The toothpaste helper is used to assist individuals with low fine motor skills to push toothpaste out of the tube without using their fingers. By guiding the device toward the cap, it easily slides down the tube to compress the toothpaste out. Disclaimer: the idea for this design was inspired by https://www.etsy.com/nz/listing/449780942/toothpa...

Step 1: Step 1: Measuring Your Toothpaste Tube

In order to make the 3D print, you first need to know the correct dimensions of the toothpaste tube and your client. This particular tube was 3.25 inches long, 1 inch wide, and .25 inches tall in the middle where the toothpaste is distributed. I used these measurements, plus a few extra inches, to make the opening of the toothpaste helper device. The client's thumb will need to be measured for total width so they will be able to grip the top without it being too small or too big. The thumb measured in this was .6 inch wide.

Step 2: Step 2: Making the 3D Print

I started by making the opening. Since we have the dimensions of the toothpaste tube, I made a rectangle with a hole in it that would be big enough to fit the toothpaste tube, while also small enough to compress the toothpaste out. The dimensions of the hole is 1 inch X 0.125 inch. The dimensions of the rectangle are slightly bigger to accommodate for the hole. The length is 1.4 inch X .25 inch. I grouped the two pieces together to create a hole. The width of this object was set at .125 inch because it is thick enough that it will not snap when pressure is applied.

Step 3: Step 3: Creating the Hand Grip

Based on the measurements of the thumb, this piece was made to be slightly taller. The cylinder's height is .75 inch, slightly bigger than the actual measurement of the thumb. The cylinder should align with the rectangle in terms of length and width. It is placed on top of the rectangle.

Step 4: Step 4: Personalization

Now that the base for the project is complete, it is time to personalize! The creator should keep in mind the interests of the client when determining how to decorate with 3D print. In this case, the client may be a child who is interested in monsters. This was created by using different aspects of the 3D printing experience on TinkerCad and adding them onto the base. For example, this one has ears, eyes, a nose, and the hole looks like a mouth. Always keep your client in mind when adding personal touches.

Step 5: Step 5: Printing

The final step is to group the pieces together on TinkerCad and print the design!

Step 6: Step 6: Using the Device

To use the device, you simply slide the toothpaste helper onto the designated tube. The client can push the toothpaste helper down the tube so it squeezes the toothpaste out easily with each use. Gone are the days of struggling to get toothpaste out of the tube due to muscle weakness or lack of fine motor skills.