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Had a request for some 3D printed SWAT mounts

47K views 42 replies 11 participants last post by  WheresWaldo  
#1 · (Edited)
On another forum I have had many requests to design some mounting adapters for the SWAT saddle mount. After a few revisions I have come up with a few I thought you guys might find interesting. First up are a couple of tail light mounts that are not STIX related.

SWAT to Cygolight Hotshot mount
Image

And here is how it looks with the Hotshot in place.


SWAT to Cateye mount
Image

Another image on the bike with a Rapid Mini in place


SWAT to Garmin Varia-Edge mount or Long version
This one comes in a short and longer version. The Garmin section is eighth-turn instead of quarter-turn so no need to modify the mount for landscape or portrait orientations, just insert and turn 1/8 turn in either direction. Works with both the Varia TL and Varia Radar as well as any Edge device that a track rider might need to record data while not having their device handlebar mounted. Short version pictured.
Image

On the bike with a Garmin Varia Radar (Short version). The long version allows for portrait mode mounting.


SWAT to GoPro mount
Works with the standard GoPro hardware (M5 Thumbscrew & M5 Acorn nut).
Image


As I mentioned this is stuff people have asked me for, If anyone here has anything special they want to mount on the back of their SWAT equipped saddle just let me know via PM or a message on my Shapeways page (faster) and I will see if I can accommodate.
 
#3 ·
@pspycho Specialized has a good thing here, it is too bad they are supporting it as well as Fizik does with ICS or Prologo does with their Topeak based U-Clip. Since I did a bunch of stuff for people at WeightWeenies and BikeForums on other platforms I was asked over and over to do something for SWAT. I finally had some time to sit down and do a few designs for stuff Specialized would likely never directly support. Since I am just one person, and a hobbyist at that, sometimes it takes a while before I can get to certain requests.

Enjoy.
 
#4 ·
These look really cool.
Just curious if it is possible to produce something (although it is likely to be a one off) for a Niteflux Red Zone 4 light and SWAT seat mounting? I have a Phenom saddle but also carry a seat bag on it. I was thinking something like the SWAT mount with like a C-Clip that the carbon tube on the light could be snapped into. Carbon tube is 24.12mm in diameter and there is 27.5mm between the two silicon endcaps so a width of 25mm for the clip would be good. Sorry about the very rough drawing but it was just to give an idea. As mentioned it would need to mount out only just slightly further than the end of the saddle just to clear the seat bag (which is only a fairly small one).
 

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#5 · (Edited)
@TmB123, Sure it is doable. Give me through the weekend to get it modeled and posted on my Shapeways page. I will post a rendering here first so you can see what it will look like.

Just so everyone knows, these are made out of nylon and 3D printed on demand. I am not affiliated with Shapeways in any way other than they let designers post models for purchase on their site. I do no have control over much of the printing, shipping and customer service, that is all Shapeways. Because of the method Shapeways uses to finish their products the black has a fuzzy grainy feel, all other colors have a satin-like finish since they are polished in a tumbler with ceramic bits before dyeing.

There is a link in my signature to my dedicated Shapeways page where you can see a lot more things like Di2 mounting options, stuff for Fizik saddles as well as custom size-specific aero seat post mounts for GoPro style cameras. This all started because I wanted to eliminate the ugly rubber strap Shimano uses to mount the Di2 Junction 'A' box and my daughter wanted to mount a GoPro on a Cannondale Synapse with an aero seat post. Most of the other stuff I have is there by request of others.

There are some discussion threads on BikeForums (nearly 300 posts) and WeightWeenies (200 posts) that have a lot of pictures of what I have designed and built for others. I spend most of my time in those forums.
 
#7 ·
@TmB123

Here are a couple of renders of what it looks like:
Image


Image


It will clip in snug to account for any variability in the carbon tube's finish. Since it is nylon it will have some flexibility in the clip but be rigid in the actual mount area. The amount of raw material is more than some of the other SWAT models I have done.
 
#10 ·
Oh, and just an fyi, on your Shapeways page you mention that it clips in like the standard mount, at the moment the only mounting option for these lights is a velcro strap. I've been in communication with the guy who makes the lights and he said a clip was imminent, but has never had one available for well over a year, so when I saw yours, especially on the swat mount, it looked great.
 
#12 ·
Yes, the 4 and the 8 are the same physical size. The website is a bit average. The original Red Zone 4 which I had was a rectangular block, then there is the model I posted above which I now have, and if you download the 2016 product manual it shows a newer version which is all clear, still called a Red Zone 4 but is clear plastic so I have no idea of the dimensions. So the models are a bit confusing. The photo I posted above with it clipped to the saddle rail mount was out of the 2016 product manual. He told me a while ago he was going to 3D print a saddle rail clip (presumably like the one in the photo) but has not been forthcoming. They are great lights, but customer service isn't one of his strong points.
 
#13 ·
@TmB123
Well I have it up on the Shapeways site already, it is at this link Specialized SWAT / Niteflux Red Zone Adapter. If you order it this week and use the code in message #8 that will give you 20% off. If you decide to get one, all I ask is that you send me a picture of the clip on your bike with the light installed.
 
#16 ·
The lights are made here in Adelaide so I know a few people with them. They aren't a mainstream brand light, but are very good, very bright and programmable (to a degree).
I guess the problem is what saddle everyone is riding, which I don't know but can at least let them know about your clip and the possibility of making one if they have the saddle types you mentioned above. I have the Phenom on one bike which this is for, but also have an S-Works Chicane on my other bike which has no such mounting options. The Phenom and that bike are fairly new and I quite like the saddle so one may end up on my other bike too one day.

cheers
Tim
 
#21 ·
Cool stuff. What material do you make your parts out of? Do you have a spec sheet of the material properties for the polymer you use?
What type of software do you use to construct your CAD models? Do you perform any rudimentary FEA on your part designs...or basic stress analysis based upon potential loading?
 
#23 ·
I use a print service, Shapeways in this case, so if you need MSDS for the materials used you would have to get them from Shapeways. I can tell you that I enable printing with their Nylon (what they call Strong & Flexible) and Black / White Acrylic.
https://www.shapeways.com/rrstatic/material_docs/msds-strongflex.pdf
https://www.shapeways.com/materials/acrylic-plastic

Cool beans .. I still owe you some parts Op.. I have not forgot . Just life getting in the way
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Looking forward to see them.
 
#25 ·
I do understand that 3D printing, as it exists today, even though praised as a disruptive process, is still in it's infancy. There is still much more research and growth coming from 3D print technologies.

For me, I don't consider anything I am doing as mission critical or adding to the 3D printing evolution. I had a problem I needed to solve and I found a way to solve it to my satisfaction. The little things I have modeled work completely well within the current state of 3D printing technology. I have been thankful that I can share a little bit of it with others.
 
#27 ·
WARNING - Venge Vias GoPro and Virb mounts

A word of warning to anyone with a Venge that wants to mount any action cam to the bottom of the Edge mount. Specialized did show a wind tunnel video with a GoPro Hero4 mounted underneath a Garmin Edge. It was a prototype mount that was used to test the effects of the GoPro on aerodynamics and wattage. The conclusion was that the GoPro required 1 watt of additional power. That was the good news. Specialized has appeared to have abandoned the idea of mounting the action cam under the Garmin Edge mount as the vibration made the video footage unusable. This cannot be corrected with any redesign of the current action cam mounting options. This is a Specialized issue, not one of any of us here that uses or designed a mount for the Venge, a redesigned and sturdier arm will likely be required. I am keeping the two I have in my storefront, but have added a plainly worded warning that you may experience vibration in the video footage.
 
#28 ·
On another forum I have had many requests to design some mounting adapters for the SWAT saddle mount. After a few revisions I have come up with a few I thought you guys might find interesting. First up are a couple of tail light mounts that are not STIX related.

SWAT to Garmin Varia-Edge mount or Long version
This one comes in a short and longer version. The Garmin section is eighth-turn instead of quarter-turn so no need to modify the mount for landscape or portrait orientations, just insert and turn 1/8 turn in either direction. Works with both the Varia TL and Varia Radar as well as any Edge device that a track rider might need to record data while not having their device handlebar mounted. Short version pictured.
Image

On the bike with a Garmin Varia Radar (Short version). The long version allows for portrait mode mounting.
View attachment 314555

SWAT to GoPro mount
Works with the standard GoPro hardware (M5 Thumbscrew & M5 Acorn nut).
Image


As I mentioned this is stuff people have asked me for, If anyone here has anything special they want to mount on the back of their SWAT equipped saddle just let me know via PM or a message on my Shapeways page (faster) and I will see if I can accommodate.
I have ordered 5 of the SWAT Garmin Varia Radar attachment and love them! The quality is great and it works perfectly. Thank you for coming up with this!
 
#29 ·
I hope you got more than just black ones. I also updated the GoPro adapter. It should now work better and with all kinds of GoPro waterproof cases.


I also have a GoPro adapter for the front Garmin mount, although as a result of the way that Specialized designed the mount, I don't recommend it to anyone unless you are putting an extremely light camera on the front.