I designed a cardboard cutter that turns boxes into free cat scratchers

STL files available on Thangs
- This would work with regular shaped blades, right? Like this? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GIZ9164/
- Kickass 3d print man
I found this one online from last year
https://www.printables.com/model/356486-cat-scratcher-cardboard-cutter-v2

Looks like the specific design in this video is being sold here, but if you'd prefer something that isn't behind a pay wall there's a few options (like this one).

Side rant: I'm all for people getting compensation for creative work but I feel like it's wrong to put the source file behind a waywall instead of simply selling the actual print directly to people that don't have access to a printer, that seems much more fair imo

Selling the actual print is more work than selling the STL.
- Oh definitely, I just think it's easier to justify paying for a physical product than it is paying for a single file if you still need to manufacture it yourself. Still a valid business practice, I'm just biased toward "information should be free" and all that.
- So much more. It's not even in the same ballpark.
I tried to buy the model from an artist recently for personal use(friend wanted some Mickey ears of a specific style). Person told me no and quoted me $130 with a 3 week wait time for a physical product that was something I could print in about an hour myself. For a Disney product they were already infringing on themselves.
Went elsewhere and found someone selling the model for $7. Figured that was fair for the effort to transform it into a model file.
Turned out I was wrong - only took me 20 minutes to print.
Some of these artists are ridiculous....
- I've made a few things. One, Mickey shaped cabinet hardware I put up for free because I didn't want to deal with Disney. Though I might put the raw print up on Etsy or something just because.
  Another is a frame to turn a Disney name tag into an ornament. I'm selling the completed product rather than releasing the design because I wanted to really offer it to people who didn't have 3d printers and wanted to ensure that it met my standards. And I didn't want competition. That said, it takes quite a lot of time to print, prep, sand, and paint. I spend a couple hours in finishing each and sell it at a price that... Totally doesn't make it worth it.

Awesome! Is that a real device that's available for sale? Those would be good school or scout projects to donate to animal shelters.

I have the STL files on Thangs for 3D printing.
- I've been thinking about getting a 3D printer. Well, yesterday I decided I need a 3D printer. I know nothing at all. What should I get?

I have used something like that. The blade dulls pretty quickly and it is a lot of work. I got 2 or 3 usable cat scratchers out of one blade.

Given that one cat scratcher cost something like 2,50€, it simply wasnt worth it for me.

Depending on what that couch has been through, it might be about marking/refreshing territory.
But also understand that there are different kinds of scratching materials and structure. My cat only likes the cardboard kind in a small A3-ish box and that is more because she likes to move it around. For actual scratching she very much prefers the ropier material in something sturdy at a 90 or 45 degree angle that she can really push against without it moving.
And I've NEVER seen a cat actually like one of those free standing scratching posts after the first time they push it over during a more energetic session.
- My two cats prefer them. Even the new one we got (and need to replace) that keeps falling on top of one of them.

Is the hot glue pretty good for standing up to kitty abuse? I was thinking PVA glue, but a glue gun would make things quicker.

My two are pretty good with not eating things they shouldn't so I just made sure stringy bits were cleaned up. Googling says PVA/wood glue is safer for cats but I would check brands if they are non-toxic

That looks a lot easier than gluing a stack of boxes together and cutting off slabs with a bandsaw like I was planning.

I guess this is my excuse to finally finish calibrating my new extruder setup.

I love this! Free cat scratchers might not seem like they have much value, but has anyone seen the price of those ready-made things?! They're pushing $20 for a large-ish flat scratcher at lower volume places like TSC, but Target isn't much better, still $10 for a 10" x 18" flat cheapy.

Down with bougie cat cardboard!!!

Reminder to avoid using Amazon boxes for this: Their boxes contain a rodenticide to keep rats/mice away from their products.

Reminder to check snopes before believing random internet factoids:
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/amazon-spray-boxes-chemicals/
- Thank you, I’m educated and savvy and I almost fell for that. Why oh WHY are there sooooo many trolls about?
- This sounds like a Facebook fact.
  Oh yep it is.
Is there a source on this? My initial fact check search suggests this was debunked.

This is cool but my cat won't touch cardboard scratchers.

👍