Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Pen Holder

thingiverse

I set out to create something that would pay homage to chemical engineers in a playful way, so I designed a desktop pen holder with a twist - literally. The pen/pencil/whatever holder features 14mm diameter holes that can fit a variety of desk supplies, although I advise against storing paperclips or heat exchanging fluid. I suggest printing the tube section with the holes facing down and without support for optimal results. However, the shell portion requires support, which will significantly increase print time. To achieve the best possible outcome, I printed the tubes at 60 mm/s and the shell portion at 120 mm/s on my Ender3, but a small part of the shell (a tiny bit of the bottom flange) broke off during support removal, so I recommend printing at a max speed of 100 mm/s unless you're willing to accept some damage. Designing this project was an enjoyable experience, and I'm looking forward to using it as a conversation starter.