Supertool 300 VX upgrade (Mod badge request too)

[Dutch_Tooler]

Well done, not too bulky. 

Thanks  . I thought of applying a few transversal ridges to the outside of the scales to improve grip and add some stiffness, but that would have made the scales bulkier and prone to mutual conflict with plier extended.

(Also it would have complicated printing as support material would have been required, then to be filed away. Finally, I like the structure of the outside finish - I printed these flat side down on my printing bed which is provided with a pertinax-type surface, very smooth but you still see the texture created by the first printing layer's extrusion passes.)

[Poncho65]

Great work on the 300, DT I love the way you have added such versatility to it with just a few mods on it The toothpick and tweezer holder is a great idea as well

[Dutch_Tooler]

Great work on the 300, DT I love the way you have added such versatility to it with just a few mods on it The toothpick and tweezer holder is a great idea as well

Thanks, Poncho65
Edit: a little bit of occasional Vic <-> LM cross-pollination can't hurt

[Obi1shinobee]

Well done, not too bulky. 

Thanks  . I thought of applying a few transversal ridges to the outside of the scales to improve grip and add some stiffness, but that would have made the scales bulkier and prone to mutual conflict with plier extended.

(Also it would have complicated printing as support material would have been required, then to be filed away. Finally, I like the structure of the outside finish - I printed these flat side down on my printing bed which is provided with a pertinax-type surface, very smooth but you still see the texture created by the first printing layer's extrusion passes.)

OUtstanding job

[Dutch_Tooler]

Some pics of the current status:





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[Obi1shinobee]

 

[Dutch_Tooler]

Update on ongoing work:

I have to admit I'm not entirely happy with the double-sided-tape fixing of the T&T scales to the handle(s)  .
An additional issue is the limited stiffness of the scales, which makes them splay outwards ever so slightly (or not so slightly  ) when something is inserted, and thwarts any attempts at using tape for fixing the side ridges to the handle. Effectively the only thing that holds the scales in place is the tape on the central inner ridge between the tool slots. Not satisfactory - especially to an engineer... 

But never fear - every problem has its solution. At least that's what we were told at uni...   

I have managed to locate what I think is akin to the filament used in the SAK scale project discussed in this thread. Initial experiments show promise: the stuff is stiff. Stiffer than ABS by quite a margin (at least double?).
I am also experimenting with ways on how to glue this to metal handles - that is, neatly enough, without spilling too much of the two component epoxy glue I prefer to use all over the handles, inside the handle spring slots or inside the scales' tool slots  .

Adapting to the new filament and fixing has prompted a minor redesign of the scales.

Watch this space...

Oh, by the way - if this turns out to be successful, would anyone be interested in the 3D printing (.STL) files of these?

[SteveC]

[Dutch_Tooler]

So here is a pic with new CF scales, epoxied on. Found out I only need glue on the central ridge of the scales - in fact not on the side ridges as then the little bit of give necessary to provide spring action to hold the T&T would be inhibited completely. But the upward splay is considerably reduced. I can live with this setup. The outside has added roughness as well.

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[Poncho65]

Cool Hope that the epoxy holds I have held many things together with epoxy and have faith in it so you should be good

[Dutch_Tooler]

Thanks. My experience too tells me it should work out just fine...

Now, to apply something roughly similar to Rebar VX...

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[Poncho65]

Thanks. My experience too tells me it should work out just fine...

Now, to apply something roughly similar to Rebar VX...

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[SteveC]

Nice !   

[Dutch_Tooler]

Thanks. My experience too tells me it should work out just fine...

Now, to apply something roughly similar to Rebar VX...

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On hold pending this

[Dutch_Tooler]

Thanks. My experience too tells me it should work out just fine...

Now, to apply something roughly similar to Rebar VX...

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Having trouble getting my head around this task. Rebar handles have much less space, the spring slots are skewed and there's a rivet in the way. Also, the VX now has BO handles; I have some qualms about epoxying anything onto them. And although the rulers have limited use at best, I'd still like these accessible so those surfaces are out of the question for any around-the-handle-edges clipping solution

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[Dutch_Tooler]

Back to the ST300VX scales.

I was planning to also carry a Firefly ferro rod in one of them. Unfortunately, the tool slots are too narrow, seems the Fireflies are wider than the T&T by quite a margin, and I used the T&T as templates for the design of the scales. Will have to redesign them (again *sigh*)...

[Obi1shinobee]

Back to the ST300VX scales.

I was planning to also carry a Firefly ferro rod in one of them. Unfortunately, the tool slots are too narrow, seems the Fireflies are wider than the T&T by quite a margin, and I used the T&T as templates for the design of the scales. Will have to redesign them (again *sigh*)...

 

[Obi1shinobee]

gonna Add firefly and pen to ULTRATOOL  THANKS DT 

[Dutch_Tooler]

Good idea Obi, just take care when trying to fit the Firefly as it is quite a bit wider than tweezers or toothpick.

As to the pen, I think the long model may be too long. I've thought about using the short MiniChamp model, maybe with some kind of holder/extractor stub added...

But those are for dark winter nights.

[Dutch_Tooler]

Rainy day today... a modifed handle scale has just rolled out of the 3D printer. This is intended to hold a Minichamp pen and Firefly ferro rod. It's a prototype, but looks OK after some filing, and the epoxy is setting

[Wspeed]

Very interesting 

[Syncop8r]

I can't see any pics...   

[Dutch_Tooler]

I can't see any pics...   

That is probably because I haven't posted any yet
A Supertool in a vice is not an inspiring sight, I think...

Pics will be forthcoming once useful, never fear.

[Dutch_Tooler]

So this is the rough idea, shown with a placeholder ballpoint pen. Tolerances are too tight though and I'll have to redesign the scale with a tad more generous tolerances

The second pic shows the Minichamp type ballpoint pen that is going to be used, mounted in D-T's advanced lo-rev rotary epoxy setting gravity action compensator during the first few hours of setting of the blob you can see at its end. This blob will be cut and filed down to a small handle nub.

[Wspeed]

Nice first attempt D_T can’t
wait to see the finished product 

[Dutch_Tooler]

Take 2:

[Wspeed]

 

[Poncho65]

Great first attempt DT can't to see the next design and model

[Obi1shinobee]

Take 2:

(Image removed from quote.)

 

[Dutch_Tooler]

So here it is, the ST300VX complete with scale-type lodgings for tweezers, toothpick, pen and Firefly ferro rod. The latter had to be shortened by 2.5 mm to fit. The pen slot is open - I had defined a thin closing wall there but my 3D slicing program decided this was too thin to print at 0.1 mm. I didn't want to go thicker with overall outside thickness so I left it at that. To compensate I've had to also epoxy the corresponding side ridge to the handle, which seems to hold OK for now. The pliers can be squeezed shut on themselves without any interference from the scales.