Print Guide
Safety Note — Read First
This is a load-bearing mount. A Curlin CMS6000 pump with a full IV bag weighs approximately 1.4 kg (3 lbs). Print quality directly affects safety. The settings below are minimums — you are responsible for verifying mechanical integrity before use. See Safety & Disclaimer.
Required Files
Download from GitHub Releases:
| File | Purpose | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
OpenPoleMount_IV-Pole_v1.stl |
IV pole cradle | 1 |
thumbscrew_v14_flat_Thandle.stl |
Thumbscrew for pole attachment | 1 |
Tested to Destruction (2026-06-09)
An under-spec print (4-layer walls, 1 mm top/bottom, 15% non-structural infill, standard PLA) never failed under load. Failure only occurred under deliberate extreme over-tightening — the thumbscrew punched through the side wall, a safe and predictable failure mode. The recommended settings below are conservative relative to this tested limit. See full testing results →
Material
PLA is the tested and validated material for this design. Settings on this page are based on PLA testing. Other materials (PETG, ASA, ABS) have not yet been tested — if you print in another material, please share your results by opening an issue.
| Material | Status |
|---|---|
| PLA | ✅ Tested — use the settings below |
| PETG / ASA / ABS | ⚠️ Not yet tested — proceed at your own risk |
| TPU / Flexible | ❌ Not suitable — cannot support structural load |
Recommended Print Settings (PLA, tested)
| Setting | Cradle | Thumbscrew |
|---|---|---|
| Layer height | 0.2 mm | 0.2 mm |
| Wall thickness | 2 mm minimum | 2 mm minimum |
| Top/bottom thickness | 2 mm minimum | 2 mm minimum |
| Infill | 15% minimum — 3D honeycomb (preferred) or other non-concentric pattern | 15% minimum |
| Infill pattern | 3D honeycomb (preferred), gyroid, or cubic — not lines, grid, or concentric | same |
| Supports | Required (see below) | Not needed |
| Print speed | 40–60 mm/s | 40–60 mm/s |
Wall and Infill Minimums Are Safety-Critical
Testing has shown that the mount can crack if over-tightened when walls or infill are below these minimums. The 2 mm wall + 2 mm top/bottom + 15% non-concentric infill combination was validated in initial testing.
Do not use concentric, lines, or grid infill patterns — they do not provide the same resistance to the stress concentration from the thumbscrew. 3D honeycomb is the preferred pattern.
Part Orientation
Cradle: Print with the pole channel vertical (mounting hole facing up). This orients layer lines perpendicular to the primary load direction, maximizing pull-out and shear strength.
Thumbscrew: Print flat with the T-handle face down. No supports needed.
Support Settings
The cradle requires supports under the pump cradle pocket:
- Support type: Tree or Normal (both work well)
- Support angle threshold: 45°
- Interface layers: 2–3 (makes clean removal easier)
- Support interface material: same as main material
Post-Processing
After printing:
- Remove all supports carefully — use flush cutters, not a knife
- Clean the thumbscrew threads with a brush if needed
- Test-fit thumbscrew in the threaded hole — should turn smoothly by hand
- Verify the pole channel diameter matches your IV pole
- Check pump fits snugly in the cradle pocket — should not rattle
Verification Before Use
Run through this checklist before mounting any medical equipment:
- [ ] No visible layer delamination (check by pressing firmly — should not crack or flex excessively)
- [ ] No significant warping of the base or pole channel
- [ ] Thumbscrew threads cleanly with no binding or stringing
- [ ] Dry test: mount on pole without pump, apply firm downward pressure — cradle must not slide
- [ ] Pump seats fully without rocking or side-to-side movement
If any check fails, do not use the part — reprint with corrected settings.
Over-Tightening Risk
Once mounted, tighten the thumbscrew hand-tight plus one quarter-turn only. Over-tightening is the primary cause of cradle failure even in correctly printed parts. See the Assembly Guide for tightening instructions.