Introduction: Make a Handy Custom Power Bar Dock for Your Workbench

What if you could safely place a power bar (extension lead/multiplug) perfectly in any place you work in? No more messy cables in the floor or loosely placed over the table. Dock and undock any power bar where and when you need it.



3d printing it is not just a novelty, it really can provide wonderful stuff that you will never will able to find in a store. A really custom improvement for your life. This step/step tutorial will teach you how to make a perfect fit for your extension lead/multiplug. 3d Printer required.

Step 1: Measuring the Power Bar

With a piece of paper, draw the shape of the power bar you want to use as template. In this case both sides are identical, but one has the cable.

The dock will have 3 pieces, 2 corners and 1 clip. The 2 corners can have the same measures if your power extension is nearly identical in both sides. Height for the corners should be lower than the clip.

Step 2: Drawing the Basic Shape in Your 3d Drawing App

I will use Sketchup in this step. First draw the bottoms of the pieces. I will draw only one part for the corners. The arc is by hand, no precise measures, just looking at the device and comparing.

Now make the pieces thicker with the "Push/Pull" tool. (3 mm is enough for the base)

Step 3: Finishing the 3d Pieces

With the offset tool, create a border (4 mm is strong). Pull the border to the measured heights in the step 1. Finally clean the pieces a bit, for the center one remove the 2 center sections (draw a line and push the middle area), and for the 'corner' piece I left the 15 mm for the cable.

Step 4: Final Touches

With "RoundCorner" plugin for Sketchup you can smooth the corners. The central clip can be done with any shape, but I suggest a triangle rectangle with a 3 mm base (or higher is your power bar top is too rounded).

For the screw holes, just draw 2 concentric circles and push them.

Finally! duplicate the corner piece and place them to prepare for 3d printing!

Step 5: Install It and Enjoy!

Print your pieces! Some double sided sticky tape will make the installation very easy to do! Screw it in place and done. Demo:


Also you can download the file ready to print if your power bar has a 42x25 mm side size (any length):
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:32087
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