Zipper Slider - Size 5

myminifactory

The zipper on my favorite sweater suddenly stopped working so I drew up a brand new one from scratch. To my surprise, it's been functioning flawlessly ever since. This custom-made zipper model will fit any sweater or jacket with a standard 5-zipper size. That means the individual teeth are approximately 5mm wide when fully zipped up. You can usually find the zipper size marked on the back of your jacket's zipper slider. I've developed an upgraded version of my original zipper design, which is now available at the link below. Updated Zipper Model (includes full assembly instructions) Printing Settings I Used: * Layer height: 0.1mm or 0.2mm * One outer wall * 100% infill * Printed in high-quality PLA plastic Printing Notes: * Printing at 0.1mm will take around 30 minutes, while printing at 0.2mm will take approximately 15 minutes. * Be sure to use support material for the zipper tab, but avoid generating support in the joint between the zipper mechanism and the tab. This can make it harder to remove. I've included a model with built-in supports for those who don't have slicer software that allows manual support management. To ensure the zipper tab remains strong, print with one outer wall and 100% infill. Additionally, over-extrude by about 5% to guarantee complete filling and added strength. Unfortunately, printing with ABS plastic didn't work out well for me. The material is too soft and tends to bend when trying to zip, causing the zipper to malfunction. However, my PLA prints worked perfectly. This model prints as a single part. If the zipper tab becomes fused too tightly to the mechanism, be cautious when loosening it, as it may break. I designed a 0.4mm gap on each side, but over-extrusion or other factors can sometimes cause issues. After loosening the zipper tab, gently wiggle it to smooth out any rough spots. If your zipper isn't properly zipping together, you can adjust the slider mechanism by lightly heating the top and bending both sides closer together. Don't overdo it – just enough to ensure the teeth fit snugly through the mechanism.