PEZ Dispenser-Based Foldable Martian Habitat

If you're like me, you have lots of empty PEZ dispensers and nothing to do with them. Fear no longer - they have a mechanical component that can be used to create an amazing little project in no time (on your part, at least). This project is designed to take the spring from a PEZ dispenser and use it to make a martian-style futuristic habitat that unfolds almost as well as a real one could.

3D printer (I used a Prusa MK4)

2 PEZ dispensers of the same size (size doesn't really matter)

Plastic bag

Tape

Hot glue

Scissors

And that's it!

From the PEZ dispensers, harvest the springs. First, cut off the head dispenser by cutting through the clear plastic. This may take some force. Next, push the slot for the candy through the bottom end of the dispenser. The spring should come out fairly easily. As you can see, the dispenser comes apart into multiple pieces. Keep the small end cap and the clear piece you cut apart.

Use hot glue to secure the springs in their locations.

Using the .stl file below, print out two end frames. It should be a simple print. I designed my part in Autodesk Fusion and printed in black PETG on a Prusa MK4.

Next, cut a section out of your plastic bag that is as tall as the spring's length and 220 mm long. Mark it at 50, 100, 150, and 200 mm from one end to make your four sides. Using tape, form your rectangle into a square tube. The 20 mm end section should overlap with the first piece to make a nice join. Now you have walls, and you need to add the frames.

First, hot glue one end of the tube to one end frame. Keep the "doors" on the outside, where people can see them. The extra rectangles are for the springs. Hot glue the ends of the springs to one end frame's protrusions.

You can also be lazy and just tape the parts together. Hot glue gives a cleaner finish, but since this is mostly to get PEZ dispensers out and prove a design, it's not as crucial. Plus, hot glue could eventually melt the plastic parts.

Glue the other end frame on just like the first one: tube, then springs. Leave time for each part to dry before starting the next section. Finally, use tape to keep each other frame in place.

And you're done! Share your project with others below. It should fold up into a small area, then pop out when you let it go. Build more along with other types of pieces to make an entire colony!