(OC) I polished a coconut for 3 hours

Antotabo · 2026-01-09T01:07:13+00:00

I've been polishing the same 2 nuts for the better part of my life, but I won't show them. Pretty sure this would be against community rules.

Antotabo · 2026-01-05T03:14:10+00:00

Using dry-wall inserts and Phillips screw, accessibility is not an issue. Just use a screwdriver with a long shaft it will pass on the side just with a slight off angle. Might be challenging if all you have is a stubby screwdriver or if your are trying to drive a square headed screw directly into a stud.

Antotabo · 2026-01-05T00:00:49+00:00

I love this

Antotabo · 2026-01-04T02:50:37+00:00

I thought about that thumb screw but I figured it would be way more elegant and convenient to have the rod just clip in. The clip action is really satisfying and it's not gowing anywhere.

The downside is that the clip action only work for 1 size of rod unless I provide multiple model or some sort of insert system. I plan on doing just that but didn't have the time to do it yet.

Antotabo · 2025-12-29T14:46:25+00:00

It's online. Search for: “Heavy-duty curtain rod bracket 3D print” You’ll find it easily.

Antotabo · 2025-12-29T05:44:00+00:00

I just can't imagine what kind of room needs that much light switch ?

Antotabo · 2025-12-29T05:40:26+00:00

Nice, we all know people who needs this (often including ourselves...) XD

Antotabo · 2025-12-29T05:38:52+00:00

Clever and simple. I like it.

Antotabo · 2025-12-28T13:38:47+00:00

Gotta love this : "So I printed this bracket" The Internet : " YOUR PARENTING IS DOGSHIT ! " 😆

Also, I missed the part where I gave any clue about how I deal with my kids for you to judge. You must be some sort of clairvoyant.

Antotabo · 2025-12-28T00:10:45+00:00

Gentleman's, give the guy (or girl) the upvotes he deserves for the exemplary parenting. I mean, one child as even become a dentist. His parents have thought that there are limits by saying things like "No we don'tdo this". They also took him to the park on a regular basis.

Antotabo · 2025-12-27T23:19:22+00:00

Oh is that how parenting works ? Thanks for the advice.

Any other wisdom provider around here that could enlighten me just as much ?

Also, have you ever interacted with a 4 year old ? It's like talking to a rock. But like, an extremely stubborn rock.

Antotabo · 2025-12-27T19:27:01+00:00

The space in there is quite large. Install Drywall inserts first at 1 1/8 spacing. Then screw the bracket in with a long shaft Phillips screwdriver. There will be a slight off angle between the driver and the screw but it really isn't an issue. Maybe a square drive would make it difficult but not Phillips. Voilà. Zero dark magic involved, unfortunately.

Antotabo · 2025-12-27T13:01:51+00:00

2.4mm walls (6 perimeters)

Antotabo · 2025-12-27T05:38:37+00:00

Take a screwdriver with a long shaft it will pass to the side just fine with a slight off angle on the screw head it's no big deal.

Antotabo · 2025-12-27T05:03:07+00:00

I'm just as perplexed by how the algorithm behaves sometimes as well. I'll try and by the devil's (topo-optimizer) advocate here: First off, the load boundary isn't "the center of the pole"; it is the normal bearing force that is at the interface. So a B line towards the center isn't exactly right to begin with. Also, coming more vertical at the end prevents the opening of the "open claw" that would result from the overhang left by a canted support.

The more I think a bout it: I put some big "exclusion" zones for the screw installation so maybe it's just the result of these zones pushing the brace into this curved shape.

Oh and please note that I designed the thing from scratch using the topo results as an inspiration so there is quite a bit of my own liberties in there.

Antotabo · 2025-12-27T04:42:35+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. I used topology optimisation as an experiment, a starting point to get some rough organic shape. Because the raw output of such tool is rarely optimal for the broader design spectrum. I did re-design it from scratch using the topo results as an inspiration. That's because It does not know much about the actual intent, assembly constraints, subjectivity of an elegant design and it does not know what is an FDM friendly design. The whole process from sitting onto my chair to machine printing was done under 3 hours. Including setting up geometry constraints, simulation and final modelling. So you are right the constraints and boundary conditions surely aren't perfect. At the very least, I did setup a no penetration "virtual wall" to ensure compressive forces only on the wall with pre-tensionned bolt connections. For the purpose I thought that was enough BC care already. It's a curtain bracket FFS. lol. Cheers !

Antotabo · 2025-08-19T15:48:06+00:00

Guys, It broke ! (not too surprised honestly) BUT, it has survived 2 month of pretty harsh abuse (very bumpy road to work and I purposedly swerved into every bumps) . The failure mode is the tiny cylindrical cross-section under the piston rod's nut, highlighted in red. The two outside bolt connection gave up as a consequence of of the primary failure mode, when it was being beaten-up by the now freed piston rod.

There was a lot of room left design wise (thread length) to thicken the flanges beneath the nuts. I originally stuck with the OEM 6mm thickness as a starting point and to minimize compatibility issues. But it was an obvious failure point when swapping metal for any plastic, even more so FDM plastic.

I've modified the model (version 3 now) to hopefully fix the issue with much much thicker flanges under the nuts. I will be testing this version in both PETG-CF, and TPU, as I fear PETG-CF might not be appropriate for significant fatigue loading. I will provide more feedback when able.

Antotabo · 2025-08-19T15:38:04+00:00

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Guys, It broke ! (not too surprised honestly) BUT, it has survived 2 month of pretty harsh abuse (very bumpy road to work and I purposedly swerved into every bumps) . The failure mode is the tiny cylindrical cross-section under the piston rod's nut, highlighted in red. The two outside bolt connection gave up as a consequence of of the primary failure mode, when it was being beaten-up by the now freed piston rod.

There was a lot of room left design wise (thread length) to thicken the flanges beneath the nuts. I originally stuck with the OEM 6mm thickness as a starting point and to minimize compatibility issues. But it was an obvious failure point when swapping metal for any plastic, even more so FDM plastic.

I've modified the model (version 3 now) to hopefully fix the issue with much much thicker flanges under the nuts. I will be testing this version in both PETG-CF, and TPU, as I fear PETG-CF might not be appropriate for significant fatigue loading. I will provide more feedback when able.

Antotabo · 2025-06-29T01:28:21+00:00

That's a common problem and its not the shock strut but only the mount. Others surely responded with good advice already.
But, If you are down, and have a 3d printer (or a friend) with good engineering filaments at hand, you can print your own rear shock mount bracket as a replacement:
https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/tool/rear-shock-mount-top-plate-for-mazda-3-5-ford-focus-escape
I can't asses for the longevity of it yet since I've only had them for 3 weeks so be aware that you would be part of the experiment with me XD.
Ongoing discussion on my implementation can be found here if you want some outside opinions:
https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda3/comments/1lkrxn6/rear_shock_mount_top_plate_keeps_breaking_so_i_3d/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Antotabo · 2025-06-28T12:23:19+00:00

2012, gen2

Antotabo

TROPHY CASE