I wanted to share my second "completed" design after starting to learn Fusion 360. It's a fully 3D printed gumball dispenser with a working ratchet mechanism that only allows the knob to turn clockwise.
The hardest part was definitely the ratchet. My first attempt at a traditional ratchet and pawl setup was too small to work reliably with just printed parts. I eventually solved it by creating a single, flexible "spring-gear" that combines the spring and pawl into one piece.
My original plan was to also add a coin slot so the knob could only be turned when a coin is inserted, but that got a little too complicated for my current skills. That will have to wait for version 2.
The ball holder would look a lot better with transparent filament, but I didn't have any on hand at the moment.
This could be a perfect gift for dispensing candy or something small. Food safety with 3D prints can be a concern, so It's probably best to use individually wrapped sweets or use a food-safe coating on the parts if you plan to use it with unwrapped treats.
I've uploaded the model files if anyone wants to check it out or print their own. I'd love to hear what you think!
https://makerworld.com/en/models/1622388-gumball-machine-working-with-only-3d-printed-parts#profileId-1712816
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