PCB Holder

thingiverse

Many things printed with 3D printers are not useful, but this one is an exception. It holds Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) securely in position for testing and is a game-changer for anyone working with electronics. You don't need to be a genius or have access to expensive equipment to create something truly valuable. This design was specifically made to be printed on the cheapest usable 3D printer available ($100 Black Friday Deal), using an inexpensive filament, and still produce superb results. All you need is some basic hardware like 1/4-20 parts and a few thermoplastic inserts (available online) to bring this precision PCB test piece and organizer for crowded desktops to life. The baseplate can be machined or purchased, but I chose to machine mine for this contest. This is not just any ordinary test piece; it's a combination of a machined baseplate, purchased adjustable arm, 3D printed PCB holders, board mounts, power supply holder, and more. The baseplate can sit on 4/6" risers to allow underplate mounting of a power supply. Here are the key components: Machined Baseplate: Can be made on a manual mill, CNC mill, or purchased online. It has 1/4-20 holes drilled and tapped 1" on center and 0.27" holes drilled and counterbored 2" on center. Adjustable Arms: These need to be purchased and cannot be printed at home. They're adjustable arms with a precision lock that can accurately probe 0402 parts. 3D Printed PCB Holder: This is where the magic happens. The PCB holder has slots for axial and radial adjustment, making it easy to mount the board on top or hold it firmly in the side. With M3x0.5 thermoplastic inserts, you can use bolts, nylon spacers, and more. Required Hardware: * M3x0.5 thermoplastic insert (search "M3-0.5 brass heat screw insert 3D printing") x 1 for each board holder * 1/4-20 thermoplastic insert (search "1/4-20 brass heat screw insert 3D printing short") x 1 for each probe holder * 1/4" round washer x 1 for each * 1/4-20 x 1" socket head cap screw or knurled head screw x1 for each board holder * M3x0.5-8mm socket head cap screw x 1 per board holder * M3x0.5-12mm nylon male female standoff x 1 per board holder