Description

This is a 3d printed binding for you shoe or any project you would like to adapt it to. To use the binding turn the lid/knob to the right clockwise to tighten and to loosen simply pull up on the lid. This design was based of the Boa company product which makes shoe and snowboarder Bindings among many other things.

Materials needed

Due to the small size of the Binding and the tensile strength of bending plastic over and over the use of springs and screws was needed to insure to longevity of the Binding.

4 screws / minimum thread diameter of 3mm and length of 10mm / includes the head of the screw / maximum thread diameter of 5mm / Preferably a flat head screw

3 springs / which can be found in lead pencils cut to the length of just 4.5mm and a diameter of 3.7 / can be smaller

String / Preferably silk like or just really smooth so it can slide over what ever it is you are using it for.

Assembly

Step 1

Drill all the holes in the parts to just under your screws thread diameter and tap the holes. / Screwing in and out the screw to tap them. 

Step 2

Taking the ratchet mechanism, 3 ratchet paws, and three springs insert them into the part as shown.

Step 3

Thread the string thought the body and spool as shown in the image making sure it doesn't come out.

Step 4

Insert the spool and the ratchet mechanism we assembled earlier into the Bindings body followed by the screwing in of the post.

Step 5

Next screw the lid and the 3D printer spring together as shown in the example images. / Make sure that the side of the spring facing away from the lid is flat refer to the images for help.

Step 6

Line up the holes of the ratchet mechanism and the screws in the lid and screw them in. / Make sure to screw all three at the same time as to not damage or move any of the components inside. /As you screw the lid in the 3d printer spring is actively moving around the middle post.

Troubleshooting

If the Binding is difficult to turn there are three reasons for this problem that I found.

One, being that the cut springs are to long and they have to be shorted. /Or if you took them from a different lead pencil for the one I did to strong.

Two, the three screws in the lid are to tight and they can be loosened a little at a time till it feels smooth enough.

Three, The spool is full of string.

The Binding is not able to hold the force/skips when the strings are pulled

The thing stopping the string from getting pulled out of the Binding are the cut springs. You will have to  cut the springs a little longer if that is your problem.