Printing a radio holder..

I'm printing a radio holder... much like I printed a holder for my power/SWR meters and the ATU for the IC-706Mk2G.

At the moment I have the IC-706 sitting up on a little shelf with the G90's face stuck to the top of it and a 120mm fan sitting in behind it keeping the Icom cool. 

I don't much like the Icom's fan noise when it kicks in, and having a big fan on top of it has always kept it cool enough that it doesn't start, even when engaging in some digital mode work. 

I don't care that much for this layout either. It's functional, but I need the Icom up a bit, and the stand just gives me dead space, and causes the fan to slip off. I also have an issue with the cable for the G90's face place hitting the fan. It has some protection, but it does make a racket. 

The microphones are also a bit of a pain. 

This is part 1 of 2 parts for the whole setup. This is upside down and front facing up. What you can see at the bottom of this image is actually the space for the fan to sit on top of the Icom (it will sit in the centre). The bottom will be storage at the stage. The G90 face will sit in over the top. I will at some point create a plate to put on the actual top to provide more protection from the fan and stop that space being entirely wasted. 

About 30% through (about 2 days left to go). My printer is in an enclosure (and yes, it's a mess in there - I don't care to move anything when it's behaving itself) and I do try to avoid opening it mid print. This time of year the aircon is moving air, there's a window behind the printer and hall outside of the door is in direct line for both the front and back doors, so draughts do occur, and it can cause all kinds of warping issues for me. 

I'm using a "STEM Warehouse" PLA+ from Wiltronics. I've never used PLA+ before - I only grabbed it the other day as I'd just run out whilst printing the plates for the coax switches and was over that side of town running something to the XYL. 

It seems to be pretty good, though I did have to replace the bowden tube yesterday after a false start due to clogging. I suspect it wasn't the PLA+'s fault as much as it was the result of having just finished a roll of cheap PETG. I'd ran into problems too the last time I used PETG then moved back to PLA, and wound up having to replace the tubing. I'm starting to see why the serious 3D printing guys run multiple printers (I won't be.. unless it's a resin printer....). 

The next part of this design is simpler. I've created a plate for the two mics, complete with cut outs to push the cables back through to keep them out the way.  I'll have to come up with hooks for them as it was too hard to put them into the design and have it print without creating an inordinate amount of supports, adding to the print time and amount of plastic used. 

With a bit of luck I'll have this done by the weekend. 

The antenna window plate is mostly done. I just need the sockets to arrive so I can finish it off. 

I've run the RG213U out to the dipole, getting it half way up the side fence as I can, connected to a sealed jiffy box that then connects to RG58 for the suspended side. I've also replaced the RG213U connecting the vertical and moved it to the window plate. 

At some point I'll need to work out what I'm doing with the RG58 sticking out down the side of the house, whether I pull that through or what. I've cut off the inside part and reused it. The installed RG213U I might leave there. I do have the Diamond D150 discone floating around still. I may use it for that. I don't know. 

I still need to relocate my grounding set up. I've got a hole in the plate for it. I just need to cut over to it.