Need help and solutions

[Transistorized]

Just got my strap today from blu_fuz. I was really looking forward to clicking it in and sporting it around the house. The left side snapped right in and the right side just snapped but didn't hold. Took it apart and the plastic clip broke. Dang.

Now that I look at how the clip on the M70 is designed, I do not think I will be comfortable with relying on a 38 year old plastic piece keeping my box from hitting the floor.

I know I am not the only one to break one of these. They appear fragile. Any solutions? I would actually like to carry the box around with the strap without fear of it breaking again even if I do find another piece.

Maybe I'll just put the strap in for show....(shrug). That wasn't my intention though. I really wanted to sport it around with the strap in the factory slots.

Any ideas?

 

[floyd]

I know there's a strap that you can wrap around the handle itself.

 

[baddboybill]

My opinion is it broke due to stress when putting strap on and wouldn’t break once locked in place. Me personally I would repair the clip with jb weld and as long as it locks in it would be fine to carry. This is just my opinion

 

[Transistorized]

That may be what I might have to do guys.

Thanks guys. I am in the process of fabricating the clip. I see what you are saying baddboybill. I can insert a spring which will press the clip side forward. Once the buckle is inserted and it clips the broken back side cannot slip out because the buckle is there to hold it.

We'll see what I can come up with. Gives me something to do...lol

 

[Transistorized]

I got it. And it's as strong as it was from the factory. It's a very long drawn out process on how I made this work and I burned up quite a few brain cells thinking of a solution but I did it. I'm tired so I won't go into detail tonight but I know what to do if the other side should break. I believe my repair is going to work great.

I loaded it with batteries and with it on the floor I pushed down on the box and applied more tension on the strap than it would ever experience being carried. The latch and strap were rock solid. A major plus is it can be released and clipped back as intended. Only thing I have to remember is to press the release as I insert the buckle. Once it snaps in it's fully locked and ready to rock.

I would like to send blu_fuz a thank you. My box made me earn my stripes on the strap but as always, I prevailed with determination and I absolutely enjoy my strap.

 

[Styleking]

Looks great! Enjoy!!

 

[baddboybill]

Very cool!!!

 

[caution]

I broke mine soon after getting mine as well. The key may be to press on the clip no farther than you need to go. I always pull up/jiggle the buckle as I slowly put more pressure on the hook until it releases.
This would be a good one for 3D printing. The nylon composite material I used on my door can withstand quite a bit of flex.

 

[metalhandbag]

Looks cool enjoy .

 

[Transistorized]

Thanks everyone. Blu is the man when it comes to straps. They are built better than the box its securing. If they made the box like blu does his straps it'd never break.

I broke mine soon after getting mine as well. The key may be to press on the clip no farther than you need to go. I always pull up/jiggle the buckle as I slowly put more pressure on the hook until it releases.
This would be a good one for 3D printing. The nylon composite material I used on my door can withstand quite a bit of flex.

I would almost be willing to beg to get one if reproduced. T-STER is currently looking this weekend to see if he may have one in his loft. A new replacement part could very well save a box from crashing to the floor. I would be devastated to say the least and don't want to think about it. Notice in the pic below how confident I am with the plastic latches. Hand on handle ready just in case. IMO you shouldn't have to feel this way. They should've been metal but then again they did last a good while. They probably didn't expect for folks to still be using them at all 10 years later or better.

My wife and I modified the strap this afternoon. We dyed the yellow which toned the strap down a little. My wife convinced me that a grown man might not represent the same image today with a rainbow strap as in the 80s hence the modification.

Personally I never thought anything about it.
I was just happy to get a great quality strap for my box. Leave it up to the wife

So now that the dye is dried and the yellow looks more green I got approval from the wife



Edit - Did the red and orange too. I think it looks very nice Very happy and now it's one of a kind.

 

[caution]

I found the the pieces of the one I snapped, I can draw it up when I get some time here

 

[Transistorized]

I found the the pieces of the one I snapped, I can draw it up when I get some time here

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

I got it. And it's as strong as it was from the factory. It's a very long drawn out process on how I made this work and I burned up quite a few brain cells thinking of a solution. I'm tired so I won't go into detail tonight but I know what to do if the other side should break. I believe my repair is going to work great. I have a short video on my dropbox that shows the latch after my repair.

But I did it. I loaded it with batteries and with it on the floor I pushed down on the box and applied more tension on the strap than it would ever experience being carried. The latch and strap were rock solid. A major plus is it can be released and clipped back as intended. Only thing I have to remember is to press the release as I insert the buckle. Once it snaps in it's fully locked and ready to rock.

I would like to send blu_fuz a thank you. My box made me earn my stripes on the strap but as always, I prevailed with determination and I absolutely enjoy my strap.

20190111_231105.jpg

Video of latch after repair on dropbox:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/q5uifwhfl5szwmn/M70%20latch.mp4?dl=0

Best looking strap with that box. CLASSIC all the way!

makes awesome straps!

 

[caution]

I'm wondering about the depth of the clip that snaps onto the buckle. I don't think the 3D material is as stiff as the original nylon, if that clip can't press against the buckle hard enough, it might slip out. I'm not sure though if it needs to be beefed up to be stiffer though.
If you want to be a guinea pig you're welcome to order one Shapeways is saying $9 (versatile) and $21 (professional).

 

[Transistorized]

Wow! That's excellent work Eric...and FAST! How the heck do you do that?

I can place a very stiff spring behind the latch to make up for the material. That's what I've done with the one that broke on me. Seems to work well so far. What do you think?

I would be willing to try the 9 dollar option

As far as the depth. I would say if the top edge of the locking tab sets flush with the top of the latching hole you should be good although I don't know the thickness and I have a non factory strap and buckle. Not sure if the originals are different in any way or not.

I noticed the main thing that I needed to get exact on my broken piece was making sure that when the buckle was inserted that the plastic latching tab, when snapped into position, seated perfectly flush in every way with the buckle hole opening at the bottom where it locks. If I did't get the hinge end at the top where it broke supported back where it had snapped, it caused the latch to have a slight taper instead of being flat and it would pop out when tension was applied.

 

[caution]

A head magnifier, my trusty Mitutoyo and some time Since the part I had was snapped, I opened one of my M70s to look at a good one to make sure the clip in the proper position as I drew it.
A spring would be easy fix if it's too flexible, I like that idea.
I made the angle of the ledge the buckle rests all the force on at 92 degrees, so it angles just a tad up. Making it deeper a bit more might give more ledge space, but you'd have to push a little farther to disengage it.

 

[caution]

It looks like the ledge can afford to grow a bit, the original was only 2mm but the clips Joe makes are 2.6mm thick.

I couldn't bend the clip in the program so it looks like the ledge is bigger than the buckle, but I think it could grow to 3mm and work better.

 

[Transistorized]

That last picture surly shows a positive hold. IMO there would be no way that buckle would slip out with a stiff spring behind it. The material would have to simply fail and snap off on the latch tab. Personally I don't see that happening as this box doesn't weigh too awful much.

I have to ask Eric. What's the difference between Versatile and Professional with production? Does that have to do with the overall cutting quality?

 

[caution]

It's a bit hard to see because the buckle is inserted without the clip bending accordingly. Here's an update with the ledge at about 2.7mm. I made a few lines green. The ledge is on the left. The middle green line is the surface of the buckle that the ledge has to clear before snapping in to place, and the rightmost green line is the back wall, which shows there's plenty of room to flex

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

Wow man, this is some insane work.