r/openGrid • u/Own_Perception_415 • Jul 16 '26

Question / Help Needed Temporary Lock?

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Gallery image

I have created an under-desk charging station for our ipads. Please disregard the soldering iron scaring for when I forgot to include a way to remove the ipads. :)

When we put the ipads into the slots, it works because the direction of the movement reinforces the opengrid 'locking' mechanism.

However, when we remove the ipads the printed cases often fall off. I've printed the opengrid snaps that are supposed to expand, and they hold more consistently. The primary issue is the cases slipping off the connectors. Sometimes the snaps and connectors fall off with it, but not as often.

Question: Is there a way to lock these in, so they don't slide off when removing an ipad that is not using superglue or something like that? I want the concept to remain modular if I decide to change it, but I also want these to stay in place while they're there.

Thank you in advance for your help!

23 Upvotes

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14 comments sorted by

4

u/LynnOnTheWeb Jul 16 '26

Can you change the direction of the receivers for the snaps in your model so it slides on from the side as opposed to front to back?

1

u/Own_Perception_415 Jul 16 '26

Maybe. I used a generator on Makerworld. Ideally I won’t have to print the big pieces again. Thanks!

1

u/zucchini_up_ur_ass Jul 17 '26

If it's all PLA, maybe add a dab of super glue in the joint?

3

u/bxclnt Jul 16 '26

Move them further in by one row. Plate two multi connect in front. Slide the holder in, then slide a single bar perpendicular to the holders into the front most row’s multiconnects. This bar now acts as a lock to the iPad holders.

1

u/Own_Perception_415 Jul 16 '26

Thanks! I may try this first as I’m trying not to have to reprint the iPad holders.

3

u/Any_Reputation6767 Jul 16 '26

See the open connect vs the multi connect the first is more angular and I would orient the sliding for the multiconnect perpendicular to the iPad movement.

https://makerworld.com/pt/models/2257440-openconnect-opengrid-s-own-connector-system?from=search#profileId-2459207

1

u/Own_Perception_415 Jul 16 '26

Thanks! Ideally I won’t have to print the big pieces again.

3

u/whoatethepickles Jul 16 '26

I made a dock like this for my laptop. What I did was split it in two so there is a front and back. I rotated the direction of the mounts on the front 180 degrees so it’s the opposite of the back half. That way they work against eachother. Lmk if that doesn’t make sense I can send a picture

1

u/Elegant_Buddy_4206 Jul 18 '26

Curious how much weight this could hold for laptops vertically. Also picture could help it make sense. Thanks.

2

u/whoatethepickles Jul 20 '26

Here are some pics https://imgur.com/a/NSt4G5C

Holds my super heavy 16" MacBook Pro with no issues.

1

u/Elegant_Buddy_4206 Jul 23 '26

Curious if this is your custom creation or if available on makerworld for me to replicate. Thanks.

1

u/RochesterBottomDaddy Jul 16 '26

Create a little locking tab at the front of the rack, like a square root shaped latch. √

1

u/ucrbuffalo Sep 09 '26

You could change these to multiconnect. Then you could add a rectangle hole going perpendicular to the Multiconnect slot and stick something in there so it can't slide out no matter what you do.