Gridfinity Automatic Magnet Dispenser w applicator

The design uses 2x1 gridfinity tiles and has space for 2 dispensers side-by-side, so it can dispense both baseplate and bins magnets.

Print settings:

Printer: CRS-10 Pro

Material: PLA 

Layer height: 0.2mm

Nozzle diameter: 0.4 mm

Infill: 15%

Supports: organic from build plate only

Ironing: All top surfaces

Hardware:

2 x heat inserts (2x3.2x3mm)

2 x M2x5mm screws

2 x 5.5x38mm compression spring for the applicator

2 x 5.5x25.5mm extension springs for the dispenser

2 stacks of 6 pieces of 4x1mm small magnets for the applicator tip. 

Varies x Gridfinity magnets 6x2mm like these

Springs are from this kit

Heat Inserts are from this kit

Post-Print 

Make sure all parts that move do so freely. Some light sanding or filing may be needed depending on print quality. Some light filing might be necessary to let the magnets feed freely.

I would suggest to assemble everything first without gluing to check the mechanism works fine.

Assembly

Dispenser Body

Add the heat insert in the sled. 

Position sled and the ring with the long side up, make sure they can move freely.

Add CA glue to some of the flat areas near the locating features.

Position the midplate, let the glue set.

Position the bell crank transfer link.

Add CA glue to some of the flat areas near the locating features.

Position the cover plate and let the glue set.

Screw in the M2 screw in the sled and add the extension spring.

Check if movement is smooth.

Applicator pen

Remove supports gently then glue the small magnet to the thin tip of inner shaft, make sure is concentric to the shaft.

I would suggest to use a longer stack of the small magnets and glue shafts at both ends, the magnet polarity can be figured out later.

Once the glue is set slide the compression spring over.

Slide the inner shaft into the outer shaft of the applicator, it needs to be forced a bit to go all the way.

Magnet Polarity

To find the magnet polarity, use a compass (or phone app) and mark where is the north in your room. Then take a stack of 14 6x2mm magnets and put a sewing thread between the middle magnets. Suspend the stack away from metal or other fields (like in the middle of the room). Use a red marker to mark the magnet face that faces north, then mark the opposite face with a blue marker.

From my understanding the convention is to have the baseplate magnets facing North (Red) up.

Final assembly

Use the applicator to pickup a marked magnet and transfer the mark accordingly the applicator. I see the applicators as magnets themselves so I marked both the extremities.

Load a stack of magnets in the dispenser and add 3 magnets to the bottom, reverse the stack for the second dispenser. Put dispensers in the gridfinity plate. Check with applicator so see the polarity and mark dispenser accordingly.