Description

This is a snap-fit access panel for a 200mm square cutout into drywall / gyprock. It consists of 3 parts: a back plate, a frame and a cover panel.

Cover: shared by all configurations

Frame: 10mm thick variant and 13mm thick variant, use with any backplate and the cover.

Backplates: Snap-fit and U-Bracket variant. The Snapfit is held in solely by the backplate. The U-bracket variant allows anchoring to a wall stud or stringer, and is for when your access hole butts right against these (which doesn't leave room for the full back plate surround). Note: the 13mm backplate is available in the STL files, but if you're using the print profiles download it separately.

The free panel configuration simply snaps together to hold the frame in place - make sure you line up the tab indents. The U-Panel backplate has two screw holes for receiving a 6g/8g timber screw with a pan head to hold it in place to the top joist. I use this panel with in a horizontal configuration (tabs are to the left and right compared to the direction of gravity).

The back plate is 10mm thick, and requires 10mm of flat clearance around the back of hole. the cover plate and frame require 10mm of clearance around the front of the hole.

Once installed the front of plate stands off from the wall by about 5mm.

Printing Notes

I've printed this on the Textured PEI build plate, which produces a very nice finish for the cover plate.

FreeCAD Model Notes

The FreeCAD model is included in the file bundle. The model is built as one quarter of the frame in the Part Design workbench and then mirrored via a multi-transform to produce the other sections.

There was no specific process followed for the snap-fits other then some general design principles, but the implementation seems to work well for my application.

Possible Improvements

There might be some value in ribbing the back of the cover plate to provide a bit more rigidity.