SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — How would you make a hinge for this?

Re: How would you make a hinge for this?

2013-09-21T22:06:18Z

Glad to be of help...Good luck!

Re: How would you make a hinge for this?

2013-09-21T21:32:01Z

Thank you. I can pare off the hinge part and scale it down. I like the clasp too but it has to be somewhat watertight (literally, to keep the batteries dry).

Re: How would you make a hinge for this?

2013-09-21T19:03:56Z

BTW, here they are if you want to scale them or alter...they scaled up to about 28 inches across!

Re: How would you make a hinge for this?

2013-09-21T18:42:26Z

Happy to post it back to you, but I'm pretty sure it's not to size...for some reason, when I imported it into Solidworks, it got scaled up. Also, I just sketched to the STL image so that's another inaccuracy variable.

Can you post or PM me the particulars of the mating component, or the recess size dimensions this door fits into?

Re: How would you make a hinge for this?

2013-09-21T18:18:26Z

Ironman, that is excellent. Who do I have to kill to get that STL?

Re: How would you make a hinge for this?

2013-09-20T18:09:26Z

If you mean the 3D PDF, that's an option under "save as" in Solidworks...

If you mean the model itself, I imported the STL and used the graphic to trace geometries to create a solid model; then modified it for the hinge and snap-tab.

Re: How would you make a hinge for this?

2013-09-20T18:04:50Z

Nice, Not to get off topic but how did you do that?

Re: How would you make a hinge for this?

2013-09-20T18:02:06Z

How about something like this? Just a thought...(just point and click to rotate, etc)

Re: How would you make a hinge for this?

2013-09-20T16:14:38Z

Actually Iron Man I did that once. The bottom side of the cover has an electric wire and contact that runs down to the batteries so it really needs a hinge to keep everything in place and stress off the wire. Good suggestion though.

Re: How would you make a hinge for this?

2013-09-20T15:56:50Z

Heartlander,

Just looked at the STL...why not consider a non-flexing design and just insert the bottom tab into a mating recess with a screw or screws holding it closed at the other end?

Re: How would you make a hinge for this?

2013-09-20T15:26:23Z

Does anyone know if you can cement PLA Flex to ABS? Te batt cover is 2MK thick. Maybe could print the bottom 1MM of Flex, to get the hinge property, then the top 1MM of ABS to get the stiffness I need. Glue the two layers together. (I almost said, print the Flex layer, readjust the Z stop up 1MM and print the ABS on top of the Flex). Hmm...

Re: How would you make a hinge for this?

2013-09-20T15:23:52Z

Kind of, Can you show us what its connecting too? It may be stiff enough for this purpose.

Re: How would you make a hinge for this?

2013-09-20T15:22:21Z

I have some Taulman 618, I'll give that a try. I wonder if plastic paints (Fusion, etc.) will stick to it? Looks like it cools white.

Steve, the batt cover needs to be stiff since there are electronics and a switch behind it. I take it you're concerned about the nylon being too soft.

Re: How would you make a hinge for this?

2013-09-20T13:45:41Z

Nylon. Here is a link to a gas can cap I made. The flexibility is incredible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs9PNCxEa5o

How rigid will the battery cover need to be?

Re: How would you make a hinge for this?

2013-09-20T05:04:50Z

Print it in nylon, perhaps?