Fallout Nuka Cola QuanTum Bottle Cap

Fallout Bottlecap Collection

I made this set of Fallout bottlecaps for a local cosplayer who wanted a full set for their New Vegas Ranger outfit. I based the design on the old Coca-Cola-style metal caps I remember from glass bottles when I was a kid.

To make them print better, especially on a 0.4mm nozzle, I upsized them a bit to 33.8mm across. Real soda and beer bottlecaps are closer to 26mm, but this size helps keep the details clean without messing with the look too much.

So far, I have designed:

• Nuka-Cola (Original)
• Nuka-Cola Cherry
• Nuka-Cola Grape
• Nuka-Cola Orange
• Nuka-Cola Quantum
• Sunset Sarsaparilla

I will note that the Sunset Sarsaparilla and Nuka Cola QuanTum print quality is 100% better on a .2mm nozzle, especially the Sunset Sarsparilla due to the fine line work.

Before You Print

Due to their small size and fine detail, these caps benefit from careful preparation and tuned settings.

A clean bed is absolutely critical. Most adhesion issues on small prints are due to oils or fingerprints, not bad settings. I personally avoid glue for adhesion or dish soap when cleaning. Instead, I wipe down the plate between every print using isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth (ones suitable for monitor screens). The only times I had adhesion issues was when I hadn't cleaned the plate sufficiently.

• Bed Temp: Increase to 60°C (that extra 5°C helps with adhesion)
• Plates: Works with both smooth and textured beds
• Clean The Plate: I cannot stress this enough. It's a small print, clean that surface!

Suitable Nozzle Sizing & Quality On The .4mm and .2mm Nozzles

All bottlecaps were tested and refined using a 0.4mm nozzle and print well at that size. Each cap is 34mm wide, so getting a perfect first layer is tricky. I’ve included a custom profile tuned for 0.4mm. Just remember to increase bed temp to 60c.

That said, if you’re looking to push quality further, after 10,000+ hours on 0.4mm, I installed a 0.2mm for the first time just for this project and the results were incredible. I used a standard 0.10mm preset with the Arachne wall generator enabled, and was pleased enough with the results and print speed that I didn't feel the need to push the settings further. 

I will note that the Sunset Sarsparilla benefits the most from the .2mm nozzle, to the point where I would only recommend printing that cap out on the .2mm nozzle if you have one handy. The Nuka Cola QuanTum also benefits from much sharper lettering on the .2mm nozzle.

Bottlecap Interior / Components

I added a 1mm solid colour plate to the inside of the bottlecaps to help remove any pinholes that could be seen glinting through the front plate. It adds to the sturdiness of the print, and also provides a great surface to glue a magnet if you want to use these as fridge magnets.

If you wish to adjust colours for the print, click on the ‘Objects’ tab next to the ‘Global’ tab. I have kept each colour group separate so you don't need to struggle painting the prints, just change the colour of the component.

I hope you enjoy the bottlecaps!