Mobile HF Antenna

thingiverse

This is an attempt at a 3D printable version of Frank W. King's KM4IE $20 mobile HAM radio HF antenna design, originally published in the April 2000 issue of QST magazine. The original article can be accessed here: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/0004033.pdf I'm utilizing this material with kind permission from the ARRL. At present, this project is still in its infancy, and parts may not fit together seamlessly due to various printing complexities. I'm primarily seeking feedback and thoughts at this point. My initial thought was to utilize ABS for all components. Given PLA's limitations in flexibility, I believe it's not an ideal choice for this application. Mobile use necessitates considering the impact of wind loads, which could potentially compromise the structural integrity of the design. While forces exerted on the top cap by the ferrule and antenna whip at the summit may be manageable, those at the bottom due to the mounting bolt could pose a significant challenge. Consequently, I'm contemplating incorporating a reinforced bottom end cap with additional material to mitigate this issue. Your input, suggestions, and critiques are warmly welcomed in this endeavor. Update: Upon further examination, I discovered inaccuracies in my initial dimensions, which have since been corrected. The revised STL files have been uploaded for your reference. However, please note that the entire design still requires thorough verification following successful printing of a few components.