Bring Beach Games to Your Desk. Laser Cut Your Own Flat-pack Mini Can Jam (Desk Game)

Mini Can Jam: Compact, Portable, and Packed with Fun!

Bring the excitement of outdoor games to your desk, coffee table, or travel bag with the Mini Can Jam! This unique, miniature version of the popular backyard game Can Jam is designed to deliver all the same competitive thrills in a smaller, more portable format. Measuring just 4 by 9.7 inches, this mini game is perfect for those who love precision-based games and want to enjoy them in new settings. Whether you're at home, the office, or on the go, Mini Can Jam provides hours of entertainment for players of all ages.

What is Mini Can Jam?

Just like its full-sized counterpart, Mini Can Jam is a team-based game that centers on accuracy, timing, and fun. The main difference? Instead of using a frisbee, you’ll be flicking a bottle cap! This makes it perfect for indoor spaces where throwing large objects isn’t feasible, while still maintaining the core gameplay that has made Can Jam a household favorite.

Each Mini Can Jam set comes with two cans that stand about 4 inches tall, designed to be assembled from laser-cut poly plastic sheets. The cans are sturdy yet lightweight, perfect for tabletop play. The game comes with the same rules as traditional Can Jam, but adapted to the bottle cap format. This means you still have to aim, deflect, and strategize to score points and defeat your opponents.

Crafted from durable poly plastic, the game is designed to be long-lasting, weather-resistant, and easily portable. Best of all, it’s easy to build! With a CAD drawing ready for laser cutting, you can create your own set from a single sheet of poly plastic. Simply print the CAD drawing, and you’ll have your Mini Can Jam ready in no time!

Key Features

1. Compact Design: At just 4 by 9.7 inches, Mini Can Jam is perfect for small spaces. Whether you’re in a dorm room, office, or living room, you can set it up just about anywhere.
2. Laser-Cut Precision: The game pieces are cut from high-quality poly plastic using a CAD drawing, ensuring a precise and flawless fit. This method guarantees smooth edges, perfect symmetry, and a polished finish.
3. Portable and Lightweight: Unlike its full-sized counterpart, Mini Can Jam is easy to carry around. Toss it in your bag and take it to work, on vacation, or to a friend's house. The lightweight plastic materials make it simple to transport without adding bulk.
4. Durable Material: Made from sturdy poly plastic, the Mini Can Jam set is designed to endure hours of play. The plastic is resistant to wear and tear, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your set during intense gameplay.
5. Easy Assembly: With a CAD drawing ready for laser cutting, you can easily create your own Mini Can Jam set. The drawing provides a precise template that can be cut from a single poly plastic sheet. Once the pieces are cut, they fit together seamlessly for easy assembly.
6. Perfect for All Ages: While Can Jam is traditionally an outdoor game, Mini Can Jam brings the fun indoors, making it ideal for all age groups. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the challenge of flicking a bottle cap into the can, combining skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck.

Game Instructions

Objective: The goal of Mini Can Jam is the same as in traditional Can Jam—teams of two work together to score exactly 21 points by flicking a bottle cap into or near the can. However, in Mini Can Jam, the compact design makes precision more important than ever!

Setting Up

1. Assemble the cans: Assemble the two cans by snapping the pieces together. The cans should each have a slot cut into the front to allow bottle caps to be flicked into them.
2. Place the cans: Set the cans 2 feet apart on a table or any flat surface if you are just learning how to flick a bottle cap. Set the cans 4 feet apart on a table or any flat surface if you are experienced. Set the cans 6 feet apart on a table or any flat surface if you are advanced.
3. Decide Teams: Mini Can Jam is best played with four players (two per team), but you can also play one-on-one for a quicker, more intense game.

Gameplay

1. The Flick: Teams alternate turns flicking a bottle cap at the opposing team's can. Players take turns flicking, trying to get the bottle cap into or near the slot in the can.
2. Scoring:
3. Direct Hit (3 points): If you flick the bottle cap directly into the slot without any help from your teammate.
4. Slam Dunk (2 points): If your teammate deflects the bottle cap into the can.
5. Near Miss (1 point): If your bottle cap hits the can but does not go in.
6. No Over: Teams must land exactly on 21 points to win. If a team exceeds 21, their score resets to 17, making the game a strategic race to the finish.
7. Instant Win: Just like in the original Can Jam, if you flick the bottle cap directly through the slot without it hitting the can (and without help from your teammate), you instantly win the game!

Game Variations

1. Solo Practice: Want to hone your flicking skills? You can play solo, flicking bottle caps and seeing how quickly you can score 21 points on your own.
2. Speed Round: Reduce the distance between the cans and challenge yourself with a shorter, faster game. This variation is great when time is limited but you still want a quick round of fun.
3. Tournament Style: If you have more than four players, set up a tournament bracket. Teams compete to see who can claim the title of Mini Can Jam Champion!

Why Mini Can Jam?

Mini Can Jam isn’t just a scaled-down version of the popular outdoor game—it’s a whole new way to enjoy Can Jam, designed for tight spaces and creative play. Whether you're looking for a fun, quick diversion at work, something to liven up game night, or a portable game you can take anywhere, Mini Can Jam delivers excitement in a compact, easy-to-play format.

Thanks to its laser-cut, high-quality poly plastic construction, you can customize your set and make as many Mini Can Jam games as you need for family, friends, and gatherings. Experience the thrill of flicking bottle caps with the same intensity as launching frisbees, all packed into a tabletop-sized, easy-to-assemble format.

Do Not Know How to Flick a Bottle Cap?

To flick a bottle cap in the air, hold the cap between your thumb and middle finger with the concave side facing upward. Place your thumb on the edge of the cap, while your middle finger nail rests on the opposite side. Flick your middle finger quickly forward while releasing your grip, allowing the cap to spin and glide through the air. The flicking motion should be smooth and controlled to achieve both height and distance. Here is an Instructables post Iink with more instruction if needed: https://www.instructables.com/How-to-shoot-a-bottle-cap-with-your-hand/

Conclusion

Mini Can Jam is the perfect blend of fun, challenge, and portability. Whether you’re a long-time fan of the original Can Jam or a newcomer looking for a compact game that fits into any lifestyle, Mini Can Jam offers hours of competitive entertainment. Grab your cut out, cut your poly plastic sheets, and let the games begin!

1) A sheet of poly plastic that bends well without creasing ( for this example I used polyethylene)

2) Laser Cutter

3) Scissors/ Paper Cutter

3) Masking Tape

4) A small bottle cap

THAT'S ALL!

The dimensions of the flat part are 4 x 9.7in and you have to stack two of them when you print so you should leave room for 2 and then a little space on the edges so you can tape the sheet down onto the laser cutter tray.

OPTIONAL: If you have a large sheet of polyethylene and you wish to salvage some of it, cut off what you do not need as long as it is still at least 9 x10 in.

Make a 2D sketch in a CAD software and create a sketch of it or use my SVG file drawing featured above.

Export a SVG file of the sketch to whatever software your laser cutter uses (My drawing is featured above)

Make sure:

1) Your drawing is 1:1 and your dimensions line up in whatever software you export the SVG file to

2) To highlight and delete any extraneous lines or ink in your drawing so it is just the design of the part featured.

Place your sheet into the laser cutter and tape it down with masking tape at the very edges so that the laser does not hit the tape.

Place the sketch of the flat can over another sketch of the flat can so that it fits on the sheet and does not hit the tape and begin laser cutting your part.

Take the part out and discard any unused plastic. Snap the can together as you would with the full sized version (Instructional video attached if need)

Easy Set up | So easy to set up, you'll be playing within ...

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8 reactions · 3 years ago

With this product I learned that it is important to have people weigh in on your project and to hear their concerns and why they would want the product. I had to make this product easier to use by adjusting my sketches, dimensions, CAD drawings and final product. I also added instructions for every step of the process including gameplay to make the product more user friendly.