2020 clips for strips?

Anyone have a source for little plastic clips that get twisted into the slot of a 2020 extrusion and then act as a clip to grab and hold a led strip?

shimbob said:

Anyone have a source for little plastic clips that get twisted into the slot of a 2020 extrusion and then act as a clip to grab and hold a led strip?

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This something you've seen sold before or somethin you hope is real?

I have this vague senstation I've seen them before somewhere, but I can't figure out where.
They certainly could exist. Take this 3d-printed part: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/tool/2020-v-profile-cable-clip-ender3 and instead of a cable loop have clips that hold strips.

I don't know a lot about 3d printing to be honest. But hopefully you can find it. Maybe you could make something work from searching 3Bay or Amaz0n for 2020 tslot components/accesories?

shimbob said:

I have this vague senstation I've seen them before somewhere, but I can't figure out where.
They certainly could exist. Take this 3d-printed part: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/tool/2020-v-profile-cable-clip-ender3 and instead of a cable loop have clips that hold strips.

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Whats wrong with a bolt and tslot nut?

diyled said:

Whats wrong with a bolt and tslot nut?

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It doesnt seem like the best solution for my situation.
I'm building a new light in a space that's 24" x ~5', using LT-QB22A strips. Idealy, I'd like to fit 31 strips in that space (24"=609mm, say 600 for wiggleroom. 600mm/(18mm+1mm gap between strips)=31 strips.) But this assumes a 1mm gap between strips, and it's wall-to-wall coverage.
With the bolt/tslot nut combo, it seems the gap between strips would have to be wider to fit the bolt and I'm not sure it be able to have two strips on the very outside edges of the light. Does a strip need support from a bolt on both sides of the strip to stay in? Having bolts only on one side of the strip feels too hackish to me.

Warmer...
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2853708

Best case scenario with M3 screws and tslot nuts I can fit 28 strips.

Why not just do self adhesive tape? I imagine low wattage per strips so thermals are still going to be easy.

I built this frame previously and found the tape would let go, had strips falling on the plants. Maybe it wasn't good tape, but I suspect the expansion/contraction cycles of the frame contributed to the tape giving up. So now I'd rather go with solid mechanical attachment, and air cooled still.
I think I'll go with the M3 bolt&hammer nut solution. Some day maybe clips will exist, I'll be ready for them.

Well thermal tape on 20/20 extrusion wouldn't be a very legit hold imo. The gaps just cause spots to not stick. If you got a box flat surface like an aluminum sheet or heatsink, thermal tape is a good option.

shimbob said:

I built this frame previously and found the tape would let go, had strips falling on the plants. Maybe it wasn't good tape, but I suspect the expansion/contraction cycles of the frame contributed to the tape giving up. So now I'd rather go with solid mechanical attachment, and air cooled still.
I think I'll go with the M3 bolt&hammer nut solution. Some day maybe clips will exist, I'll be ready for them.

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shimbob said:

It doesnt seem like the best solution for my situation.
I'm building a new light in a space that's 24" x ~5', using LT-QB22A strips. Idealy, I'd like to fit 31 strips in that space (24"=609mm, say 600 for wiggleroom. 600mm/(18mm+1mm gap between strips)=31 strips.) But this assumes a 1mm gap between strips, and it's wall-to-wall coverage.
With the bolt/tslot nut combo, it seems the gap between strips would have to be wider to fit the bolt and I'm not sure it be able to have two strips on the very outside edges of the light. Does a strip need support from a bolt on both sides of the strip to stay in? Having bolts only on one side of the strip feels too hackish to me.

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Just put the bolt through the end of your heatsink.

using so many t-slot nuts on such a tight space is a pita youre right, been there, done that.

do you have a 3d printer at hand?

you allready ordered the 2020 extrusions, any picture of the 2020 layout you want to use?

you can probably try to cut some thin aluminium, copper or brass with a scissor and bend it with a plier to your needs, maybe even a paperclip can work.

there is also 2020 extrusion with one side closed which would give you more surface for tape.

other option is to rotate the 2020 bars by 90 degree and use some kind of guide, rail to hold your nuts in place in the middle rail and counter them.
depends a bit on high you want to drive them but it sounds you will drive them low.
You could use 3 bars 90 dgr.rotated with your strips as far i see, with longer strips even more.

Are you sure on those 2020s? I feel all their nooks and crannies make the hard to clean and disinfect between grows. Especially if youve had some mold with spores, and if theyre so close then its almost impossible to clean it.

diyled said:

Just put the bolt through the end of your heatsink.

View attachment 4439972

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Going this route would require buying 116' (4*28+2*2) of metal, way more than I care for.

Here's what I have in mind for my new frame, only ~16' of 2020 required. Either with clips or tnut/bolt, strips would attach at midpoint & ends.

An alternative to 2020 would be building a new frame like my previous one, out of angled Al, but then I have attachment issues again. If I went this way again I think I'd take the frame to a CNC machine shop and have them drill very precisely a pattern of holes that matches the notches on the strips, so I can screw them in.

Haven't bought anything yet, new room isn't ready yet and I'm just brainstorming. There is a local HackerSpace-like workshop with a 3d printer that I think I could rent.

if you want your clips and can print it, i can make a quick stl for you if you draw me what you want and its a easy thing, 2d side view.
i would suggest using the side slots, so the back of the strip is pressing to the aluminium surface for heat transfer.

problem is the fit, it may need some trials and that could be a problem in the end.

regarding cleaning, idk, find 2020 is at least not harder to clean then a pin heatsink, the tent textile or any porus wood used.
normally you can reach all with a qtip, a ozone generator helps also.

If you can design and I can print it I'll forever be grateful!
This is my vision, not drawn to scale but the dimensions are correct:


The lower half of the clip, the portion that goes into slot, can be taken from the first link I found back in this thread.

I'm not intimate with plastic 3d printing and not sure if it can put together a segment that's only 2mm thick, or how strong it would be. If any break I'll just print more.

I drew the wrong profile in the lower left corner, I'd go with regular 2020 so the slot is still valid. On the lower right is how I envision slightly rotating the clips so they don't interfere with the adjacent clips and I can pack them tighter.

Hmm, math says I'd only be able to fit 28 strips with these clips, same as with nut&bolt...

not sure if thats what you want but have a look.
you wont use the aluminium for heat transfer much this way, just that youre aware.
you would need to print it with support, but it should be doable.
...and no clue if it fit! probably not 100%

Clip2, exactly! It's beautiful, thank you!!!
I'm not worried about cooling, air-cooled should be enough. At most 400W into 28 strips is only 14W each.

no problem, dont know how good the fit will be.
here is one wider going over the sides, may hold better.