Introduction: Clip & Block

Clip & block is an open source construction kit (CC By‑SA 4.0). It can create solid structure for electronic projects with a 3D printer. Pieces can be assembly and removed easily for adding and remove components. It is still under development but i will present you my own projects later.

My goal is to make it :

  • easy to print
  • easy to extend
  • be able to carry electronic components

Step 1: Print Your First Clip & Block

Clip & block is easy to print (no support, it's possible to print it in any direction, not to much precision needed, shapes are simple).

  • To start, clone or download the project locally from GitLab.

First step, you need to print four pieces :

For the two plates :

  • go to directory stl/basic 
  • get the file I-3.stl 
  • get the file I-4.stl.

I-3.stl → letter I is for the shape, number 3 is for number of holes.

For the clip and the blocker :

  • go to directory stl/clips
  • get the file blocker-2.stl (lay it flat, there is a function for that in Cura)

  • get the file clip-2.stl.

number 2 is for the height of the clip (for two pieces). blocker-2.stl will work only with clip-2.stl.

You don't need two much materials for these pieces (2 g and 0,83 m with my settings).
Now, you can assembly pieces ! To unmount, you need to push the blocker from the other side with a small tool.

If it doesn't fit well, you can test other blockers, blocker-2-easy.stl or blocker-2-strong.stl.

You can print other plates to play with it and see that it's strong !

Step 2: Pieces List

In stl/basic directory, there is a big number of pieces (around 75). They are classified by shapes and number of holes (in three dimensions). Here is some samples :

I-3 : I, in length, 3 holes length

LF-3-2 : LF, in L flat, 3 holes length, 2 on the other side

L-2-1-1 : L, in L, 2 holes length, 1 height, 1 width

L-2-2-3 : L, in L, 2 holes length, 2 height, 3 width

U-2-2-2 : in U

P-2-2 : P, Flat

C-2-2-1 : cube, 2 holes length, 2 height, 1 width

IR-3 : IR, in length, rounded (for pieces in rotation)

IHR-3 : IHR, in length, half height, rounded

Step 3: Pieces for Electronic Components

I have create pieces for specific components. They are in the directory stl/electronic.

For example, you can see the two pieces that can include NodeMCU (I love this card :) )

There is a lot of types of this pieces, with more or less holes, only on one side, etc. You can browse it in this folder : clip-and-block/stl/electronic-parts/nodemcu

Here is the list of components that you can find in Clip & block. This list is growing and is not up to date :

  • 18650x2 Batterie holder
  • 18650 Batterie shield V3

  • BME 280

  • Breadboard 25 holes

  • Button 14 × 20

  • D1 Mini

  • DC Motor with gearbox

  • N20 motor
  • L9110s Driver motor

  • NodeMCU

  • OLED 128 × 64

  • SG90 Servo motor
  • Display TM1637

Step 4: Things I've Made

Here are some samples i've made with Clip & block :

  • Virtual Wall Roomba
  • Electronic hourglass (To stop saying Hurry up ! in the morning my childrens :))

  • RC Car
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYvnh63f8S4

  • Universal phone holder

To finish, you can extend everything with openscad and create your own pieces.