Long Reach Clamp - 3-16 Bar

thingiverse

I needed a clamp to reach deep inside my RC aircraft frame and this worked. It is based on a 3/16 square brass tube (K & S #8153) and a 6-32 threaded rod. Both of these come in 12 inch lengths. I cut them in half to make a pair of 6 inch clamps (max jaw opening is about 4 inches). You can make them any length up to 12 inches giving a max jaw opening of 10 inches. You will also need three 6-32 hex nuts, a 6-32 lock nut and washer that just fits over the threaded rod. Two sets of M-2 x 8mm cap head screw with nut will also be needed. I found all the parts at my local Ace Hardware. You can also get the sq brass tube and threaded rod from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/PRECISION-METALS-8153-Brass-Tube/dp/B00FZS29WO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518902551&sr=8-1&keywords=k%26s+8153&dpID=31r5dGRh1XL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch https://www.amazon.com/Small-Parts-56055-Threaded-6-32/dp/B0719J9K4D/ref=sr_1_7?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1518902635&sr=1-7&keywords=6-32+rod&dpID=319dtX0PqhL&preST=_SX342_QL70_&dpSrc=srch To assemble: Put a nut on the threaded rod about 1 3/4 inches from the end. Slide the handle onto the rod up against the nut. This will leave about 1/4 inch of threaded rod sticking out the back side of the handle. Put another nut on the protruding rod and pull the rod with nut into the back of the handle then tighten the first nut with a wrench or pliers. Slide the rod into the handle support piece and run a nut down the rod until it fits into the hex socket. Slide the handle support onto one end of the brass tube and lock in place with the M-2 nut and bolt. Do not overtighten, the M2 nut and bolt just needs to be snug. Slide the movable jaw onto the sq brass tube with the jaw facing away from the handle. There is a socket that the 6-32 rod fits into. You then place the lock-nut and washer in the cutout on the movable jaw and thread the rod just enough that it holds the lock-nut and washer from falling out. See the picture. Finally slide the fixed jaw onto the sq brass tube and lock in place with the other M-2 nut and bolt. This design makes a useful clamp that is surprisingly strong. To expand on its' utility a variety jaws could be printed to perform many functions. A notch 10mm wide should just fit over the basic jaws presented here. I envision wider jaws, taller jaws, curved jaws, serrated jaws and so on. Printed in PLA with 50% fill