Modular Truss Beam System with CPAP Tube Support

thingiverse

# Modular Truss System This started as an experiment to see if I could make a beam to support a CPAP hose, and ended up being a modular truss system that could be used in a wide variety of use cases. I included a bunch of template items that you can remix to fit your needs - let me know if something else would be helpful to have! The beams are 180mm in length, which means that they print nicely on standard printer beds like my Ender 3 Pro. Note that the ends of the trusses are directional (the pins and slots are not symmetrical); match up on the support beam orientations to align (the two "side" support diagonals meet along the "top" beam). ## Components ### Truss Components: - Truss Basic: your basic truss, designed for a load like a crane, with one end attached to something and the other end holding weight. If you flipped it 180 degrees, then it could support a load like a bridge with each end attached to something and a weight in the middle. If this beam will be resting on something and acting as a fulcrum, then it will begin to deform and you should take a look at the... - Truss Reinforced: The basic truss, but with some additional supports added so that it can support some degree of bottom support acting as a fulcrum. This design makes removing 3d printed supports (for the top beam) more difficult, but it is able to handle the bottom edge being used as a fulcrum. As an example, I have this piece about 50% hanging off my flat-topped headboard so that if it gets loaded on the bottom, it won't fail as quickly. - Truss Clip: The clip that connects the triangular pieces on the ends of trusses and accessories together. You need 3 clip for each connection. The fit is VERY snug - I found the best way to get the clips into position was to line the two pieces up, get the clip in position, and then press everything down on a flat surface to push the clip all the way in (which ends up fully flush). - Truss Short Test Segment: If you want to print some small test sections for design work, this is just a very short version of a truss to experiment with. ### End Components/Accessories: I found that the clip slot that printed horizontally in these ended up too narrow; a quick widening with flush-cut snips worked like a charm to resolve that. - End Horizontal Clamp (and Screw): Remixed from [Headphone Holder](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2076034), this gives a solid end clamp for the truss to mount to with the standard triangle truss connector. The screw is the exact same as the remix source (placed here just so everything is in one place), and the clamp itself was made narrower and had the plate added to it. - End CPAP Hose Clamp: Remixed from [CPAP Headboard Clamp](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:47244), this is the accessory that goes on the end of the beam that actually holds the tubing. - If you want to grab the models themselves to work from, you can find them on [Tinkercad](https://www.tinkercad.com/things/8FMTsI7lrLp) - If you have other ideas for ways you'd like to see the trusses mounted or accessories to have on the end, let me know! ### Template Components: Because I realized that this truss system could be used in a huge number of situations, I made blank ends that could be remixed onto whatever you wanted to connect to the end of the truss. - Inside/Outside Endcap: This is the basic end that you can use if you want to create a different style of truss connected to the three corner bits, or if you wanted to create something like a 90 degree angle adapter, custom length truss, etc. This one likely won't work for end accessories because you need room for the clip to slot in, which is what the other one is for. - Inside/Outside Endcap with Clip Offsets: This end bracket has an offset so that you can sidle it up to whatever you want to put on the end of the truss, and the clips will be able to slide in between the standoffs. ## Printing Notes: Because 3d printed layers have less strength between them than a laid-down line of material does, the trusses should be printed with a 120 degree rotation along the long axis (like a hot dog you want to cook evenly), so that the primary load that would cause the end plates to snap (between the top clips in compression and the top horizontal bar in tension) is along a line of printed material rather than along the fusion seams between layers of material.