End for Modular Terminal Strip by johntinker

Last crawled date: 3 years, 3 months ago

I had salvaged some long modular terminal strips and wanted to use the terminal blocks in different configurations on the rail. In this particular case, each block comes with one end always present, and it is always the same end. The whole unit contains as many of this end as there are blocks, but only one of the other kind of end, at the end of the whole block. Many of end type one, and one of end type two, if that makes it more clear. If I was going to break up the one set of many terminal block units, so as to use them as more complete units of fewer block units each, to further clarify :) . If you have this same problem, you will already understand the situation, so I don't see any point in trying to clarify further. I know, a picture would be worth a thousand words. But I have no camera handy. I built the model in FreeCAD. I know it can be a struggle to figure out how to use it. It is not difficult once you know. I include the FreeCAD file in case anyone would find it to be of use.
Regarding the model in the STL, it is modeled as the whole thing, but I printed it as two parts. I use the Prusa Slicer's facility for splitting a model at a certain depth from the plate. It offers options for keeping both parts, and even for flipping the lower part upside down on the plate. I first rotated the model on the plate such that the broad flat aspect is parallel to the plane of the bed. Then I split it at 12.5mm, keeping both parts, and flipping the lower part upside down on the bed (this is all being done with the user interface of the slicer). Then, the two parts will be overlapping, so they must be drawn apart by mousing appropriately. I printed that way without support, and a without brim. Then the two parts are glued together, back to back. With PLA I use super glue. With ABS, I use ABS juice (ABS scrap dissolved in acetone), with ASA, I use ASA juice. I think that the part, when printed this way on a filament printer, will have good strength properties. With an SLA printer, I think it would be printed whole, with the feet against the build plate.