3D Printed Car Cup Holder Compartment

How to Store Your Car Items BETTER!

The Cup Holder Compartment was born as an improved storage insertable to declutter and organize messy car cup holders. It is designed to fit into the standard cup holder to store keys, chapstick, pens, gum, and any range of knick knacks stuffed into odd locations in the driver’s center console. As a beginner to 3D printing, I found it simple and fun to create such a useful storage solution. In under 3 hours, assembly can be completed following these simple steps…

1. Paper
2. Pencil
3. TinkerCad Software
4. Bambu Lab X1 AMS Carbon 3D Printer 
5. Matter Hackers White Filament

I started by sketching out the project on paper! With a few different model ideas in mind, I conducted user interviews to narrow down what dimensions and design of the cupholder compartment would be the most useful. Attached is the image of the final sketch of a three-compartment model that fits into a standard car cup holder.

I used TinkerCad, a CAD website to create 3D models for the purposes of 3D printing. As a user who is very new to the 3D printing scene, I found this source very straightforward and easy to learn. Here are the steps I took to create the design!

Link to tinker → https://www.tinkercad.com/things/e6jFQxjEYy2-cupholder-compartment 

Figure 1. View of cup holder compartment.

Figure 2. Top view of cup holder compartment. 

1. Upload a cylinder (2.75” in diameter, 4” in height).
2. Upload a complimentary cylindrical hole (2.5” in diameter, 3.9” in height) raised 0.1” from the bottom plane. 
3. Add a box (3.9” in height, 2.5” long, and 0.25” thick) along the midline, essentially splitting the cylinder in half.
4. Add a box (3.9” in height, 1.75” long, and 0.25” thick) along the midline of the first rectangle, essentially splitting the space in half. 
5. Export the File: Click the "Export" button in the top-right corner. Choose the .STL format, which is compatible with most 3D printers.
6. STL (Standard Tessellation Language): This is the most common file type for 3D printing.

1. Import The Design: Open Bambu Studio and import the STL file you exported from TinkerCad by selecting "File" > "Import" or dragging the file into the interface.
2. Adjust Settings:
3. Material Settings: Select the correct filament type based on what you plan to use (e.g., PLA, PETG, or carbon-infused filaments).
4. Print Quality: Adjust the resolution and layer height based on the desired quality. Smaller layer heights result in better quality but take longer to print.
5. Supports and Rafts: If your model has overhangs, you may need to enable support structures in the slicer. You can also add a raft for better adhesion to the print bed.
6. No supports needed for this 3D model.

Generate G-code

1. Once your settings are adjusted, click "Slice" to convert your model into G-code, which is the language the 3D printer uses to create your design.
2. After slicing, you can preview the toolpath to ensure the model will print correctly.

1. Transfer the File to the Printer
2. Transfer Options:
3. Via SD Card: Save the G-code file to an SD card and insert it into the printer.
4. Via Wi-Fi: If your printer is connected to Wi-Fi, you can directly send the file from Bambu Studio to the Bambu Lab X1 AMS Carbon 3D printer.
5. Start the Print
6. Once the file is transferred, navigate the printer’s touchscreen to select your print file and start the print.
7. Ensure that the print bed is leveled, and the filament is loaded properly.
8. Monitor the Print
9. You can monitor the progress either directly on the printer or remotely through the Bambu Handy app if you’re using Wi-Fi.

Figure 3. Image of 3D printed model at 35% completion. 

After ~2.5 hours, your project will be completed! Ensure the printer has cooled and carefully remove it from the tray. This project does not require supports so the finished product will be in its final form. Add it to your car cup holder and store all of your go-to car knick knacks. 

And now you have the newest storage solution to a cluttered car. I hope you found this tutorial quick and easy. I certainly enjoyed the opportunity to try something new and create something practical to my everyday use. On top of that, 3D printing is fun and easy to pick up!

Thank you for viewing!