Raspberry Pi Giveaway: Building a PIZ Dispenser for Open Sauce

Jeff creatively built a PIZ dispenser to give away 480 Raspberry Pi Picos at Open Sauce, overcoming engineering challenges and time constraints.

### Giving Away 480 Raspberry Pis with a PIZ Dispenser
The creator is giving away **480 Raspberry Pi Picos** at Open Sauce using a self-built dispenser, inspired by a **PEZ design**. They faced challenges with mechanical engineering and TSA regulations, leading to the use of **gun magazine springs** for the dispenser. Despite their struggles with CAD design, they are determined to **learn and complete the project in time**.

### Inside the PEZ Dispenser: A DIY Journey
The PEZ dispenser is built with a few **cheap plastic pieces**, featuring a delicate mechanism to **push the candy out**. The creator faced challenges with **scaling up the design** and the **flimsy tray for the Picos**. After several revisions, they successfully created a working prototype and added a **subtle embossed detail** for a finished look, while acknowledging their **beginner status** in the design process.

### Tinkering with the PIZ Dispenser
The author is racing against time to print parts for a PIZ dispenser, with **480 Raspberry Pis** to accommodate. Procrastination has led to a last-minute rush, but the author's new merch store, powered by Squarespace, is now **up and running**. To solve the problem of jamming trays, the author is using a paper guillotine to cut **480 pieces of poster board**, while also redesigning the pusher for **better efficiency**.

### Last-Minute Printing Rush for AR-15 Parts
The speaker is working on a design and procrastinating by watching Apple's WWDC keynote. They received **AR-15 magazine springs that are wider** for their large caliber Picos, and are in the midst of multiple print revisions with a **tight deadline**. After reaching out to STL Denise 3D for help, she graciously printed the necessary parts, allowing the speaker to fulfill their goal of **giving away half of the PIs**.

### 3D Printing Challenges and Innovations
The speaker is adjusting the **Z-height offset** on their printer to **reduce stringing** on the first layer. They are struggling with the design of a **pusher for a tray**, facing issues with **real-world tolerances** and the pusher's **placement**. The speaker has set up **OctoPrint at home** for remote monitoring and is working on getting it set up at the studio, while also experimenting with a new **Bamboo Labs P1S printer** for **faster production**.

### Exciting Adventures with the Bamboo Lab P1S and Open Sauce
The speaker picked up a Bamboo Lab P1S printer, impressed by its **high speed**, and then headed to San Francisco. At Adam Savage's workshop, The Cave, they were amazed by the **organized and densely packed space** filled with detailed props. Open Sauce was an overwhelming but exciting experience, featuring unique projects like a **giant Macintosh**, a **pumpkin keyboard**, and multiple **Raspberry Pi setups**.

### Exciting Moments at the 3D Printing Event
Joseph Prusa was a popular figure, surrounded by 3D printing enthusiasts, with many **unique creations** on display. The author gave away **100 Picos** and connected with fellow attendees, including those from St. Louis. The event featured a diverse range of **innovative projects**, live music, and creative ways to engage with attendees, including a **unique autograph collection method** and a **home hub prototype**.

### A Weekend of Giving and Learning at Open Sauce
Jeff Geerling spent the weekend at Open Sauce, giving out Raspberry Pi devices and connecting with fellow tech enthusiasts. He had memorable encounters, including receiving a business card from **Ben Eater** and posing by a **giant PEZ dispenser**. The experience helped him **break the ice and engage with others**, making it a **valuable and fulfilling weekend**.

### Creative Raspberry Pi Giveaway: Building the PIZ Dispenser for Open Sauce
* 🎉 I'm giving away **480 Raspberry Pi Picos** at Open Sauce, using a unique **PIZ dispenser design** inspired by a PEZ dispenser, which I built to fit in my **carry-on luggage**.
* 🛠 The project began with a mechanical engineering challenge, as I needed to create a way to **dispense the Picos without using tools that would be prohibited by TSA**, leading me to the idea of a **PEZ-style dispenser**.
* 💻 Despite my limited experience with CAD software like Fusion 360, I persevered through multiple design iterations, learning the **intricacies of 3D modeling** along the way, even as I faced difficulties with the software.
* ⏳ Time was of the essence, as I had only **a few days left before my flight**, and each component took significant time to print—**up to ten hours for some pieces**—leading to a frantic schedule of revisions and prints.
* 📦 I enlisted help from STL Denise 3D, who graciously printed additional components for me, ensuring I had **enough parts to successfully distribute the Raspberry Pis at the event**.
* 🎤 At Open Sauce, I encountered a vibrant maker community, showcasing **innovative projects and technologies**, while giving away Picos and engaging with fellow creators, including meeting fans who **appreciated my work**.
* 💬 The experience culminated in an **overwhelming but fulfilling event**, where my PIZ dispenser served as a **conversation starter**, helping me **connect with others and learn from their projects**, making it a **memorable Father's Day with my dad**.
* 🌟 Ultimately, the PIZ dispenser was a fun and educational endeavor, illustrating the **power of creativity and collaboration** in the maker community, and I am grateful for the support from sponsors like **Squarespace** that made this project possible.

I gave away 480 Raspberry Pis at Open Sauce

I make things work. Often with Raspberry Pis—almost always open source!