Brackets to hold objects to a surface, like a shelf, desk, or project board, without any changes, such as the addition of screw holes, to the object itself. The stretched springs, when screwed into the surface, do not need to be exactly the right length, and the stretched spring provides a useful hold-down force.

You may also want to see a version that uses a compression pad (probably printed in TPU) rather than springy legs: [https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6938181](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6938181)

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

Creality

Printer:

No

Supports:

PETG

Notes:

PETG was used for its toughness and flexibility. Optional (tree) supports were used only to hold open the screw holes on the feet.

Post-Printing

The brackets here are made in three pieces: the top and two sides or legs. A dovetail joint is used to connect them. I smash them together for a tight press-fit, then take them apart and add a couple of drops of cyanoacrylate glue. The brackets are placed over the object to be mounted to a surface and screws with wide washers are used to attach them.

How I Designed This

The difficulty with such hold-down brackets is that they have to have nearly the exact same height above the surface as the height of the object: if they are too short, they won't reach the surface and if they are too long, then they don't hold the object tightly. Even with 3d printing, it is difficult and time consuming to come up with a bracket exactly the correct size. The solution attempted here is to use springy sides or legs, made intentionally a little shorter than the height of the object. The stretched springs, when screwed into the surface, do not need to be exactly the right length, and the stretched spring provides a useful hold-down force.

The brackets are made in three pieces to minimize the need for supports, for maximum strength of the top and the springy legs, and so that only one or the other need to be re-printed if the length turns out not to work.

I designed them in cadquery; the file is included so that you can make any desired modifications. Holes (e.g. to avoid knobs, screws etc. on the object) or other features are easily added.

Category: Gadgets