openSCAD Parametric cart release tool - change size of disk - or anything else - as needed, with text

thingiverse

This device is designed to replace a coin used to release a shopping cart or trolley. Its size can be easily adjusted along with other dimensions. The openSCAD source code is included so users can modify the size and create a new STL file as needed. openSCAD is free, allowing users to download it in minutes, edit the file using their favorite editor, preview the device until they are satisfied with how the handle fits to the disk, and then finalize it to create a new STL. For more information, see the openSCAD source code. Sample STL files have been included for common coins to demonstrate capabilities. These include: - Coin size - Coin thickness - Handle width at base and tip - Whether a handle is generated or not - If a coin is not round, how many facets it has - Whether text should be inset on the handle - Size and font of text - Depth of text - Whether the coin is hollow or filled - Whether the handle has a rounded tip with a hole for attaching to a keyring - Hole size - Cutouts in the coin outline - Positioning cutouts far from the main coin Defaults are included for many of these settings. Using a different coin should be as simple as setting thickness and diameter, changing or suppressing text, and generating an STL. Edit: I reviewed other shopping cart token generators to see what they included. I added two new features: skipping the handle and printing a plain disk, and printing a border only around a disk. Faceted disks can now also be printed in case the coin being replaced is not round. There are example STL files available, but users should plan on installing openSCAD and creating their own STLs. Users can print solid or empty disks, handles with or without keyring connectors. If there's anything else you'd like me to add, please post it. I'm using trigonometry to position the handle - something I thought I'd never use but is now essential for this device. Modifications have been made so that "bites" are always round even on faceted coins. Previously, the same shape was used to make bites as the disk's shape, which only worked for coins with an even number of facets. Disks with 12 or fewer facets are rotated so a flat is perpendicular to the handle for proper mating. For 13 or more facets, it's assumed the coin is "round enough" and the handle can mate anywhere. The calculation of handle attachment depth for faceted coins was simplified using cosine. I added the ability to add one line of text to the handle. A sample STL file has been included to demonstrate how this works. Unless there's a bug or I decide to rework headers to allow for specifying a coin, I'm unsure about what else can be done. I have what I think is a good object with almost all features one could want - well, no bottle opener or carabiner, but if you come from somewhere without a shopping cart tool for your currency, you can create one by measuring your needed coin and plugging in values. I probably spent more time getting faceted coins to work than any other single thing in the openSCAD code that describes the object. I suspect no one will ever use it, but if you have a square coin, I can generate a shopping cart tool for your coin with or without bites out of it. If you make a tool not included in my measurements, please let me know the coin's name and nationality, its measurements, whether it has facets or is round, and whether you used the cutout tool.