Clamp with threaded bolt.

grabcad

There is a need to be able to adjust tension on the clamp in order to prevent sliding on the hand rail. A normal clamping mechanism in plastic will loose tension over time, in particular if used repetitively. Tolerance compensating tension is achieved with a threaded connector. After printing the first version as proof of concept the design has been optimized. Especially the threaded bolt has been iterated a few times. It is now printed horizontally in order to use the maximum material strength. 28 g of material are used with 100% infill. No supports required for printing. I have printed the test article on a Ultimaker 2, using PLA due to availability. The thread operates remarkably well. It is not printed vertically, but flat for increased strength. It therefore features two flat surfaces. It will wear itself in after printing very quickly. It did not get around to run an FEA on the design; so I just assumed where the main load path is and placed weight reduction holes. Part List: - bracket_v3_p1 clamp - bracket_v3_p6 bolt I have added native Catia files but have to admit that they have lost most of their structure in the heat of battle. Big thanks to Mark Fuller for making me think twice about the bolt