Research & Development for Wheelchair Costumes
Many times we go through various iterations of things before we agree they are good to share on the website. However, we have plenty of different things that we are always testing. New materials, new adhesives, new techniques, and especially new 3D printed joints. We wanted to create a place on our website where we can get feedback from many of our volunteers and builders who are willing to try out some of the things we've come up with. They can provide their feedback and help us fine tune the designs before we put them on our "approved" pages of our website. All of the following items, are currently in testing phase and may not represent the final design. You can also provide feedback if there are things you think we need to design that would help with building these wheelchair costumes.
Any Angle Joint:
These joints can go either inside 3/4" PVC pipes, or outside 3/4" PVC pipes (depending on which files you use). Then use a 1/4 20 bolt with a locking nut to connect the two parts. Move the connector to whatever angle you would like and then tighten down the nut to lock it in place. Note: Do not tighten too tight, or you can crush the 3D printed joint. |
Flat Attachment Point:
These types of pieces slide over a 3/4" PVC pipe but are not joints at all. These are used to provide a larger flat surface to attach costume parts. Great for attaching styrene, velcro, or just anyplace that you need more surface area. They are made in a single flat side, two flat sides, or four flat sides in case you need to attach two panels on the sides of PVC but want to keep the panels parallel. |
Parallel Capped:
Similar to the "Parallel Through Capped" joint, this is used in the same manner, but doesn't surround the PVC pipe and instead lets it sit on a shelf. The PVC pipe can still be secured with zip ties. |
Long Tee Joint:
This joint can serve as a pivot point by attaching onto a PVC pipe side. The two trenches are for zip ties to secure it down and not slide off the joint. Then slide a PVC pipe into the top and use the tiny holes to screw into the pipe and lock it in place. (NOTE: These work best printed in flexible TPU filament.) |
Narrow Tee Joint:
This joint can serve as a pivot point by attaching onto a PVC pipe side. It is very narrow and can fit into small sections of PVC pipe. Then slide a PVC pipe into the top and glue to lock it in place. (NOTE: These work best printed in flexible TPU filament.) |
Caster Wheel Attachment Joint (Generic):
While this is most commonly used for caster wheel attachments, it could be used for other things too. This is if you need to attach the end of a PVC pipe to a flat surface such as a piece of wood. It has four screw holes for base and two screw holes to secure the PVC pipe into it. |
Caster Wheel Attachment Joint (Swivel Caster #69847):
These custom designed joints were specifically designed to fit a particular caster wheel. That way, it screwed directly onto the actual caster wheel and didn't require any wood between the two. There are 2 versions of this joint. V1 is sturdier, with straight sides and is stronger. V2 is rounded, still sturdy, but takes less 3D printer filament. Both work great and we don't recommend one over the other. (NOTE: The bolts used to attach these together are 1/4 20 pan head bolts.) |
Wheel Caps for Small Stroller Type Wheelchair:
These wheel caps allow for a wheelcover to go over the back wheels of a stroller type wheelchair with mag wheels or a manual wheelchair with spoke wheels. The graphics for those wheels can then stay upright at all times by using ballbearings and weights at the bottom of the design.
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Mag Wheels - 2 parts:
Spoke Wheels - 2 parts:
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