Helping Hand for Soldering (fully printed)

This helping hand will be compatible with store bought octopus arms and crocodile clamps from the picture as well as fully 3d printed ones. Perfect for ppl who never have enough hands. Remix culture is allowed, so feel free to make solder and wire holders, etc.

Side note: Just in case you're curious about the qwerty sign, it's 3d printed by using a holographic built plate. How does it work? It's a microstructure, so small it's breaking light up in its different colors. Is it worth buying them? Just for the meme. Your fingerprints, scratches, clear coating, dust, etc will damage the surface and the hologram on your print. If you show it of the first time and everyone touches it it will basically be vanished. But it's also just a smooth build plate. So nothing wrong, but don't get your hopes up too much with fancy holograms on your prints.

Print Settings:

For the base plate there are no special settings needed.

For the arms I would highly recommend a material with low plastic deformation. The separate links are under tension to stay firm in position. If your print loses its original shape it will also lose its grip and the octopus arm will become floppy.

The crocodile clamps should be more considered as a emergency solution. They would also require a filament with low plastic deformation and probably something with high heat resistance. Depending on what they're supposed to hold. If it's just the pcb you'll be good. If it's e.g. a resistor the clamp might partially melt.

No support needed, I didn't use brims. I did only slow down for the bought clamp + bought arm adapter also I would recommend brims here. In general I would recommend print by object. If you notice worse bed adhesion you might need brims or reduce the print speed. But you know your printer the best. :)

Print List

• 1 Base plate
• (optional) Thread Tolerance Test

Then you need to make the decision if you want to buy or print the octopus arms and clamps or not. If you will print the arms yourself:

• about 10-15 links per arm
• 1x threaded link
• 1x clamp holder (depending on your choice)

Select the clamp holder that fits your solution. Either:

• printed clamp + printed arm 
• printed clamp + bought arm
• bought clamp + printed arm 
• bought clamp + bought arm 

Assembly

Not a lot to add here. For the arms, the thread is the first element, then add as many links as you want and finish with the clamp holder. Mount your arms on the base plate.

Final words:

It's plastic and your solder will be hot, so if it drips down it will damage the base plate or arms.