This object features Open in Customizer

You worked hard on your 3D Printer, CNC Mill or Laser Cutter and you want it to look good. You know that you can route the cabling through the extrusion slots and use covers, but the cable bundle looks a mess or could use some strain relief.

Use these parametric cable covers to tidy up your project and add strain relief for the cables. The original was limited to 16mm cable bundle for a Felix 3.0 printer. We've updated and coded it for many popular sizes (10, 15, 20, 30 and 40mm) and extrusion brands (OpenBeam, MakerBeam, MiSumi, AluTP, and what ever FelixRobotics uses). We also coded the object so you can specify any cable bundle diameter.

To use just download, or better yet open in customizer, and edit. Simply select one of the popular OpenBeam, MakerBeam, MiSumi, AluTP and even Felix Printer extrusion types. Then specify the cover body length, cable bundle diameter, and relief orientation. You can leave the rest at the defaults if you really want to get in and get making.

You can optionally change the tab gap finishing (square, circular, wedge, solid, or solid with cutout - aka fishtail).

You can also edit some advanced options for even finer control over the tabs and wall thickness, but it's strictly not necessary.

This is a brand new thing, and the list of extrusion types is not complete. If you message us, we can add your extrusion type to this thing.

FelixPro1

No

Yes

0.15 mm

40%

Config Notes:
You can override the preselected extrusions using the the Manual Extrusion parameter tab. Please follow the directions in the Manual Extrusion Override section below.

Print Notes:
For best results print the cable cover/ stress relief on it's back with the tabs pointing up. That way the tabs will print cleanly. You will need supports with a overhang angle set to 45 degrees.

Suggest ABS for ruggedness, please let us know how other materials work out for you. Openscad may not completely close the shell, use Netfabb or other tool to repair any small problems with the generated STL.

Be careful not to make the tabs too thin as they will simply snap off. We suggest using the solid tab with typical or small clips. That way the tab won't just snap off.

Simplify 3D Notes:
Manually generate supports and remove the ridiculous supports just under the tab clips. We set the support angles to 60 and 30 degrees with a 30% fill so there is enough material for the part to stick and prevent the supports from falling over. To ensure that the part will stick to the supports set the horizontal offset to 0.05 mm. Otherwise the part will simply peel away from the support structure.

If you printed in ABS cleanup is easy.

Start with sanding the roughness caused by the supports. Finish by rubbing the outside with acetone lightly soaked paper towel. This will give a nice smooth but shiny finish.

Rubbing with fine sandpaper or toothpaste will take a bit of the shine off, if it's a bit too much.

Inspired by seaton's Cable Cover thing: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:277294. Modeled in openscad following his general design with some improvements.

Using the above image as a guide, measure the aluminum profile:

• Nominal Size: Profile nominal outside dimensions
  If the size is reported as 20x20 mm then the nominal size is 20 mm
• Slot Width
  Width the cable cover tabs must fit into
• Slot Depth
  Depth the clip would need to catch the back of the slot

On the shown Manual Extrusion tab, enter the following information:

• Manufacturer: Name of the company that produced the profile (optional)
  For example: "MiSumi", "AluTP", "80/20 Inc."
• Name: Name or Series of profile given by manufacturer
  For example: "HFS8 Series", ""10 Series", "I52020"
• Nominal size
• Slot width
• Slot depth

On the shown manual-extrusion Tab, enter the following information:

• manufacturer: Name of the company that produced the profile (optional)
  For example: "MiSumi", "AluTP", "80/20 Inc."
• name: Name or Series of profile given by manufacturer (required)
  For example: "HFS8 Series", ""10 Series", "I52020"
• nominal size (required)
• slot width (required)
• slot depth (required)

Now the object should generate.

Note: without a name your manual extrusion overrides will be ignored.

One last step that will improve this and future extrusion things - send your extrusion measurements forward to us for posterity! If you've done this on local copy of Openscad then there is a message on the console. A simple copy and paste will get it to us.

• Go to the console and copy the information as directed. Don't get the ECHO: and the leading or tailing double quote characters ("), just the text between the quotes.
• Now paste it into a browser address bar and hit return.
• An E-mail message should be composed and be ready to go.
• Send the message.
• Thanks!

Edit the parameters to make the probe holder as needed. In Customizer the OpenSCAD code generates a cable cover for either vertical or horizontal cable entry.

The customizer and variables in the source are divided into general, manual-extrusion and advanced sections:

• general

  • Diameter (mm)
    Diameter of cable bundle
  • Auto Length (yes/ no)
    Level body top with extrusion in vertical orientation
  • Body Length (mm)
    Length of cover body if auto length set to no
  • Orientation (horizontal/ vertical)
    Type of cable relief (horizontal: places tabs in line with body length, vertical: perpendicular to body length)
  • Extrusion (string)
    T-slot extrusion type
  • Tab Type (solid/ square/ circular/ wedge)
    Tab gap finishing between the fingers (solid: no gap - the tab has no separate "fingers")

• manual-extrusion
  Use this section if none of the predefined extrusions will work for you:

  • Manufacturer (string)
    Name of the company that produced the profile (optional)
  • Name (string)
    The series or manufacturer's name for the extrusion (required)
  • Nominal Size (mm)
  • Slot Width (mm)
  • Slot Depth (mm)

• advanced
  Normally just go with the defaults but alter at your own risk. Changes here may make unprintable parts.

  • Tab Clip (mm)
    Protrusion on end of tab that 'grabs' onto the inside of the extrusion track
  • Tab Thickness (mm)
    Tab finger thickness
  • Tab Width (mm)
    Tab width (in direction of tab placement)
  • Wall Thickness (mm)
    Wall thickness of cable cover
  • Resolution
    Line segments used to make a circle. Note the higher the number the longer the render will grind making your part. At "Insane" it may take longer than 45 minutes before customizer coughs up your part.
  • Undersize (mm)
    How much smaller to make the tab body for a good fit

This is the thirteenth revision (v0.8.6) that has implemented the following fixes since the original:

• First beta realease, vertical cable relief only
• Second beta release, added horizontal relief model
• Fixed horizonatal relief model
• Added tab tip trim
• Added auto body length, this is best for vertical strain relief as it makes the body level with the top of the extrusion
• Tab parameter tuning
• Added circular and wedge tab seperation types
• Reduced tab clip due to breakage, modified vertical hollowing for capsule due to breakthrough
• Added solid tab, reduced undersizing for better fit
• Added Manual Extrusion section to override preselects and generate console mailto: report
• Added error message if diameter is too large for body
• Added trimming interior portion of tabs
• Added fishtail tab style for maximum slot wire bundle clearance