Tile Collar Case
Tile Collar Case
3D
Published 2019-10-21T15:30:16+00:00
I was looking for a low cost solution to keep track of my cats when I take them outside. The Tile Mate was a great solution as bluetooth covers the ranges that they travel and with Tile's crowdsourced loss prevention, this made it a viable option. The cost is affordable and you don’t need to pay for their premium service if you do not need the features it provides. The Tile Mate has a relatively small form factor and the replaceable CR1632 battery is a huge plus (with BLE, the battery life on these things is pretty insane).
The design requirements were as follows:
- No modifications to the Tile itself to allow easy replacement.
- No modifications to the collars like un-sewing or removing the buckles.
- Provide access to the battery for easy replacement.
- Provide access to the face button and speaker holes on the back.
- Simple assembly with sturdy attachment to ensure it stays on.
- No dangling or protruding shapes to prevent snagging.
- Rounded corners and edges for max comfort.
- Durability and 3D printability.
With these requirements in mind, I settled on a two part assembly that clamps around the Tile and collar, and is held together with a single M4 screw.
This was designed for a 10mm strap collar but if there is enough intrest, I can modify the design to support other sizes!
This should also fit the 2018 or 2020 Tile Mate. If you have any issues let me know!
Check out the full project writeup on my website!
The back lid will require support material to support the arch, but the rough surface left behind will be on the inside and might help prevent the case from sliding on the collar.
The orientation the parts are already in is the recomended print orientation, due to the large flat surfaces against the bed and minimal support for the lid.
I'd recomend a high infill percentage to improve strength on the tabs of the front cover. Most of it will be perimeters and the time difference is negligible.
PETG or ABS is prefered for durability, but any material should work fine.
There's a small lip to help seat the lid in place. Depending on your printer, this lip may not print or come off easily but it does not affect the functionality.
I'd also reccomend using a M4 tap or carefully threading the screw in, backing it out as you "cut" the threads to remove the plastic. Do not over-tighten it, as it will strip the threads. Some thread locker may come in handy or a small dab of hot glue or silicone can be used if needed.
| Date published | 21/10/2019 |