SuperMod Helping Hand Swivel Clamp (REV 2)

Welcome to the SuperMod collection of versatile, customizable, DIY helping hands.  Quickly and easily clamp all the small things with a fast and precise swivel mount.  The full selection of parts (stl, step, heat set inserts, square nuts) are sorted into zip files.  There is a parts checklist in the pdf file.  

You can find my Standard clamps here: https://www.printables.com/model/1086775-supermod-helping-hand-clamp-rev3. 

Revision 2

I remixed most parts to use square nuts in addition to heat set inserts, and made a square nut test print to check tolerances. 

I now recommend that you attach tower caps by threading into plastic.  I noticed that heat set inserts can deform the walls and interfere with the smooth motion of the sliding clamps.  When threading into plastic, hand tighten screws and stop as soon as they bottom out.  

3D Design

The 3D files are modeled with 0.26 mm tolerance for general parts assembly, and 0.36 mm tolerance for freely moving parts (primarily the sliding clamps).  For custom, perfectly smooth clamps measure the ideal value with a tolerance test and modify the square holes of the sliding clamps.  

Supplies

In addition to the fasteners labeled above, you also need:

• (2) Pen springs
• (5) M3 square nuts (DIN 562)
  • or (5) M3x5x4 heat set inserts
• Superglue

Optional parts include the following: 

• (1) M3x12 screw for the hinge in a sliding clamp swivel
• Adhesive-backed silicone strips (https://www.mcmaster.com/1411N201/)
• Filler for a weighted base
• Alligator clamps and flexible arms with 1/4" NPT threads (for example: https://www.amazon.com/TOPPROS-Nozzle-Flexible-Coolant-Orange/dp/B088QRKQYK/)

Pen Springs

Pen springs are guaranteed to vary in size but should be around 25 mm (1 inch) long.  The clamp towers are modeled for springs that are 27 mm long and fit over a 3 mm (1/8 inch) tube.  You may wish to trim a spring if it is too long, but you should add a spacer if your spring is shorter than 27 mm.  (You can scale a spacer to any desired size in a slicer.)

Printed Grips

Glue the printed grips into place to form the clamping surface.  The structure of the clamps can be easily printed in PLA, while only the grips need to be printed with a more difficult, heat-resistant filament.  In place of printed grips, I used strips of adhesive-backed silicone that provide excellent grip and temperature resistance.

Slicing & Printing

Double check a few settings to help ensure the smooth motion of the clamps.  Print the clamp towers on a smooth surface, and check that the part is exactly 12.6 mm tall in the downloaded orientation.  Print the spring support rods with thin layers on a smooth surface. 

Assembly & Notes

The knob and the M5x16 SHCS that makes the shaft of the knob need to lock together securely.  The screw is supposed to cut threads into the printed knob, and you should add glue to the head of the screw for a permanent bond.  

The screw pad is inserted between the knob and ball inside the swivel mount.  The curved side of the pad should be touching the ball, and the flat side should be touching the knob shaft.  

The base for the swivel mount is hollow, and attaching the mount on top will seal the cavity. Thus, you can add filler to make it a weighted base!  Several bases have 1/4" NPT threads that mate with flexible arms made from coolant pipe hose.

Thanks for visiting, and enjoy!

Minor update:  I no longer sort pieces into sets in order to simplify parts selection.  I now share just the largest size and recommend using spring spacers for shorter springs.  Downloads have been reorganized and several files renamed.  

Minor update: Added a parts checklist.

Minor update: Changed link to new REV3 clamps. 

I cleaned up the CAD, edited some parts to match updated parts in my Standard clamps REV2, and updated some parts unique to the Swivel clamp.  I added many parts that use M3 square nuts.  For the sake of completeness I include a full set of parts modeled for heat set inserts in the zip files.  The sliding clamps remain compatible across all SuperMod designs.