Can Seamer DIY

[EspetoHomebrewing]

Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum, although I've been following you from the shadows for a long time. First of all, sorry for my bad English, I'm from Spain and I'm a bit oxidated on the Shakespeare language.

I'd like to start in this community sharing with you my new project, a 3D Printed Can Seamer.

My main idea, to save effort in a solid structure, is that the sealer was anchored to the wall, so the wall would be the structure. I've already used this idea whit my counter pressure filler support (I'll make a post ASAP with the design pieces)

So, for now I can tell you, I've been designing the top part main pieces:

And printed the most difficult part. The piece that would fit the lid of the can:

Apart from screws, nuts and bearings (which I will specify when I check that everything fits), the only metal parts that I cannot print and need to be purchased are the two sealing wheels:
1st Op Roller
2nd Op Roller

I'll be back with more updates soon!! Stay tuned!

 

[Dr_Jeff]

That's nice.

 

[EspetoHomebrewing]

Hey. Some updates!

I've started printing some pieces this week:

All the top part is printed and mounted on the wall. There are 3 parts, the main support, the upper disc (where the can lid tightens), and the handle with the 2 wheels. The upper disc and the handle are placed in the main support through two bearings.

So, for now, my canning corner is working fine!!

Hope you like it!

 

[Ragman]

This is very cool. Would love to see it in action. Any way you could post a video somewhere?

Great work!

 

[FloppyKnockers]

That's pretty snazzy! Would you mind sharing the .stl with us?

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

are you spinning the can by hand? what's your process

 

[EspetoHomebrewing]

This is very cool. Would love to see it in action. Any way you could post a video somewhere?

Great work!

Yes! Once the setup is working fine I'll post a video with the process, all the pieces and the 3d printed models to be printed by anyone!

 

[EspetoHomebrewing]

That's pretty snazzy! Would you mind sharing the .stl with us?

Of course! It's the idea.

 

[EspetoHomebrewing]

are you spinning the can by hand? what's your process

This system is thought to spin with a drill. I'm thinking to modify it to adapt some type of electric engine with some sensors to make the process more automatic. But for now I prefer to test the seamer process with the drill.

 

[matt_m]

What holds the can against the lid?

 

[DuncB]

This looks great, mounted on a stainless steel shield like your counterflow filler and perhaps with a " reversed / upside down bench capper unit " to lift the can in place it looks a brilliant thing. It would tempt me to can some beer.

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

This system is thought to spin with a drill. I'm thinking to modify it to adapt some type of electric engine with some sensors to make the process more automatic. But for now I prefer to test the seamer process with the drill.

I have one and mine is mounted on a benchtop drill press

 

[EspetoHomebrewing]

Hi guys!

I finished the bottom part and try to test the system.

To press the can to the top part, I designed a screw with a rotating part.

And here we go with the first attempt! As you can see, there are some looseness that must be solved. But it works!

 

[EspetoHomebrewing]

I'm redesigning the main piece to reduce the looseness, adding 2 bearing for axis, incrementing the density of some parts. I think it would be better to use a screwdriver than a drill .

I'll be back with more updates soon!

 

[Deadalus]

Looks like there is a threaded bolt inserted into the chuck of the drill? The drill is very wobbly probably because of that. A shape like a hex wrench would have more stability or even smooth vs threaded as drill bits are sometimes just smooth and round. That's if you intend to keep using the drill. Also, a mount for the drill would keep it steadier.

 

[EspetoHomebrewing]

I've just made a try with a screwdriver and it seems to improve the stability. Anyway, I'm printing a new support to handle 2 bearings per axis and maybe take your advice and print a support for the screwdriver to fix this issue. Thanks!

 

[DuncB]

@deadulus
I agree with you there looks a big moment on the drill, a mounting to hold it still and a drill type with a slow start might be helpful.
Very impressive work, the higher density plastic should help it as well.

 

[EspetoHomebrewing]

Hi again!

New support piece mounted. It has 2 bearings per axis and more density and x/y reinforcement:

The looseness has been removed. The spin of the can is not perfectly circular due to the base piece, but it seems that it does not affect the closing.

And here we have the final result!

 

[DuncB]

That's looking good. I read somewhere that warming the can up was a good way to test the integrity of your seaming?
Wondering if a Cam shape with a lever would be a good way to lift the can up to position rather than screw in and out. Might be a bit quicker for lots of cans.
I'm impressed and thinking about ordering the wheels for the seamer given it's taken more than 2 months for my order ( so far ) from aliexpress.

 

[Liero]

That looks great!

Just athought from my side:
Can fixation could be done with a toggle clamp:

This would greatly improve the usability.

An alternative would be something similar I used for my counter pressure filler (if you want to stick to your all 3d print approach) :

sorry for the crappy pic...

With what kind of program do you design your parts? Any chance that you upload the parts in its current state, I would love to take a look at it. Maybe I can help in some way.

Lukas

 

[DuncB]

@Liero
Your picture is this a bit like a scissor lift for the bottle / can? it would need to lock or stick at the raised position as your hand would be needed to trigger the drill and the seaming wheels. Nice design though.
I'll get some pictures of my counter pressure bottle filler which is spring controlled which would be " handsfree" and is user friendly.

 

[Liero]

@DuncB the platform is self locking (over dead center leverage) ==> also "handsfree"

The initial design for the mechanism is from an german homebrew forum, I just adopted it to make it fully printable.

 

[PT934]

@EspetoHomebrewing & @Liero great work! Would you both be willing to share your 3d CAD files on the can seamer, counter pressure fillers and bottle lift? I just received a set of sealing wheels from morebeer! and would like to build a filling / canning / bottling station. I have a 3d printer and a metal / woodworking shop and would like to make a "hybrid" mix of all the above. Thank you!

 

[JeffersonStateBrewing]

Yes please share files. there are a lot of people here that would be very interested in building these. they look very nice and would be quite useful.

 

[Liero]

As my design is heavily inspired by other projects, have to ask for their permission. After this I would love to make at least my files available.

 

[chazam]

I'm into 3d design too and I love this.

 

[PT934]

I have one and mine is mounted on a benchtop drill press

@Ozarks_Mountain_Brew this is an interesting approach, do you have any pics or info you could share?

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

I have a store bought cannular pro, most you buy are all mounted on a benchtop drill press

 

[EspetoHomebrewing]

Hi, I'm trying to fix one piece that is not working well and back to you with the final designs. Sorry about that

 

[PT934]

Hi, I'm trying to fix one piece that is not working well and back to you with the final designs. Sorry about that

No problem! I appreciate your work & ingenuity and you sharing it all with us.

The picture that @Liero posted above with the aluminum extrusion with the T-slots is giving me some ides on how to set this all up. I 3-d printed a section similar to that for another project I am working on. I want to make this set up easy to put away when not in use as I don't currently have a dedicated spot for this and don't do a lot of bottling (or hopefully soon, canning). Maybe some sort of modular filling / canning station?