How to 3D Print a Sink: Solving My Lab's Plumbing Problem

Hello! I am Justinas Petkauskas, and I am in ninth grade at The Collegiate School in Richmond, Virginia. I have a passion for electronics, engineering, and 3D printing, and I am in the process of improving my maker lab. This particular project tackles the issue of water disposal in my lab.

Water is necessary in all parts of life, including in your maker lab. Water can be used to wet sponges, dampen paint brushes, clean, wash hands, and dissolve other chemicals. Unfortunately, many spaces that are used as maker labs often don't have access to plumbing, which makes the lab's water solution slow and cumbersome when using, for example, plastic bottles to store the substance. Discarding water can also be an issue, and the easy solutions often lead to spills.

This project is fully 3D printed and recycled You will need:

- The 3D printed part

- Discarded 500 mL water bottle with cap

- Superglue

This project was designed using Fusion 360. With no limitations other than the size of the water bottle, this first iteration uses the cap of the water bottle to interface with the bottle. The bottle and sink are interfaced directly through the cap leading to quick flow.

The part should be fabricated using 3D printing. PLA is perfectly fine and all solid filaments are a good idea. Regular slicer settings are perfect, and I used my Ender 3 with .2 mm layer height and supports for full overhangs. Minimal postprocessing is required; only supports need to be removed.

Assembling the sink is simple. Start by modifying the cap. With an X-Acto blade, cut the inside of the cap along the red line. This will allow for free water flow through the cap with an easy method or attaching and eventually draining the water bottle. Following the incision, apply superglue along the side of the cap and push it into the slot in the drain. Once the glue cures, you can screw the bottle in and the project is done!