Solar Panel Back Side Support Pad [TPU] height 21mm for 40mm-Rail (8mm slot)

Motivation

I had to mount two large solar-panels 2278x1134 in horizontal orientation onto horizontal rails.
As the mounting points are 2,24m apart, the panels are bending under their own weight and tend to swing when pushed slightly.
One solution could be the use of additional vertically mounted fixation rails.

Solution

As alternative I placed four TPU support pads onto the existing horizontal rails to evenly distribute the weight forces into the horizontal rails.
The guiding structures on the bottom side of the pads keeps the pads in their position.
By designing a large and flat top surface and using TPU as flexible material, I prevent critical loads on the glass surface, even when snow is on the panel.
Applying short vertical pushes on the middle of the panel repeatedly shows, that there is no swinging at all.
The impulse is lead directly into the rail structure, thus stabilizing the panel.

Print

Printed with Sunlu TPU 95A Black.
Brim optional, no supports.
10% infill Gyroid for some better flexibility.

Assembly

Simply place the pads on the horizontal rail (top side, 8mm groove) at the center of the solar panel.
Then move them sideways to the mountig positions that will hold the panel when it would be mounted vertically.