Outlet Mount for SmartThings (2018) Gen 3

thingiverse

***Update*** This prototype will remain here for the Thingiverse community under the Creative Commons License. However, if you're looking for a sturdier and more robust design, the improved design is available for purchase at: https://www.etsy.com/listing/937357970. Wall thickness has been increased, supports have been added, and common points of failure/fracture have been addressed. ***Original Post*** I know there are improvements that can be made to this design, but I wanted to publish this "prototype" in case someone had an immediate need for such a mount and/or didn't want to wait for a more refined model. (Also, I don't know when I'll come back to this project; I may never make revisions unless my current build breaks.) The need: My SmartThings hub sits on the kitchen counter and gets banged up a lot. We need the counter space, so it gets moved around, it gets objects placed on top of it, and it gets knocked to the floor. These are not ideal conditions for any piece of technology. Also, there are wall outlets away from tables and counters that are closer to the items that this hub communicates with. In short, I had a need to get this hub off the kitchen counter and onto a wall outlet. The design: I had limited time to develop a prototype, and I wanted a relatively light mount that printed relatively quickly. Additionally, the dimensions of the Gen 3 hub are not symmetric (The corners at the top are rounded at a slightly larger radius than the lower corners; the top edge has a lip/shelf that extends past the base; the depth of the circumference of the base varies from top to bottom. If you already have one of these hubs, you know what I mean.) To this end, the walls of this mount are thin. This allows the mount to flex and conform to this asymmetry while providing a rather snug fit. The downside is that this mount can more on the delicate side. However, when printed with a relatively stronger and flexible filament (i.e. PLA+), it seems sturdy enough for the intended application. Please note that this design blocks the LAN and USB ports and reset button. However, I have never needed to use these ports/button. My USB port is firmware-disabled by Samsung, and I connect over WiFi so that I can place this hub away from clutter and closer to other wireless devices. If printed using a filament that contracts/shrinks ever so slightly, it may be a good idea to enlarge the model by the degree of shrinkage (i.e. up to ~1% for some brands of PLA - see notes below). Installation: I recommend feeding the adaptor wire through the access port first. I accomplished this by gently folding the adaptor wire at the midpoint, and feeding this bend through the port. Once the wire is through, the adaptor can be fed through the square top. Note that the opening for the wire is on the right. There is a little ledge/overhang that will hold the adaptor with slight tension. The hub itself feeds through the front. Insert the bottom of the base into the lip/overhang at the bottom of the mount, and the top portion of the base should align with the rest of the mount. A little wiggling may be necessary to ensure that the adaptor plug on the hub lines up with the hole for the adaptor. The lip/overhang secures the bottom and holds the weight of the device. Plugging the adaptor into the hub secures the top. Finally, adjust the length of the wire and tuck it in behind the hub. Note that there is a series of brackets/fingers that will hold the wires and support the hub from the back. Please refer to the picture to see how I accomplished this with my hub/mount. Again, since this mount is rather delicate, care should be taken when tucking in the wires behind these brackets/fingers. Looking ahead: Aside from strengthening the walls, let me know if you'd like to see any other modifications in version 2. Please post your makes, and feel free to remix. Enjoy!