Rotating PCB Holder And Soldering Assistant

A parametric stand and holder for PCBs, and other items that want to wander off when you're soldering at them. The rotating grips print in place, and the columns of the supports twist independently to lock the supports into the rails.

Usage

Slide one support along a track to the desired position. Rotate the stem of the support to lock it in position in the track. Place your PCB edge or corner in the grip, and slide the second support to grip the opposite corner/edge. When firmly held, rotate the stem of the second support to lock it in place. The grips will rotate in their housings allowing the PCB to be rotated or angled at your convenience.

Additional Features

The front of the base features two tapered slots that can be used to hold two wires in alignment while soldering them together.

The supports can be used on the diagonal tracks to support PCBs and other components off-centre if they have obstructions on the edge, or an inconvenient centre of mass.

Steel nuts can be embedded in the stand's feet. These act as ballast for stability, and can be used to anchor the stand more firmly to the bench by temporarily duct taping magnets to the bench surface.

Bolts can be screwed into the nuts to provide longer feet if you prefer working higher off the bench.

Assembly

Requires two M3 x 50mm screws (fully threaded) and 6 x M3 nuts. Optionally 4 x M8 nuts.

There's a picture of a partly-assembled support uploaded that should make the following clearer: Rotate the grip within its housing so that the screw hole in the grip aligns with the screw hole in the housing. Insert M3 screw through the large screw hole and pull it through. It should clear all the way through the grip cavity into the housing on the opposite side. Firmly secure screw with a nut, which fits in the cavity under the housing.

Thread the round hole on a pillar onto the screw. Push pillar along screw until it touches the grip housing. Secure the pillar gently in place with a nut, which fits in a nut cavity in the bottom of the pillar. Repeat for the other support assembly.

Insert the screw sticking out of the assembly into a desired slot in the base. Secure with a nut, which runs in a track on the underside of the base. Repeat with other support.

By holding the grip steady and rotating the pillar, the support may be locked or unlocked and its position changed.

If desired, 4 M8 nuts can be press-fit into the underside of the base to add mass.

Printing And Parametrics

The files provided fit comfortably onto a Prusa Mk3 bed. The design prints well in PLA, and a 4mm brim is recommended. No support is needed.

The OpenSCAD file allows the base to be resized as required, and fastener sizes to be adjusted if metric parts are not available.

Updates

Updated Dec 2025 to make the framework thicker, bevel the edges more neatly, and strengthen the wire holders on the front.