Saeco Intenza (plus) Cap | Update

thingiverse

Tired of buying ridiculously expensive cartridges to descale water for your coffee maker? I was! So I searched for an alternative way to protect my machine. The idea was to simply replace the resin inside the cartridge. The resin itself can be bought in different quantities - the more you buy, the cheaper it gets. I bought 1 kilogram that cost around 20 euros (including another refill cartridge), but this was just for testing, and you can get much more resin for only a few euros more. This 1-kilogram batch should last for over 15 refills. Compared to 7-8 euros per new cartridge, the savings are obvious. So, all you'll have to do is open and cut the top of the cartridge, wash out the old resin, and fill in the new. Be careful - the resin will macerate when it comes into contact with water, so only fill up three-fourths at most. But have a close look - there are two chambers inside the cartridge that need to be filled! Maybe it's also useful to clean the water inlet and outlet from limestone with some white vinegar first. Close the cartridge with the cap and apply it to the water tank of your machine, following the manufacturer's instructions. Normally, you'll have to flood the cartridge with water before you can use it. Depending on the accuracy of your printer, it may be necessary to fix the cap with a rubber band, but actually, the cap should fit very tight to the cartridge. It is also essential that the cap is airtight and watertight. Only then will the pump of your machine transport water. But as I said before, the cap is very tight and should lock up very safely and leak-proof. The resin should be replaced after two months or 50 liters of water. So, I hope this will help you save some money, and if you like it, feel free to buy me a beer... ------------------------- Update 2019.11.25 Okay, I noticed that there may be a problem with the lid, depending on which material is used. My PLA lid has recently broken because it was sucked full of water. I have therefore revised the lid again and provided it with thicker walls, and so far, there are no problems. I still believe in the concept, and it has already saved me a lot of money. Have fun!