Make Your Own 3D Printed Combination Safe

Do you walk around with valuable small items that you’d like to secure better? Money, keys, your highly valuable computer memory card with essential documents and photos on it? It might feel secure in your backpack zipper pocket, but what if someone steals your bag and you are very worried they now have your house key and memory card? At least, with a 5 character cryptex/money safe, you can rest assured if you lose your valuables, no one else will get at them until you get your stuff back!

Of course, 3D printing can help here.

Apparently, this idea is very popular because, combined, there have been close to almost 9,500 downloads of this model from Thingiverse! There are three different Thingiverse posts about the mini safe. The first one was posted by original designer, “SavageRodent,” last December, and the second one is a remix of this safe by Jeff Latham or “jlatham.” The original post offers the most information and specifications about the safe. For example, it has over 100,000 possible combinations with 5 different rings, a sturdy construction that allows it to stay together when its open, and it’s easy to print.

This design has few overhangs and requires no support structures so no cleaning is required and it can be put together straight from the build plate. It was printed in 8 hours with the following specifications: top & bottom 0.8mm; shell 0.8mm; fill 20%; and print speed of 60 mm/s.

As you can see from the graphics presented here, SavageRodent has also laid out very helpful visuals to guide you along through your own process with this project.

The main changes in Jeff Latham’s remix is that letters substitute for numbers and, with 10 letters per wheel, this allows for at least 80 possible words. There’s a blank wheel as well that you can customize in the CAD program of your choice.

Since this is a remix, you will want to go to the original post to get all the files (such as the inner tube, which remains the same in both designs.)

Finally, there is one more remix of the original design by Jim Neill or “jneilliii” that very simply enlarges the ends of SavageRodent’s original design so that it is “easier to grip and pull the pieces apart.”

This is a very popular safe. SavageRodent’s has been printed 9,328 times with 36,261 views. Jeff Latham’s design has received 51 downloads. And Jim Neill’s has received 100 downloads.  Check out the different possibilities and experiment with the designs to make it just right for yourself. Just make sure you post your changes for everyone to see. Have a “safe” time 3D printing!  What are your thoughts on this design?  Discuss in the 3D Printed Combination Safe forum on 3DPB.com.