Missing SodaStream Bottle Cap Problem Solved by 3D Printing

Back in the day, before 3D printers were around, a popular pastime was to hang out at the soda shop — especially in the 1950s.  This was a big part of the ’50s diner culture. But nowadays people really like DIY projects — including making their own sodas with devices like the SodaStream, which has been around since the early 20th century but gaining in popularity in recent years. But you know how devices are. Don’t you hate it when a missing small part of a device keeps you from using it?

This is what happened when Noah Lewkowitz, who uses the handle “nlewkowitz” on Thingiverse and Instructables, kept losing his bottle caps and he would spend hours looking for them. That’s a long time for a bottle cap search! But these sodas must taste good. SodaStream makes carbon dioxide into fizzy water and you choose from various syrups for flavor. But what good is your SodaStream without a bottle cap?  It’s the very thing that keeps it fizzy — as we all well know. When the soda goes flat, the party is over, right?

Nlewkowitz solved this admittedly “first world problem” by simply whipping one up with his 3D printer. And when you see the functional end result, you may want to do it yourself if you are one of the DIY soda makers who lose bottle caps easily also.

The process was easy enough and the result looks good, too — kinda sporty. He used a SodaStream bottle, a 3/4 inch piece of sticky-backed Velcro, and about six inches of string. His 3D print files can be found on Thingiverse.

After you print the pieces from files, you will end up with four pieces: cap cover, top, string connector, and bottle string connector. Then cut the Velcro into two squares, fitting them into the back of bottle string connector and cap cover, and next attach compatible Velcro pieces to the bottle. One piece goes in bottle cap’s middle, and the second where the bottle is perpendicular to its surface.

The last step is the cap and bottle connections.  It’s as easy as the rest of the process.

Place cap cover on top of the cap Velcro. Next, place cap string connector on the cover by placing the larger cap string connector hole over the cap stem and snap it. This will keep cap string connector in place, but let it swivel when you are turning the actual bottle cap.

Next, thread piece of string through the cap string connector and tie end knot. Take the other string end and put through the bottle string connector hole: then tie that small knot. Now you can attach the bottle string connector to bottle velcro and enjoy using your new and highly convenient 3D printed SodaStream Bottle Cap Restraint System (BCRS).

Try one today before you lose your next cap! Nlewkowitz offers illustrated step-by-step instructions on Instructables.

What do you think of the bottle cap restraint system (BCRS)? Would a system like this help you keep track of small objects? Let us know if you’ve made the BCRS or something like it over in the 3D Printed SodaStream Cap Keeper forum thread at 3DPB.com.