10mm open smooth rod holders for 2020

thingiverse

I printed my first set of smooth rod clamps in ABS, which shrank just a tiny bit after cooling - enough to prevent the 10mm rods from fitting properly and cracking along the thinnest part when forced into place. Also, I've noticed that cut 10mm smooth rods often develop a small ridge along their edge, making them slightly wider at that point. While it's possible to grind these ridges off using a grinder, I wanted to retain the strength and flexibility of ABS in my clamps. To achieve this, I added a small split between the two sides of each clamp. Additionally, I tapered the middle tab just a little bit to fit inside the v-notch of 2020 aluminum stock more smoothly. These modifications work well for me, and I hope they will be useful to others as well. The SketchUp 2017 file included is designed to make it easy to edit and customize the clamps according to your specific needs. Edit: I've added modified clamps with additional cuts for increased strain relief and flexibility - these should provide even better performance in demanding applications.