Pet water feeder. READ instructions carefully.

thingiverse

Our hosting site cleverly conceals the cup feeder component on the opposite side, so adjust the thingiview to reveal it. Verify you're checking the instructions tab; otherwise, your print might turn out like a 2kg doorstop! A minor post-processing is needed afterwards. This creation serves as a storage container with holes only located at the bottom. Fill it with water using a tube from your tap if necessary and gently tip it pointy side up before placing it for your pets to drink from. I'm planning on designing a version that utilizes less plastic, but I appreciate the aesthetics of this one. Printing in clear PLA is probably best, and be sure to keep it out of direct sunlight or your pet's water will get warm and evaporation may push some water out. Instructions I utilized a very robust print using two exterior layers with a 0.8 nozzle diameter setting. Ensure the nozzle setting surpasses your actual nozzle orifice diameter for optimal adhesion! Your slicing program will adjust, increasing the tracks' distance. Four top layers and four bottom layers are recommended. No leaks are allowed; otherwise, it won't work properly. Use a layer height of 0.25. Do not use any infill! The main component is solidly created, enabling precise control over thickness by specifying the number of layers. This also avoids wasting time with small fills and retraction moves. To ensure shape and printing quality, set the cup part protruding from the base as a thick shell. If you decide to miniaturize this, closely monitor your wall thickness for the cup part, ensuring it's thicker than your nozzle diameter setting. Double-check that the cup is forming correctly before leaving it unattended. Verify that the vase setting is turned off; otherwise, it may override your top layer settings and create a hole at the top, similar to my print. To repair this issue, I utilized some spare PLA scrap layers, heat-treated them with a gun to melt the surface, and then joined them to the top using adhesive. Clipping around the edges and heating up the messy parts allowed me to smooth them into the main body. You will need to manually melt or drill out two holes approximately 8mm in diameter inside the cup, connecting it to the storage compartment within. For drilling, use a blunt bit to avoid catching. Melting or using a dremel is safest, though! Once filled, simply rock it forward. Mine has never leaked any water since filling and rotating it upright, thanks to the rising water that covers the holes, thereby preventing air from entering and maintaining equilibrium due to atmospheric pressure. If you experience leakage, check that the holes are situated below the level of the cup! (Duh) Any apparent defects can be rectified by running your extruder at a very slow manual pace. For any hidden issues, spray coat with polyurethane to fill in voids, allow it to dry before retrying.