Dust cover hinge tab for Technics SL-D3

thingiverse

This is a replacement part for Technics SL-D3 dust cover. The original dust cover is a single-piece acrylic cover featuring molded tabs that are stuck into a receptacle at the hinge. However, these tabs often break after some time due to wear and tear. This tab also works with other Technics turntables/dust covers but you should read on for more information. Check your model's service manual(s) and photos here to see if this part is applicable in your case. This part was designed by SigurdrBladesinner but I've made a few adjustments based on my own experiences. The original design had problems that caused the dust cover not to close completely because the tabs hit the plinth prematurely while closing. Additionally, the dust cover itself might hit the plinth prematurely if mounted flush with the dust cover tabs. I believe that if the hinge tab and/or dust cover hits the plinth near the hinge, this could cause unnecessary stress due to the lever effect on the hinge receptacles themselves (which are also made of plastic). The dust cover is raised about 1 mm in the front because there are small noise dampers at the front of the cover. A similar rise makes sense in the back not only for aesthetic reasons but also to ensure clearance for the dust cover while closed. The original design might work if the user notices or is aware of these problems beforehand and lifts the dust cover so that it is not flush with the tab. However, the tabs will still hit the plinth while being closed. Because of these problems, I've made two changes: 1) added room for the plinth at the base of the tab and 2) increased the height at the cover facing part to provide more space for screw holes making the design more durable. It's possible that the hinges (and dust covers) are not 100% identical in all models, or that Technics used slightly different dust covers and hinges from batch-to-batch. There could also be some manufacturing tolerances or differences made by the user while attaching the tab. As with the original design, there are no screw holes; it makes more sense this way since these might also vary depending on what kind of screws are being used. I've also applied epoxy glue between the part and dust cover after test fitting. Some notes regarding possible modifications/improvements: The only addition needed is the screw holes (edit the model or drill them afterwards). There is a 1,5mm x 9mm clearance space for the plinth; the latter dimension is really tight but just barely clears the plinth. 1,5mm might be too much, but 1mm might be too little. The part going behind the dust cover could be shorter depending on what kind of screw holes you plan on using. Another possible alternative would have been to change the tab corner to something > 90°, but I didn't feel like going that route as it would have involved more trial-and-erroring.