Sip Clip (Solo Cup Label)

Overview:

Our large, extended family spends time at a family cabin and uses Solo/Hefty cups for drinking glasses.  We have always used a Sharpie to put our names on them, but that has at least two issues:

-          Permanent marker (Sharpie) wears off.  They usually do not last a weekend between holding them and washing them each day.

-          No one likes digging through stacks of cups trying to find one with their name on it, assuming you still have one that wasn’t rubbed off.  Often, we just put our names on a new one.

With Sip Clips, each person can have their own clip with their initials on it.  They can be further refined with colors and shapes.  For example, we do a different color for each sub-family (sibling and their kids/grandkids).  Each person can also pick out a unique shape which is especially useful if two people in the same family have the same initials.

The clips are small enough that they do not get in your way while drinking, and they are not heavy enough to tip an empty cup over.  The small tabs allow you to attach a Sip Clip to a cup with one hand (see image). 

Sip Clips use 6x2 mm magnets (link below), so they can be stored on any ferromagnetic surface such as a refrigerator (non-stainless steel).  There is no hunting through stacks of cups to find your name and no worry about your name rubbing off.  Simply grab a clean cup, snap your clip on and drink without the concern of getting cooties from others.  When you’re done, place the Sip Clip back on the refrigerator and throw the cup in the sink to be washed.

NOTE: These work best with cups linked below that have a smooth wall versus the ones that have zig-zagging ribs or other fancy geometry around the rim.

Customizing

I have included step files and my Fusion 360 file, so you can customize them however you wish.  Feel free to make new shapes, improvements, adaptations, etc (I would love to see your creations!).  There are two easy ways to add Initials:

1.      Add text using a slicer.  See the image showing the slicer settings I use for the text.

2.      You can also modify the “txtName”, “txtHeight” and “txtDepth” parameters in Fusion 360, but you may need to adjust the extrude features to ensure all characters are included.  The text features are grouped at the end of the timeline and consist of a sketch, an extrude to deboss the text, then another extrude to bring them back flush as new bodies.  You can also edit the sketch to change the font and adjust the location of the initials.  When you bring it into a slicer, you can use the paint fill command to easily color the letters.

The “CupLid_w” and “CupLid_h” parameters (see image) can be used to adjust the fit of the Sip Clip for various types of cups.  NOTE: the “clearance” parameter gets added to these values:

-          CupLid_w: The height of the arch on the Sip Clip. Corresponds to the amount the lid's ring sticks out from the side.

-          CupLid_h: With the cup sitting on the table, it represents the height or thickness of the Cup's lid top to bottom (the part that overhangs)

Required Components

Once you’ve printed your Sip Clips, you only need magnets and cups.  Here are links to the ones we use and recommend:

-          Magnets:  I really like these 6x2mm magnets as they are strong for their size and reasonably priced: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZHKLXBB

-          Cups: We actually like the Hefty cups linked here since they have smooth sides and come in a variety of colors: https://www.amazon.com/Hefty-Party-Plastic-Assorted-Colors/dp/B00OCGUG02

o   For Solo cups, these also work: https://www.amazon.com/Cup-Squared-Plastic-Party-Ounce/dp/B075ZQJ17T

Installing the Magnets

1.      Take a stack of magnets and push one end into one side of the Sip Clip.  It is meant to be a very tight fit that shouldn’t require glue, but feel free to add a drop of CA glue or epoxy.  I get a magnet started, then flip it over and press firmly against a flat surface such as a table to seat the magnet fully.

2.      Rotate the same stack of magnets 180 degrees and repeat for the other side of the clip.

Printing:

These are designed to be “Print-in-Place”.  They can be printed in PLA or PETG, but I would recommend ASA if you will be using them for extended periods outdoors.  Ours are printed in PLA and have been fine.  I recommend using Arachne for the wall generator and a fine layer height like 1.2mm to ensure the text is easy to read.  No supports are required if printed in the orientations shown.