A 3D-printed holder for the pill organizer, with magnets in the lid

Olaf 3D printed a holder for his father’s pill organizer. Small neodymium disc magnets keep the lid in place: one motion to refill, and then everything clicks shut again.

By Magnetenspecialist
2 min read
Blauwe 3D-geprinte medicijnrolhouder met wit geperforeerd deksel

Many people who take several medications daily receive their pills from the pharmacy on a roll: one pouch per dose, in order. Convenient, but such a roll can easily end up lying around. Customer Olaf came up with a solution and printed a holder for his father's medication roll. The lid stays in place thanks to our magnets.

The design

The holder is a compact blue cube with rounded corners. Inside is an axle around which the roll turns. On top is a narrow slot where the next pouch comes out, so you can easily tear it off. There is a clip on the back.

The front is a white, perforated lid with a viewing hole. This allows you to see at a glance how many pouches are left on the roll.

Closed medication roll holder: blue housing with white perforated lid and viewing hole

Where are the magnets located?

In each corner of the lid and in the corresponding places in the housing, Olaf glued in a small disc magnet. The lid thus clicks into place automatically and stays closed, but you can remove it without tools to place a new roll. No screws, no hinge that can break.

Open medication roll holder: the separate white lid with magnets in the corners next to the blue housing with axle

For his project, Olaf ordered disc magnets Ø5 x 1 mm. They are thin enough to disappear into a printed wall and strong enough to hold a light lid. The result, according to Olaf: “now my father finally has an easy system for his medication.”

Tips if you want to print something like this yourself

  • Pay attention to the poles. Two magnets only attract each other if north is opposite south. Mark the poles before gluing. See why do magnets attract each other?
  • Design the hole slightly larger. Allow for 0.1 – 0.2 mm of clearance and secure the magnet with a drop of two-component adhesive. More tips in magnets for 3D-printed applications.
  • Leave a thin layer. If you want to embed the magnet invisibly, leave 0.4 – 0.8 mm of wall between the magnet and the outside. The strength decreases quickly with distance.
  • Not too strong. For a lid that needs to be opened frequently, small magnets in the corners are better than one large one: it stays closed, but opens easily.

Thank you, Olaf

A small design that really makes a difference in everyday life: exactly the kind of project that makes us happy. Thank you for letting us share it.

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