Vibroplex Bug key knob and paddle replacement

thingiverse

I accidentally broke the paddle piece on my 1963 Vibroplex Original Deluxe (the first bug I ever owned and had bought new back in 1963). I decided that there are enough ham radio operators out there that still use bugs and this could easily happen to them as well so I figured out how to design them in Fusion 3D. This posting is the result of that experiment and my original measurements were good enough that they fit perfectly. You will have to tap the hole in the knob to SAE 8-32 and cut a 15 mm length of 8-32 threaded stock or cut down a longer 8-32 screw to give yourself a piece of "All-Thread" for the knobs mounting screw. It would also be much easier to mount if you file away the threads 5mm from the protruding end back to where the screw enters the knob, leaving 4-5 mm of threads on the end to mount on the bug. Use at least 20 percent infill and preferably 50 percent on the paddle piece for strength and if you want them to look the best, use .12 resolution.