Valve Index Cable Clamp Replacements BACK + FRONT

thingiverse

The first thing that went wrong with my much-loved and frequently used Valve Index VR headset was the rear cable clip. Next was the upper pin that holds the cable in place, followed by the cable itself (pixel snow, occasional cracking sounds, connection errors, and unexpected session terminations). I had tried securing the cable with cable ties like many others before me, but this only ended up speeding up the cable's eventual breakage over time. This is a known weak spot of the Index headset. I was determined not to use unsightly tape. After receiving a new cable from Valve's extremely helpful and generous customer support team, I made these replacements on the very next day. I crafted the front clip entirely from scratch and it fits snugly around those plastic bulges that hold the original (but broken) cable clamp pin in place. The rear clip is a remix. I reinforced its overall structure to make it even stronger, and slightly flattened the outer curve for a sleeker profile. Both clips seem to be holding the cable securely without causing any bends or cuts. They are significantly more robust than the original ones. Only time will tell if they can withstand a more severe stumble-over-the-cable accident. These prints were extremely easy and fast to complete. I printed them in PLA with a low-quality 0.28mm resolution, using four walls and all settings in Cura to give them added strength. The infill percentage didn't matter too much – I went with the standard 20%. No supports were needed at all. EDIT: I've since created a smoother version of the rear clip, as the original one was somewhat deep and edgy and tended to scratch my leather seat's headrest. However, V2 is likely to be even sturdier than its predecessor. EDIT2: Make sure to position these clips carefully with the cable inside before attaching them to the HMD. They fit very tightly and cannot be moved around without some effort. Once clipped in place, they will stay put until you apply considerable force to remove them – which is exactly what they're designed for.