3D printer returns function to tape dispensers with missing cores

Simon Templeton, Grade 4 teacher, contacted the Technology Team in February about using the 3D printer to solve a problem that has been troubling him: tape dispensers that are missing the middle ring that holds the tape in place. We went onto Thingiverse.com and searched for ‘tape dispenser core’ and found a design by rikkilambo that we can print. As we started talking with others about the solution, we found that this problem goes across the school, and are now busily printing tape dispenser cores to bring previously unusable tape dispensers back into action. What tape dispenser core would you design? Could you design a tape dispenser that doesn’t need a core? Do you know a tape dispenser that needs a core? What would you do to stop people from throwing away the tape dispenser core when they throw away an empty roll of tape? We thought a bright green core might help. :)