3D Printing

by Richard, VK3TXD

So, Covid struck, I got a 3D printer then learned some modelling. They are:
1. Parametric spacer for balanced ladder line. Set it up to suit wire and spacing. The wire is pushed into the opening sized narrow, then snaps into the correct size hole. In pic below, top left. I’d experimented with other options for making balanced line and they were painful in the time and effort required to end up with something ugly. Making a small spacing line was also pretty much a nightmare (I wanted a low impedance for my ocf at low portable use heights).
2. Parametric model for 4 core “Quad” balanced line, said to reduce common mode current by 10 to 30db. Same comments as above. I used an online calculator to suggest the shown model is 150R (to suit my OCF)
3. Model for Altronics enclosure internal base – picks up on metric spaced  holes, add supports etc to suit yourself. I added supports for a hybrid guanella 1:1 & Ruthroff 1.5:1 balun pair.
4. Model for a current sensor for the balanced line using the largest Jaycar torid, then simple circuitry on perf board screwed to the base 3D model. Makes an open frame simple result. Top right.
5. Antenna End insulator for dipole arms to rope transition
6. Simple radial-end to make looping over a stake easier.
7. Squid pole top element terminator/support for dipole arms and transition into ladder line. Bottom left.
8. Squid pole ‘snap on’ supports for holding the ladder line in position. Parametric. Setup to suit the ladder line and squid pole diameter – and it narrows to clamp better.
9. and not for Amateur Radio – tomato stake tie support. Essential to please the director of services. Bottom right.
A few of them here.
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” alt=”image.png” />
The source files are attached. I’ll be updating these in the coming week or two to add some notes on how to print them. I’ll also change some label names – they are not reflective of what they do…. “Length” is terrible in the BNC, it should be “FrontThickness” or similar.
If you download “OpenSCAD” – free – from
Then put both the attached files into a folder you should be able to do a render to produce the above. It’s extremely straightforward.

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Excellent Richard, Regards Ed. If you have any designs you would like to share, let me know and we can start a page of suitable links and descriptions.