FrostCore

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This is more than just a can cooler.

Most can coolers only insulate your drink—they don’t actually cool it. This design changes that. It features a double-wall body with a hollow cavity that you can fill with a cooling substance, keeping your beverage cold for longer.

I first developed this project in 07/2021 and initially used water as the cooling medium. It worked sometimes, but when the water froze, it would expand and damage the walls. That led me to retire the model… until now.

I’m bringing it back, hoping the community can help improve it even further. I’m currently testing gel from standard freeze packs, and so far, it’s been working perfectly. No leaks or bulging. I’ll update if that changes.

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UPDATES:

• 07/18/2025 - CLOSED BOTTOM ADDED

01: Version with a closed bottom to prevent heat transfer from the resting surface to the can.

*Not tested. If you have any suggestions or improvements, please let me know and I'll implement it for you.

02: Instead of printing both the Standard and Standard Tall versions, you can print just the Tall version along with the included adapter. The adapter is a small, easy-to-print part that doesn't need to be particularly strong. It's used as a spacer to allow standard-height cans to fit properly in the cooler designed for tall cans.

• 07/20/2025 - THINNER WALLS

As suggested by @Carlos_84806, I’ve added new versions with a closed bottom and the suffix "_thinner_walls".
In these versions, the outer wall thickness has been increased from 2 mm to 2.4 mm, and the inner wall from 1.2 mm to 0.8 mm. The thinner wall between the can and the gel should improve cooling efficiency.

Version tested and no leaks so far.

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Sizes Included:

Standard – fits typical 12 fl oz (330 ml) cans

Standard Tall – same diameter, taller cans. 16 fl oz (473 ml)

Slim Tall – slim cans, same height as Standard Tall. 12 fl oz (330 ml)

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Parts Needed

2x O-rings – 3×1 mm (3 mm inner diameter, 1 mm thick)
One for each cap, to prevent leaking after thawing.

Funnel – included in the files to help fill the inner chamber

Syringe is better and easier to fill it up with gel

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Print Settings & Tips

Material: ASA is my preferred material (PETG or ABS should also work)

Strength: Ensure the number of perimeters is sufficient to create fully solid inner and outer walls.

Seam: Using “Staggered inner seams” has proven to be more effective for achieving a watertight print

Supports: Tree supports work well for the cap (print it standing on its pin)

Split to parts: The body can be split in your slicer so you can use texture (or different colors) for the outer shell. This improves grip and hides layer lines.

• I printed the “_thinner wall” version using the settings below, which resulted in a small air gap on the outer wall. This could help improve insulation. 

• Also, check the configuration I used to print with Fuzzy Skin - it adds a nice texture to the surface.

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Performance Test

I tested the design by placing two identical cans (filled with water) in the fridge for 24h. After removing them, one went in the can cooler, the other stayed exposed. I took temperature measurements every 15 minutes—the one in the cooler stayed colder for significantly longer.

Check the pictures.

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Thermal Transfer Coefficient

The lower numbers are less thermal transfer:

PLA: 0.13 W/mK
ABS: 0.25 W/mK
PETG: 0.29 W/mK
PEEK: 0.25 W/mK

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Final Notes

This is still a work-in-progress. Feel free to remix or suggest improvements—especially better filler materials! I’d love to hear what works for you.