Revision as of 10:23, 4 June 2019

Introducing the Gadget Hamper

The Universal Device Charging Cradle system

TL;DR: This is an open device charger that can be easily adjusted to support any handheld equipment needing a charging dock.

The latest version of this project is always available on GitHub: https://github.com/dosman33/Gadget-Hamper

Components

• Base - the bottom shell everything plugs info
• Rear deck - horizontal lid that snaps into place on the back side of the Base
• Cradle - socket that accepts the device being charged
• Chad - interlocking bricks that snap the Cradle into the Base, and multiple Bases together
• Auxiliary Bases - modular organizers that snap into the Base

Why was this made

I found myself designing replacement battery pack cases using 18650 cells for older commercial radio equipment which previously relied on NiCD batteries. These radios have a good niche in the second-hand ham radio market so they are still desirable for hobbyists despite often lacking working batteries. Lithium batteries have many benefits over the older technology, but retro-fitting older equipment with Lithium cells is not just as easy as slapping a new battery pack on the radio. All radios have infrastructure that came with them, including desk-top and vehicular charging cradles. As I kept designing more battery packs for my own gear I realized I needed an easy to repurpose charging cradle system to support all of these new battery pack designs.

Other needs for the Gadget Hamper

Handheld equipment usually comes with a single charging cradle, most people keep this where the gear spends its down time so it can charge over night. Maby you need a second charger on your desk at home, or in the garage. Now you can print as many as you need! Also, often people buy second hand equipment which didn’t come with a charger. If second-hand charging cradles are hard to find or expensive for some reason, just use the Gadget Hamper instead!

Modularity - gang charging

Anyone who dabbles in commercial radio equipment knows about gang chargers. This is a piece of equipment that can charge 2 or more devices simultaneously (often up to 6), for entire departments of users. Having a heterogeneous charging base that can snap together and charge multiple dis-similar radios was a feature I desired, and I suspect others may desire this too. This also can reduce the multitude of individual charger wall-warts consuming space under your desk for each charging cradle.

Non-charger uses

Since the system is modular, and most people keep their charging cradle on their desk, I went ahead and added non-charging accessories to the lineup. I’ve added some office supply organizer components as well. Also, sometimes a piece of equipment just needs a clear place to sit on a desk even it’s not for charging.

I have a 3D printer, but 3D modeling isn’t my bag - can I still use the Gadget Hamper?

Included in the design is a universal battery cradle which can be manually trimmed to fit after it's printed! Print it out, trim the splines to fit your device, make up some battery contacts, and bobs your uncle!

Gadget Hamper features by component:

The Base

• Allows you to snap together a custom gang charger for your radios
• Snaps together left-to-right, front-to-back, or both!
• Chads are used to interlink components
• Has holes on all sides for interlocking chads to link multiple bases together
• Multiple model variants in the main tree

Battery cradle

• Snaps into the base using same chads that link bases together
• Facilitates hollow access pathways inside the unit which facilitate wire routing and contacts
• Makes printing easier, minimal support material needed
• Wire up the cradle and simply snap into the base!
• Blank cradle model gives you an easy starting place to model support for new equipment
• Includes a universal cradle blank which can be trimmed to fit new equipment if 3D modeling isn’t your thing

Designed to be printed using minimal support material

• Modular base and battery cradle
• Makes internal wiring much easier
• Chad holes permit wire routing between bases when multiple bases are linked together

Multiple uses

• The Base and cradle components can be remixed separately, as long as their respective footprints and chad holes are used one can remix as much as desired.
• Organizer trays, bases, and other inserts included in the design
• Can be used as a device holder and organizer along with battery charging

Print settings

My setup is a Hesine M505 cartesian printer (cousin to the Anet A8) with a .8mm nozzle. I've experimented with different layer heights, but .1mm and .2mm work fine with my nozzle size. I mostly use PET-G filament as it's stronger than PLA and I don't need a HEPA filter to avoid lung cancer from the fumes. Support everywhere is needed for the chad windows (for connecting bases together). However any filament should work.

Please Remix!

Check out the main site for examples and suggestions on modeling cradles to support new devices. Also, it would be cool to see compatible blank cradles (the inner cavity) modeled in other formats than Blender (OpenSCAD, FreeCAD, etc). I just don't have the time to learn those tools for now.