v1 — Accessory Box (legacy)
Use v2 to hold equipment. Use v1 as an accessory box.
v1 is the original print, and it's not functional as an equipment cradle — the equipment's buttons and screen are not accessible when it is seated in v1. Use the current IV Pole Cradle v2. For a general-purpose pocket, print v2.
v1 is still useful: it's best repurposed as an accessory box that mounts on the pole below the cradle — for alcohol wipes, spare caps, tubing, or other small supplies. The print settings, thumbscrew, and OpenPoleMount block are the same as v2, so it still clamps to any standard home IV pole.
The rest of this page is the original v1 print and assembly reference.
Safety Note — Read First
Anything you hang on an IV pole can fall. Print quality affects how well the box holds together and stays on the pole. 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 count | 1 mm minimum | 1 mm minimum |
| Infill | 25% minimum — non-concentric pattern | 25% minimum |
| Infill pattern | Non-concentric — not lines, grid, or concentric | same |
| Supports | None needed | Optional — single layer keeps part in place; brim works too |
| 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 1 mm walls + 25% non-concentric infill combination is the recommended minimum.
Do not use concentric, lines, or grid infill patterns — they do not provide the same resistance to the stress concentration from the thumbscrew.
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
Neither part requires supports. Supports are optional on both:
- Cradle: supports are not required. If you use them, place under the cradle pocket. Tree or Normal both work; 45° threshold; 2–3 interface layers for clean removal.
- Thumbscrew: supports are not required. If enabled, the slicer typically places a single layer under the part — this helps hold it in place during printing. A brim works equally well for this purpose.
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 equipment 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 equipment, apply firm downward pressure — cradle must not slide
- [ ] Equipment 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.