DIY Projects

3d printing clips for the Radius Windshield hoops

October 27, 2024
At last, mid-side clips integrated into a shock-mount, yet easily swappable with clips for a single mic.

Mid-side clip for 19mm Ø mics

When Radius Windshields launched and produced their RAD shock-mounts one of the unique features was that the mic clips could be unscrewed from the hoops and switched to something different. A radical difference from, say, the Rycote Invision series shock-mounts, where the mic clips and lyres are all one moulding. This has provided scope for Radius to produce dedicated clips for the older MKH 50 etc. mics and, ultimately, to produce dedicated MS clips, doing away with the need to use clips to fix a mic to the shock-mount then a pair of back-to-back clips to attach the second mic to the first. A fiddly faff and also bedeviled by the lack of back-to-back clips with a close spacing, which is preferable for mid-side recording. I have been encouraging Simon Davies at Radius to produce MS clips, and this is now in train using some of the ideas I have proposed. While their nice injection-moulded version is awaited, here is my version for a MS clip to fit their RAD-1 and RAD-2 hoops, and designed for 19mm Ø mics such as the MKH 8000 series and the Rycote SDC series. I should add that Simon Davies at Radius Windshields has supported me in putting this design out into the public domain, which follows similar release of their first prototype for others to 3d print (their initial design was rather different to mine, and their upcoming production version, with a central bolt and a consequently wider spacing as this is tightened). The approach I have taken with this clip is very much a product of many discussions with Simon – via email – on MS clips and other Radius items in development, but also reflective of the company’s refreshingly open engagement with sound recordists.

CAD drawing, created using Onshape, for the MS clip

In designing this MS clip I have gone for a spacing of 2.5mm between the mics, which is nice and close but still provides just enough room to allow two MKH 8030 mics to be inserted for a Blumlein pair of two fig 8 mics(the MKH 8030 having a wider front part to the mic). The mics are given enough grip by the springiness of the clips, and this took quite a bit of work to get right: in particular, the internal seemingly circular clips are made up of several different radii so that they hold the 19mm Ø mics properly as the necessarily undersized opening is enlarged by insertion of the mic to give sufficient grip. I have printed them in both PLA and PETG filament (with solid infill) so nothing fancy is required: the PETG filament gives a bit more flexibility and is what I have been using for them mainly. If you are determined you can break them, but, of course, that applies to many a commercial-produced back-to-back clip!

There are two bits of metal hardware that you will need for each clip, which comprise an M3 thin square nut (standard size 5.5mm x 1.8mm), and one of the same M3 socket head button flange screws that Radius use, in this case 12mm long. Of course, you can just use the existing screws that come with your RAD-1 and RAD-2 shock-mounts, so strictly the only extra part you need is the square nut. Stainless steel A2 is best. I got both the nuts and some of the extra screws from Westfield Fasteners (in the UK).

You can go to the file here in Onshape and export in STL, STEP, 3mf etc. file format as required.

Yes you can fit three mics into a RAD-1 and RAD-2 shock-mount!

Triple mic clip for 19mm Ø mics

For something a little more esoteric, I have also created a triple-mic mount to fit the Radius RAD-1 and RAD-2 hoops. Such a triple configuration of mics is something I have used from time to time for MMS (i.e. mid-side but with two different mid mics with different polar patterns – say omni and supercardioid – facing forward so that the polar pattern of the mid mic can be chosen in post) or side-by-side Blumlein with, say, a single supercardioid for recording a singing guitarist, as I demonstrated recently here. Previously I have had to use two pairs of back-to-back clips to connect three mics, which is a fiddle. As I said, a bit esoteric, but that’s the fun with 3d printing: making the commercially unviable possible.

In terms of design, this drew on the mid-side clip, but the loading of the three mics had an impact on the form of the different near circular forms, so even more complex curves were necessary to ensure a snug fit for each mic. I also chose to beef up the thickness of the clip a little, to 3mm, due to fear of the additional forces involved getting three mics into a single clip; and then angled the top interface/mating part by 3 degrees to allow for the change in angle arising from the necessary expansion of the individual clips due to inserting all three mics. In all, nine iterations were required, and doubtless there is room for improvement still: things like best thickness vary a little with filament used. I used a slightly different approach to the fillets, but that is a subtle change. The solid modelling takes a few minutes only, but the printing at finest quality takes an age! The interface, or mating, with the Radius hoops is the same as for the mid-slide clip, so the same size nut and screw are needed. I suspect not many will want to print this model – it is largely presented as showing the potential for very specific mic clips (inc. DIY) offered by the interchangeable design of the Radius hoops – but if you do want to use it, then you can download it (again freely) here from Onshape and choose which file format suits you for export.

And here are the triple clips as 3d printed.

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2 Comments

  • Reply Conrad November 1, 2024 at 4:53 am

    Going to give these both a try! Other than those mentioned above, have you tested any other filaments? Are there any other benefits/ drawbacks from those which you have tested?

    • Reply Roland November 1, 2024 at 8:54 am

      Great. No, early days for me with a 3d printer, and have only used PLA and PETG so far. I’m sure there are better filaments (something more flexible perhaps?). Good luck!
      Cheers,
      Roland

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