Do you ever find yourself trying to pour drinks from a bottle only for it to spill and splash around your cup? Well, I have experienced this subtle annoyance in daily life and wanted to create a product to fix it. This tutorial will show you how to create and assemble a device that will allow easy and mess-free flow of liquid from your bottle, to your cup.

Target Audience: 6th - 12th Grade Students and University Students

Learning Objective: This tutorial was created to show students how even simple tasks can be improved when the Engineering design process is used, and how the Standards for Technological Literacy are a very important aspect of design and problem-solving.

This product address the following STEL concepts:

1. Impacts of Technology STEL Core Standard

The Easy Pour Bottle Stopper highlights the impact of technology on our daily tasks in life. Even something as simple as pouring liquid from a bottle without spilling can be impacted by technology. There are many seemingly minute aspects of life that we can improve and enhance through technology and design.

2. Making and Doing STEL Practice

This product is an example of the making and doing practice as it is used with a specific purpose and problem in mind. The beauty of the technology and engineering world is that there are seemingly endless solutions to be found for problems. Even the simple act of pouring a drink can be improved upon by making a solution to a problem and doing what needs to be done to solve it.

3. Transportation and Logistics STEL Context

The Bottle Stopper represents a logistical change to the way beverages are transported and poured. This may seem like a small problem to solve, but in the mindset of Engineering Design, there is no problem too small to create a solution for.

Supplies

Plastic Bottle (20 OZ)

Available 3D Printer

PLA Filament

Super Glue

Liquid of choice

Step 1: 3-D Printer

3-D printing is a technology that has not yet reached the average consumer. Because of this, it is plausible to assume that most people do not own one. However, gaining access to use a 3-D printer is generally doable.

For those who have no experience with 3-D printing, below is a link to a quick tutorial on the basics.

3D Printing Basics

Source: 3DPI

Step 2: Fabrication

Using the provided STL files, you will need to use a 3D printer to create the parts needed for this project. These models need to be kept as the size in which they come, in order for the stopper to fit a bottle correctly. Depending on the print speed and quality, these parts will take an estimated 3-5 hours to print. Once completed, you should have the following parts.

Nozzle
Screw Cap
Nozzle Lid

These prints require very little supports, assuming that the Screw Cap is printed Upside Down.

You are now ready to assemble!

Step 3: Bottom Assembly

The first assembly of this project is quite simple. Here are the following actions needed...

Place Cap Screw right side up
Place Nozzle Lid with the stem in the groove, disk over the hole, and handle pointing away from the Cap Screw

Step 4: Top Assembly

Next, you will assemble the top half of the Bottle Stopper...

Place super glue on the top face of the Cap Screw
Adhere the Nozzle to the top of the the Cap Screw with both holes aligned
Press the two halves together to create a strong glue adhesion
If Necessary, line the crack between the Cap Screw and Nozzle with super glue to create an additional seal.