I created a small, tough, very easy to print TPU cable tie because I wanted to hold two long wires together, but quickly realised this could be so much more.

There are 4 main elements to the design which should make it easy to create your own custom cable tie designs just by arranging the parts easily with Slic3r or PrusaSlicer if you can't or don't want to bother with using a 3D editor.

-- IMPORTANT PRINT SETTINGS --

10 Perimeters minimum (most important setting)
No support
0.2mm Layer height
Meant for 0.4mm nozzle, I've no idea how it'll print with other sizes

Beyond those I've tweaked a few of my print settings for printing TPU with my Prusa i3 Mk3 with a 0.4mm Nozzle-X, you can see the results of printing with these settings in all the photos of my TPU Thingiverse uploads. These following settings are suggestions:

4mm retract
0mm Z-lift
230C Nozzle all layers
100% fan all the time

I suggest the first ones you should print are the "Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie-10_Hoops.stl" and "Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie-6_Springs_4_Hoops.stl" versions then test them to destruction, like attach them round something and pull until something gives, to learn how strong the print is, how it fails and how much the Hoops & Springs deform when stretched too much.

Note the Hoop & Pin have no gap when they're clipped together, so giving the cable tie a stretch first can help with clipping it closed..

Now scale them to 150% in your slicer and print + test to destruction again :)

When I say it's tough, just look at the 7th & 8th pictures - yes I did hang my 3D printer from a normal 100% scale 3D print of one of these cable ties, I don't suggest anyone else try it!

The version with two Pins shown in the 6th picture will hold even stronger.

Even when printed at 50% scale it's very strong, the two-pin print can carry 1.9kg.

Here are direct downloads from my website:

First the 4 main parts needed to create your own custom ties:

http://www.haku.co.uk/3D/Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie_Part-Pin.stl
http://www.haku.co.uk/3D/Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie_Part-Spring.stl
http://www.haku.co.uk/3D/Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie_Part-Hoop.stl
http://www.haku.co.uk/3D/Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie_Part-Hoop_with_tab.stl

They're mostly 10x10mm sized and designed so you overlap them by 2mm as illustrated in the 17th picture.

You're not limited to using my parts to create custom cable ties, just keep them 1.4mm high and I suggest minimum 3mm wide for strength, Take a look at the "Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie-Triple_6_Springs_4_Hoops.stl" file, it's 3 cable ties joined by a 3mm thick line at their Pins.

Now some usable examples:

http://www.haku.co.uk/3D/Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie-5_Hoops.stl
http://www.haku.co.uk/3D/Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie-10_Hoops.stl
http://www.haku.co.uk/3D/Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie-15_Hoops.stl
http://www.haku.co.uk/3D/Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie-20_Hoops.stl
http://www.haku.co.uk/3D/Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie-3_Springs_2_Hoops.stl
http://www.haku.co.uk/3D/Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie-6_Springs_4_Hoops.stl
http://www.haku.co.uk/3D/Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie-11_Springs_4_Hoops.stl
http://www.haku.co.uk/3D/Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie-15_Springs_5_Hoops.stl
http://www.haku.co.uk/3D/Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie-Triple_6_Springs_4_Hoops.stl
http://www.haku.co.uk/3D/Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie-Pin_Hoop_Hoop_Pin.stl
http://www.haku.co.uk/3D/Hoopin_TPU_Cable_Tie-2_Pins_20_Hoops.stl

Creating your own quick custom cable ties is easy using Slic3r or PrusaSlicer, you don't need to know how to use a 3D editor for this.

1: Open the parts you want in the slicer, like a Pin or two and multiple copies of the Hoop & Spring part for example, them manually arrange them so they overlap by 2mm, making sure nothing overlaps into the center of the Hoop parts.

2: In Slic3r go into the "Plater" menu, PrusaSlicer go into the "File/Export" menu, then select "Export Plate as STL...".

3: Open that new STL you created in a new slicer to then slice and print, not forgetting the needed print settings listed above. You need to export and then import like this with Slic3r & PrusaSlicer because they won't slice the parts properly unless they're already joined.

Yes annoying to have to take those steps, but on the upside you end up with an STL you can then print as many times a you wish, even distribute it.

The "Hoopin" name is derived from overlapping "Hoop" and "Pin", just like the cable tie design does.

Tips are most welcome https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Haku3D and will encourage me to make more designs for everyone to benefit.

Most FPV people may know me as licensetodrive on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/licensetodrive