MMMo-Milk

thingiverse

We regularly forget if we've bought milk while at the grocery store, which can lead to frustrating mistakes like buying more when we already have some. In an effort to prevent this from happening again, my wife came up with a brilliant idea for a visual reminder that she calls the MMMo-Milk. The MMMo-Milk is an ingenious invention that uses a printed cap and an LED light to signal when milk needs to be replenished. Here's how it works: once you've installed the battery-powered LED in your milk container, flip the switch on the cap whenever there's about half a jug left. This causes the LED to light up brightly, instantly notifying anyone who opens the fridge that we need more milk and that it should be added to our shopping list right away. Our kids love pressing the switch too – and because they'll typically remember having flipped it just that morning when I ask them, this gadget has already helped me immensely while we're out doing our grocery shopping. If you'd like to create your own MMMo-Milk using 3D printing, you'll need all the usual printer materials except for some minor parts such as the LED light, batteries, a small switch and two screws. Don't worry – you won't have any trouble finding or replacing these simple components, which include a convenient tea light. Here's how I put mine together: Start by printing out each part separately – note that support will be necessary for the body piece, but the cap and dome won't require any. Next, carefully disassemble the tea light, unsolder the LED light from its metal plates and remove all components. Make sure you're using a suitable replacement for the battery if you choose not to solder your own; it must connect directly to one of two posts that run through the body piece where they should attach using hot glue – make sure to add plenty since they can be a bit loose at times. To secure the other end of wire and switch, bend two tabs inside cap towards right or left until held firmly in place with tiny amounts needed otherwise everything would come undone quite easily so make sure nothing touches electrical contacts. Once those are done, just slide one piece onto top surface while attaching last tab holding both together securely once finished add screws then dome and that's it.