative. <h4>What is the outcome?</h4> Several iterations were necessary to perfect the concept of connecting multiple parts for stability and low clearance. The construction itself wasn't demanding in terms of forces and loads, making screws and other components unnecessary: * Data based on ABS and 15% infill * Total printing time was around 22.5 hours in average quality and speed (each part took about 2.5 hours) * Material usage: approximately 320g (costing around 7€ based on standard ABS material) * A tall stem may warp if not properly attached to the printing bed, so using a raft is recommended * The stand is solid and secure, with no worries about holding cups in place when using 15% infill * Minimal support material was required for printing in these directions: ** Leg (upwards): no support needed ** Base (upwards): little support for the sliding area ** Stem (upwards): little support around the hexagonal connector ** Leaf (downwards): little flat support on holding areas * Clearance and tolerances work well for most printers, with a 0.25 mm clearance between parts allowing part sliding with a bit of pressure