Quad Antenna Spreader

thingiverse

** This Quad antenna spreader can be used as a basis for antenna design on 6m, 2m, 70cm, etc.. I wouldn't use it for an HF antenna design as the spreader isn't robust enough.** ** With all that being said, you <i>MAY</i> be able to use it on 10m but I would proceed with caution.** I love building and experimenting with new antennas. Six meter E Skip season is upon us so I thought I'd design a quad. I designed this spreader around the 1.5" fiberglass boom material I already had at my house that I had purchased for another project. You may or may not have this so I will provide a list below of items needed as well as links to purchase everything online. First, I used the website below to determine measurements and materials required for the project. http://calc.n6ach.com/quad.html BOM: 1.5" square fiberglass boom (length determined by how many elements) https://mgs4u.com/telescoping-fiberglass-tube-and-rod-price-list-2/ 3/8" x 48" fiberglass electrical fence rods found at Tractor Supply Company. These will be used as the spreaders I found mine at my local Tractor Supply. They are also available on Amazon. 1 - 4" lag bolt with nut This is a work in progress! **UPDATE** Hopefully v5 is the final version. It's on the printer now. I test fit the bolt on v4 and it was too short so I made some adjustments there. Also test fit spreader to boom and noticed it was a little too loose for my liking so I made some adjustments to hopefully provide a more snug fit. In doing so the print time is down to around 5 hours or so at 10% infill. Even at 10% the spreader is quite strong. Oh and the last version I printed without supports and it came out better than the previous ones I printed which had supports. SO NO SUPPORTS REQUIRED! With my latest print I used Quad spreader v5.stl (which is 1/2 of the full spreader) four times and was able to carefully arrange them on the build plate so that with one print I would have enough to make two spreaders. It really only saves time if you know you're going to be away from your printer for 8-9 hours. Other wise I'd print them one at a time. Allignment tool is meant to help with drilling holes in the 1.5" square boom. Measure and mark where the spreaders need to be placed on the boom with a carpenters square. Slip the tool over the boom and line up the arrows on the line you marked. Drill a 1/4" hole. Flip the boom over and do the same thing on the other side.