Quick Release Mechanism

This was my first attempt at designing a quick-release mechanism. My goal was to have some kind of a “docking station” and an adapter piece, which can click together. The adapter could be mounted to a specific device like a garden-lamp which could then be quickly mounted and released from the docking station on a cealing or similar.

To “click in” you simply have to press the adapter into the docking station. To release it, you have to push the button on the side, and the adapter can be pulled out.

This print is working quite well and does what it's supposed to. You can hang quite haeavy objects from it. Eventhough it has one disadvantage: The adapter ist quite long and may not be suited for your specific device and application.

Materials:

Filament: PETG (for its greater strength compared to PLA)

4x M5x30 bolts

4x M5 nuts

2x compression spring (length: ca. 19mm; outher diameter: ca. 7.1mm; inner diameter: ca. 5.75mm)

Depending on your application: M5 nut and bolt in a specific length; some screws to attach it to a cealing

Print settings (for all parts):

Material: PETG

perimeters: 4

layer-height: 0.2mm

support-structures: none

Assembly instructions:

First, poke all holes to remove the single layer, which is used to eliminate supports. After that, press in the M5 nuts from the back of the Base. It's thight on purpose, so that the nuts don't come out on their own later. Then you have to insert the mounting screws from the front and secure your print at the desired location on the cealing.

Now comes the tricky part: Put the springs on the studs of the locking slider. Insert the slider into the correct location in the Base (use pictures for reference), while guiding the springs into the dedicated spots.

After that you are ready to close the mechanism with the BaseCap and the 4x M5 bolts.

Furthermore, you have to mount the adapter to your specific device.

You are now ready to try it out!

Tipps:

If the adapter doesn't come out easily enough, sand down the sharp edge of the pyramid part of the adapter.