3D Printed Insulin Pump Case

Why we made these cases

We made these cases to raise awareness about kids who have type 1 diabetes. Many kids have no idea what diabetes is and if they do have it they might want to hide the insulin pump so no one talks about it. This project’s aim is to bring more visibility to people who have diabetes by giving them a way to show off their insulin pump in a case that fits their personality. When you think of children one thing that you think about them all liking is superheroes. We went off that idea and designed insulin pump cases based around popular superheroes.

We attached a zip file of our cases for a reference point or to use the logos we did.

1. 123D Design software
2. 3D Printer
3. PLA Plastic (Approximately 10 meters given the thickness is 1.75 mm)

Approximate time needed to design the case : 30 minutes

Approximate time needed to print the case : 60 minutes

For this tutorial, we will be using the 123D Design application. This is a free and easy to use C.A.D. program, but as long as you know the equivalents in the application you use this tutorial should work for just about every C.A.D program.

1. To start visit the 123D Design website at http://www.123dapp.com/design

2. Next click the install button for the operating system that you are currently using (Windows, Mac, or iPad iOS).

2.5. If you are PC you will be prompted to either download the 32-bit or the 64-bit which one you should use depends on your computer but if you are not sure go with the 32-bit because any computer can run it.

3. After you download the software you can create an Autodesk account if you wish, but it is not required.

If you are just installing 123D Design your units are probably not in mm already. This tutorial is all in mm so if you do not set your default units to mm it will through everything out of proportion.

1. To change you default units first click on the question mark icon on the top right of the 123D interface.

2. After clicking on the icon a drop down menu should pop up. Click on the Preferences button.

3. After clicking the Preferences button a pop-up window should appear. Click on the Units and Grid tab at the top of the pop-up.

4. The top option should be Units. Click the drop down menu and select mm if it is not already selected.

1. Click the Sketch button at the top left of the 123D menu
2. Click the rectangle tool and click on the surface that you wish to make a rectangle on.
3. Use the fit line tool to make the sides of the rectangle 80mm and 50mm or slightly more to compensate for the wall thickness.

1. Click the Extrude button and select the rectangle that you just made.
2. In the pop-up menu enter 20.835 for the height and click ok.

1. Shell one of the face so the case is hollow.

2. Draw an opening(s) on the front face of the case for the screen using the Sketch tool and then selecting the rectangle.

3. Click on the surface that is going to be where the opening is located.
4. Fit the sides of the rectangles so the are mm x mm and mm away from the side for the screen and mm for the button. If you make a mistake, select the sketch and click the wheel and select the move option.

1. Extrude the sketches into the object until the bottom surface (the height of the case).
2. Fillet the 8 edges of the case to the default amount.

1. Decide what logo you would like to have on your case.

2. With a quick google search, find a clean logo (batman in this case) with no background and save it to your computer for the next step.

1. Select the back of the case and click sketch, then click on project geometry to make the sketch.
2. Extrude the sketch 5.84mm for the superman logo.. (STL file of existing logos provided)

Video credit goes to the YouTube channel C3 @ Library 21c

1. Click File and drop down to Export As...
2. Select .stl for the file type and enter the name you want to save the file as.
3. Click Ok.

Video credit goes to the YouTube channel jumekubo4smps

Find a place with accessibility to a 3D printer. This can be at your local library, university, or you can even send it to an online 3D printing company and have the printed case shipped to your home! Some helpful websites are http://www.shapeways.com/ or https://www.sculpteo.com/en/ if you want to send it off to get 3D printed and sent to you house. You can also check out https://www.3dhubs.com/ if you want to find a place that has a 3D printer near you.

Here are the files that we used and might be helpful to you. Included are the 123D files and STL files of each case showcased(Wonder Woman, Captain America, Ironman, and Superman).