Padlock MicroSafe

thingiverse

I had a brilliant idea... which suddenly required some kind of small container that could be locked with a key. Hence my PadlockMicroSafe, or PadlockMicroVault. A very simple design consisting of a small box and a lid for said box. Both parts fit snugly into and between the shackle and body of a standard 40mm padlock measuring 24mm x 22mm inside the locked shackle. Edit: I added two more fancy looking versions before checking that the first one fits... I also realized that the small compartment could hardly fit a key. So, I might make some radically different versions as well. I don't want to have too long of a box sticking out perpendicular to the padlock, I think... Edit 2: Well, I got the size of my padlock wrong. I uploaded some pictures including measuring the printed part. The thickness (diameter) of the shackle in the model is 6.5mm. Edit 3: Redesigned according to the padlock I had, which has internal measurements within the locked shackle (hmax x w): 21+mm x 20+mm. Shackle thickness: 6.5mm. See V2.0. Aaaand, success! Disclaimer: I have yet to try my design myself as it is currently printing for the first time, and my design is made purely out of some very generic dimensions that I found online, thus leading to the very probable non-fit of my micro vault and the padlock I have lying around somewhere. I'll get back to you... The story of my need for a small lockable container: First of all, what I want to lock away inside this small vault is in fact a key! One that can open a larger container! Like a larger box, or a cupboard, or drawer. "Why?" you may ask. Well, I was thinking out ways to prevent myself from indulging two different vices: Number one (Often in connection with no2): eating some candy, and then some more, and even more, and a whole lot of it. And number two: To by default start watching TV-series of one kind or another, rather than doing more productive things like spending some time doing dishes, going for a walk, fixing my car, reading a book, and so on and so forth. It is very easy to start doing things as almost a reflex (like checking your phone every 20 seconds, even though there is often nothing new there since 20 seconds ago). By making it a little bit more difficult to start these processes I am hoping to win over that reflex, and actually decide what I want to do with my time (and what to fill into my gut). So locking away the remote, the laptop, the candy, the tablet etc. into a drawer for instance requires a bit of extra effort to get to them, thus possibly preventing one from falling for the temptation and the reflex to use these things. However I know myself, and sometimes I really crave some chocolate, and I really want to sit down in front of a screen for 30 minutes to five hours, so only having to turn a key might not do the trick. Hence the brilliance of the PadlockMicroVault! I will lock away the goodies in the drawer, then lock the key to said drawer into the piece of 3D-printed plastic inside a padlock. The key to the padlock can then be put in a place that is not too close by, or easily reachable. My own plan is to place this key in my storage space in the basement of my building. (And I live on the 4th floor, no elevator.) The important part of this devious plan to deprive myself of candy and entertainment is that the key that opens the Pandora's box is always quite far away. When I finally decide that I have now earned my rewards, I will bring with me the Padlock-key-vault to where the far-away key is, open the padlock and take the box and lock with me back to where the goodies are. Leaving the far-away-key in its far-away location (very important). I will then open the drawer and take out what I need, and depending on the situation lock the drawer and the key away at once or wait until the end of the evening. Either way, the moment the padlock says "click!" in my hand, I will have to travel "far away" to be able to satisfy my vices once again. The end! Holy c..., it just finished printing! What other things might this thing be used for?