Paintbrush Savers - Custom fit covers with Parametric Model

Are you tired of your paintbrushes getting ruined by having their bristles deformed? The manufacturers tell you to keep them in their original cardboard package, but who keeps those around…

Let me share some simple sleeves with custom fit for some popular models of brushes, and a parametric model file to create your own!

Features:

• adjustable angle to fit the brush
• friction fit for most brushes (some will need adjustment to parameters, as paintbrushes are not precision parts :-)).
• Optional reinforcement bands for larger brushes - prevent “squish”
• Economical with only 1mm wall thickness

Print Settings:

• Supports are not needed with proper bed adhesion
• With 0.6 nozzle, default thickness will result in 1 perimeter, except at the retainer / reinforcement layers
• Wall thickness and some other parameters may need tweaking for optimal printing with other nozzle sizes.

Material:

• PETG recommended, though PLA might work. Please report back.

Brush Identification:

• Sash brushes can be identified by the angled end of the cover (optional).
• Permanent marker on the large surface of the cover (for the practical people)
• Add 3d printed text inside your slicer (for the perfectionists and people with spare time).

To create your own custom-fit sleeve, use the Modify Parameters option in Fusion 360.

The most common options are documented in their description fields.

The measurements needed can be taken as follows.

There is a tradeoff between creating an angled cover, as printing it in vertical orientation (recommended) will result in an ugly top layer. You can instead opt to set BrushAngle to 0, and just measure the brush length from the end of the longest bristle. This will consume slightly more plastic and print time, but will produce a nicer finish (eliminating stair-stepping or potential stringing issues).

Looking forward to your improvements!