Mechanical Tube Squeezer ⚙️

prusaprinters

<p>A mechanical tube squeezer to print yourself. It works not only for the plastic toothpaste tubes but also for metallic ones, like for mustard.<br>Some of the parts have to be printed with ASA or similar material to achieve the required strength. Please have a look at the print instructions.&nbsp;<br>There is a mechanical stop that prevents too much force from being applied to the hinge. Nevertheless, use it with caution so as not to hurt yourself!</p><h3>Technical Details</h3><p>The squeezer hinge itself consists of two parts which are printed in place. The concept is based on ball and socket hinge joints from <a href="https://www.instructables.com/Parametric-Print-in-Place-Hinge/">here</a>. Pretty cool.</p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:92.18%;"><img src="https://media.prusaprinters.org/media/prints/131570/rich_content/726e2282-c56f-47cf-909d-772554fa129f/squeezer_hinge-cut-v18.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%22becac9a2-7612-4479-bb31-cfea976cb9c0%22%2C%22w%22%3A1880%2C%22h%22%3A1190%7D"></figure><h3>Print Instructions</h3><ol><li>Hinge<ul><li>ASA</li><li>15% infill</li><li>0.2mm layer height</li><li>increased infill (≥40%) in critical area. see picture<img class="image_resized" style="width:55.98%;" src="https://media.prusaprinters.org/media/prints/131570/rich_content/ecd20124-cef3-4123-8259-d8696f2832bb/squeezer_hinge_infill.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%22e1c545c6-9f05-4f39-9933-2fe19a90b671%22%2C%22w%22%3A866%2C%22h%22%3A622%7D"></li></ul></li><li>Handle<ul><li>ASA</li><li>15% infill</li><li>0.2mm layer height</li><li>print it laying with supports</li><li>increased infill (≥40%) in critical area. see picture<br><img class="image_resized" style="width:56.02%;" src="https://media.prusaprinters.org/media/prints/131570/rich_content/8a87a10e-fdb5-4b4e-8227-ebe6e544c921/squeezer_handle_slicing.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%226383b6e8-85b7-434e-80b2-c1bee9795844%22%2C%22w%22%3A907%2C%22h%22%3A719%7D"></li></ul></li><li>Cogs and Bolts<ul><li>PLA</li><li>15% infill</li><li>0.2mm layer height</li><li>print them standing for optimal accuracy</li><li>increased infill (≥40%) for the bolts<br><img class="image_resized" style="width:56.38%;" src="https://media.prusaprinters.org/media/prints/131570/rich_content/1bd37db6-ce77-4117-9902-80d9288b83f2/bolts_and_cogs.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%221ef00475-1f05-418f-bb42-7ecf566e52b1%22%2C%22w%22%3A874%2C%22h%22%3A644%7D"></li></ul></li></ol><h3>Assembly</h3><p>The bolts and the handle fit quite tight. It should be enough to simply press them into their place.</p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:78.98%;"><img src="https://media.prusaprinters.org/media/prints/131570/rich_content/bed89128-70e8-4bd9-9949-846feb924d1d/squeezer_hinge-v18.gif#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%22a4e67635-1f42-4d3b-96d8-b227a5247356%22%2C%22w%22%3A1280%2C%22h%22%3A720%7D"></figure>