Non Overengineered Helping Hand
Description
After 6 years of "I'm going to build this", I finally built it: My own helping hand. As I found nothing that fits my needs on Thingiverse, I decided to design my own thing. This is basically just a little threaded baseplate, mounted to the top of a basic electronics enclosure with some weights in it. Mine happened to have 20 mm wide holes on both sides, which were perfect to hold the battery charger on one side and a switch on the other. I also added a 50mm Fan as a very tiny fume extractor to guide the fumes away from my face. I still recommend a second bigger fume extractor with a filter close by though. # Bill of Materials ### Hardware - 120x80x50 mm ABS enclosure - 4x 25 mm M3 bolts and nuts - 4x 20 mm M4 bolts and nuts - 6x 1/4" 300 mm plastic cnc cooling tube with round nozzle (AliExpress)[https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005004609099236.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.23.290e3488qVKzI9&algo_pvid=da58ca58-f4be-46b5-b0fc-8ad56a19c556&algo_exp_id=da58ca58-f4be-46b5-b0fc-8ad56a19c556-11&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%214.87%213.79%21%21%215.21%21%21%40216661c117011046612295273e4a95%2112000029815734877%21sea%21DE%21838960348%21&curPageLogUid=78qwB3GIuNGz] - 5x crocodile clamps for banana plugs [AliExpress](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256801152541703.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.63.15ab4b62H0rGSD&algo_pvid=49503ab0-c6dc-428a-b97b-60cf99a2be34&algo_exp_id=49503ab0-c6dc-428a-b97b-60cf99a2be34-31&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%211.38%211.38%21%21%211.47%21%21%40210318cf17011048687522601e8d8d%2112000015742468754%21sea%21US%21838960348%21&curPageLogUid=RgStYAFPuYME) ### Electronics - 50x50x10 mm 12V Fan with 2 Pins(AliExpress)[https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005004858080664.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.29.54b9698bB76qMj&algo_pvid=b5d0315d-68cc-4bef-ac73-a293a94ecac3&aem_p4p_detail=20231127084737616690751087680000384535&algo_exp_id=b5d0315d-68cc-4bef-ac73-a293a94ecac3-14&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%216.56%213.55%21%21%217.01%21%21%402167359c17011036574682247e54bc%2112000030855339534%21sea%21DE%21838960348%21&curPageLogUid=2rK6V8G0rDqU&search_p4p_id=20231127084737616690751087680000384535_3] - cool illuminated power switch [AliExpress]() - 12 V Step Up converter - 18650 Battery Holder - 18650 Battery - TP4056 Charging/BMS Module ### Other Stuff - wires - shrink tubing - solder - 2 part epoxy # How To Build It ### Step 1 Print the parts. ### Step 2 Drill holes into the enclosure and mount the baseplate onto it using the M4 bolts. Also drill a hole for the fan wiring. Mount the grids to the fan using the M3 bolts. Screw the arms into the baseplate. You might have to drill a 20 mm hole into each side for the switch and the charging module. Cover all the alligator clips with shrink tubing. ### Step 3 Widen the hole at the tip of each arm to fit the alligator clips. This can be done using a drill or a soldering iron (careful, not to hot and don't inhale the fumes). Glue the alligator clips into the arms using 2 part epoxy. ### Step 4 Feed the fan wires through to the inside, insert the switch using the switch adapters and screw it in place. The charging board has to be hot glued to the adapter part and the hole assembly has to be glued to the enclosure. ### Step 5 Solder the parts together according to the circuit diagram. As seen in the picture, you can use your helping hand to help with that. ### Step 6 Glue some weights into the enclosure. I used a few hefty bolts for that. Insert the 18650 battery. Close up the ABS enclosure. Charge the battery using the USB port and you are good to go. # Tips The 1/4" threads were modeled with the built-in thread tool in Fusion 360 and happened to fit perfectly. However, yours might not so you might have to scale the model by around +/- 5 %. You can also go for a 5 V switch and fan. This might be more efficient and would allow you to just throw in a power bank.
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