Customizable 14-flute Oil Filter Wrench

thingiverse

This is an expanded version of an earlier project. The original was created for specific Toyota applications, but here I'm opening up the Customizer to allow users to select their size more freely, making it potentially more useful to a wider audience. To use this custom oil filter wrench, simply measure across the flats of your filter in millimeters and enter that number along with a reasonable clearance value (I recommend 1.0mm). Before printing the entire thing, print just the first 5 or so layers and verify that it will fit your filter; if not, check your measurements and adjust the clearance parameter as needed. Choose a nut size (in millimeters) and decide whether you want to include a 3/8" square drive hole. For more information, please refer back to the original source project. I haven't restricted the inputs to reasonable values, so this geometry should work for common sizes of filters; if it doesn't, let me know. If you need to adjust some other feature but don't know OpenSCAD or can't make sense of my code (I was learning as I wrote this), just leave a comment and I'll try to help. Here's an example: Your buddy shows up with a six pack and some junk from the scrap heap, wanting you to help change the oil under your shade tree. But it has a weird oil filter size, and you don't want to get your favorite water pump pliers dirty to remove the overtightened filter. So you set out to 3D print a custom oil filter wrench, just for him or her. 1. Count the flats (you should get 14; if not, don't use this Thing – leave a comment instead). 2. Measure across the flats with your digital caliper (you get 52 mm). 3. Click "Open in Customizer" and enter 52 as Filter Size. 4. Leave Clearance AF at 1.0mm. 5. If you don't have any metric sockets, but do have a 5/8", multiply 5/8" times 25.4 to get 15.875mm and enter that as the Nut Size. 6. Just in case you can't find your 5/8" socket, leave Square Drive selection as "Yes". 7. Click on Create Thing. This will create a custom thing for you with the dimensions you need – it'll have a 53 mm spacing across the flats, and a 5/8" drive nut and a 3/8" square drive as well. 8. Print the model, but be sure to print at least 3 lines for walls, and check that the slicer doesn't merge the meshes together; I use Cura 4.0 at 0.15 mm layer height. 9. Check the preview and make sure the nut and finger grips extend about 5mm down into the top of the wrench and have their own walls (see the photos with section views to see the internal geometry); that'll give you 6 layers on each stressed edge, nice and strong. If the meshes get merged by the slicer, the nut and even the finger grips will probably snap the first time you use it. Take the six-pack from your buddy and enjoy it while the model prints; hand the new filter wrench to your buddy and tell him to knock himself out. **Note:** I highly recommend skipping the Customizer and instead downloading the latest development snapshot of OpenSCAD, which has a "Customizer"-like panel that will let you easily customize the part without modifying any code – it's faster and more reliable than the web-based Customizer app.