October 23, 2021
Description
Having recently completed building an ESR Meter (capacitor tester) from a kit (Altronics #K2574 https://www.altronics.com.au/p/k2574-esr-meter-kit) I wanted the batteries to be accessible from underneath, without having to unscrew the top panel to replace them each time.
To that end, I mounted the AAA battery holders on a plate, marked out and cut a door panel in the supplied plastic zippy box, and designed this old-style latch to keep the door closed.
It operates in a similar manner to the type of latches that use a coin to open, although given the smaller size this one just requires a flat-bladed screwdriver or even your thumbnail to operate. A quarter turn retracts the arm into the retainer and the door may be opened.
The customiser is set for a drill diameter of 10mm and matching box thickness of about 1.5mm but feel free to alter those if you wish.
Supplied are the STLs for 10mm dia at 1.5mm thick one I used, and also a 1/2" dia at 1/16" thick version if you have imperial drillbits.
Print at 100% (solid) infill only. I used yellow ABS, I think PETG would also be fine. I would not recommend PLA as it is more brittle.
See fitting instructions below. This is easily accomplished with CA/Superglue, but there are fixing holes if you wish to use small self-tapping screws.
The three parts are printed on a sprue, so you can run off a number of these and keep them in your electronics parts box for future use.
FITTING INSTRUCTIONS
License:
Creative Commons - Attribution