Plastic is a magical material, which is loved for its ability to elastically deform and spring back to its original shape. They are a very suitable material for making movable hinges and similar mechanical devices, and this 3D printing capture device perfectly demonstrates this.
The unit consists of a housing in which two 3D printing springs are inserted. These leaf springs are bent and protrude toward the center of the housing. Then insert the slider into the housing with a cam in the middle. The cam allows the slider to push past the spring at start-up and hold it in place at rest.
As shown in the figure, the mechanism reliably captures back and forth between the two positions in a satisfactory manner. The figure shows the side with the housing removed, so we have a good understanding of its working principle. It is also 100%3d printed. Anyone who wants to copy the design should pay attention to the importance of printing direction, especially in the case of spring leaf. If the layering method is wrong, it will not work.
In general, this is a simple design, which may be useful for those who are eager to make 3D printing switches or other mechanical devices. This is also a good way to learn 3D printing springs and use deformable plastic structures. Play the video after the break.