Customizable Stackable Tube/Pipe Clamp - OLD VERSION! UPDATING SOON.

prusaprinters

Overview:My office rolls to where I need it in my home. I use a 55" curved 4K TV as my monitor, mounted on a <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07581Z9SM">rolling TV stand</a>. I needed to attach my mic, webcam and light, and trying to use squeeze spring clamps on the thin bezel of the monitor was a FAIL. I designed this clamp system to let me add a horizontal 1" diameter tube to the stand's 2" vertical tube to provide a bar above the monitor for the squeeze clamps.These clamps are funky, chunky, and take forever to print, but they get the job done.This is the first model I've implemented in OpenSCAD, so it is a bit rough around the edges. Feedback, especially from OpenSCAD experts, is highly desired!Instructions: (Tested only on Windows 10.)<ol><li>Install <a href="https://openscad.org/">OpenSCAD</a>.  </li><li>Download <code>TubeClamp.scad</code> (and any other files you desire).  </li><li>Until Printables allows upload of JSON files, copy and paste the OpenSCAD Customizer file text (see below) to create <code>TubeClamp.json</code> in the same directory.  </li><li>Double-click <code>TubeClamp.scad</code> to start OpenSCAD. Or launch OpenSCAD, then use File→Open to select <code>TubeClamp.scad</code>.  </li><li>The Customizer panel should appear automatically at the right of the OpenSCAD window. If not, select Window→Customizer. <img src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/303550/rich_content/37af42b0-9770-4ac1-b283-d67e9f676319/tubeclampcustomizer.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%22fc8ec149-6fdb-4351-856b-390f48f5850d%22%2C%22w%22%3A325%2C%22h%22%3A227%7D"> If the Parameters aren't shown, click on the 'Parameters' blue bar.  </li><li>Set the pipe diameter and bolt diameter values as desired, and (for now) set virtual pipe diameter to match pipe diameter. All values are in millimeters. A few presets have been provided as examples (50.8 mm = 2", and 6.35 mm = ¼").  </li><li>Tab or click out of the settings and ensure the model view is updated. You should see something like this: <img class="image_resized" style="width:46.5%;" src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/303550/rich_content/df7ad100-af7f-4dc7-89a7-f3a8ac72f939/tubeclamp.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%2282009e08-421c-4758-9106-63276a01f629%22%2C%22w%22%3A766%2C%22h%22%3A787%7D">  </li><li>Notice that the Console panel contains some key clamp dimensions.  These are useful when creating orthogonal stacking clamps.<ul><li>If the Console panel gets full, right-click and select Clear.  </li></ul></li><li>Select Design→Render, or press F6.  You should see something like this: <img class="image_resized" style="width:48.48%;" src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/303550/rich_content/98f667bd-0070-4f4a-ac2b-207f2da0a1b8/tubeclamprendered.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%227af9b821-d395-4e63-85df-3205fec56e32%22%2C%22w%22%3A567%2C%22h%22%3A387%7D">  </li><li>If the clamp looks correct:<ol><li>Select File→Export→3MF (or STL).<ul><li>Give your clamp 3D file a descriptive name.</li></ul></li><li>Save your parameter values as a preset for future use.<ul><li>The following steps automatically update <code>TubeClamp.json</code> to add your new preset.</li><li>In the Customizer panel: <ol><li>Click the ‘+’ button to add a new preset.</li><li>Give your preset a descriptive name (e.g., same used for Export).</li><li>Click the ‘save preset’ button.  </li></ol></li></ul></li></ol></li><li>Load the clamp you created into your slicer of choice.  Replicate it (or load it twice) for the other half, arrange them on the bed, then slice and print them.<ol><li>PLA is recommended, as it was used to test this model.</li><li>At least 3 walls should be used, more for larger pipes or heavier loads.</li><li>Use a strong omnidirectional infill, such as Gyroid or Octet. 5% infill should be OK for light loads.  </li></ol></li><li>Assemble the clamp. Don't over-tighten the clamp bolts! It's just thermoplastic.<ul><li>If the clamp breaks, increase wall count and infill percentage.  </li></ul></li></ol>Text for <code>TubeClamp.json</code>:<pre><code class="language-plaintext">{ "parameterSets": { "2\" Tube Clamp w\/ M6 bolts": { "bolt_diameter": "6", "pipe_diameter": "50.8", "virtual_pipe_diameter": "50.8" }, "2\" Tube Clamp w\/ 1\/4-20 all-thread": { "bolt_diameter": "6.35", "pipe_diameter": "50.8", "virtual_pipe_diameter": "50.8" }, "1\" Tube Clamp 1\/ 1\/4-20 all-thread": { "bolt_diameter": "6.35", "pipe_diameter": "25.4", "virtual_pipe_diameter": "25.4" }, "1\" clamp to stack on 2\" clamp": { "bolt_diameter": "6.35", "pipe_diameter": "25.4", "virtual_pipe_diameter": "50.8" } }, "fileFormatVersion": "1"}</code></pre> Notes:<ul><li>Example clamps are included as OpenSCAD presets. In the Customizer panel, click the ‘v’ after ‘design default values’ to see the list.  </li><li>See the included photos for examples of using the clamps in sets. The (ugly!) code used to render them is included at the end of <code>TubeClamp.scad</code>.  </li><li>Rather than trying to find bolts of the needed length, I recommend getting a length of <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-4-in-20-tpi-x-36-in-Zinc-Plated-Threaded-Rod-802217/204274011">all-thread</a> and a <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-4-in-20-Zinc-Plated-Hex-Nut-25-Pack-802344/204274091">bag of nuts</a>, then cut your bolts to the needed length using a <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/Anvil-10-in-Hack-Saw-with-Plastic-Handle-12750/303858480">hack saw</a>. Search online to learn how to cut and prepare all-thread.  </li><li>You may want to use fancy nuts, such as <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hillman-1-4-20-Stainless-Steel-Nylon-Insert-Stop-Nut-15-Pack-2991/204786401">nylocks</a> or <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-4-in-20-Zinc-Plated-Cap-Nut-4-Pack-802031/204274065">cap nuts</a>.  Add washers if the clamp is disassembled/reassembled fairly often.  </li><li>To create stackable clamps for parallel pipes of different sizes, the clamp for the smaller pipe needs to be the same size as the one for the larger pipe so the bolt holes will line up. When preparing the smaller clamp, set virtual pipe diameter to the size of the larger pipe, which will force the clamp for the smaller tube to have the same size as that for the larger tube. (There's probably a better way to do it, but this was easiest.)  </li><li>Anything can be attached to the clamp using the mounting bolts, such as shelves.  </li><li>The clamp is intended to be a close (but not tight) fit to avoid any need for rubbery inserts. If the clamp doesn't fit or is way too loose, <a href="https://all3dp.com/2/how-to-calibrate-a-3d-printer-simply-explained/">your printer may need to be calibrated</a>.  </li><li>There are no chamfers on the edges, because chamfers are a PITA in OpenSCAD. A work-around is to load your clamp 3MF/STL into <a href="https://www.freecadweb.org/">FreeCAD</a> (or your CAD program of choice), add the chamfers, then export the result. Alternatively, take a pass over the edges using a <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Deburring-Precision-Plumbing-Printing-Plastics/dp/B09QKT3XQW">deburring tool</a>, or a file, or sandpaper.  </li><li>I can't seem to make up my mind if this is for pipes or tubes. Sigh.</li></ul>

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