Underware 2.0 - Infinite Cable Management!

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Underware 2.0 - Infinite Cable Management!

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A1
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X1 Carbon
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0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill
0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill
1.2 h
1 plate
4.8(10)

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Description

Welcome to the Official Underware 2.0 Channel Customizers! Developed together initially by Hands on Katie and BlackjackDuck and now receiving community contributions via our open GitHub library, this is a fully parametric version of the original Underware. 

 

Underware is the universal, open-source, modular, extensible and re-usable solution for managing cables, mini-pcs, usb devices…pretty much anything, anywhere!

 

New Features in 2.0: 

  • Customizable Width
  • Customizable Height
  • New Mounting Options such as T Screw, magnets, wood screws, and adhesive!
  • New Customizable Diagonal Channels
  • New Customizable Y Channels
  • New Customizable Mitre Channels
  • Customizable Radius
  • Customizable Corners
  • Cable Cutouts
  • Multi-color Labeling
  • And more to come!

How to generate your own Underware

  1. Click the Green 'Customize' button at the top of the page
  2. Select the Component type you want to generate
  3. Play with the options until perfect - click generate at any time to preview

Watch this video to find out more:

Key Points

  • Open-source design - The whole solution is open-source, so feel free to extend and come up with your own brilliant solutions.
  • Parametric files - Customize your channels with over 10,000 channel variations without needing modeling skills or downloading CAD software!
  • Printing - all files are printable as they are, without supports. 

 

Visit Hands on Katie for more instructions:

https://handsonkatie.com/underware-2-0-the-made-to-measure-collection/

 

Mounting Options and Connectors

Threaded Snap Connector

The threaded snap connector threads into the base channel and then snaps into a Multiboard. This allows for quick placing and removing channels, no need to remove adjacent channels, and allows for offset from board to traverse dual snaps and other obstacles. 

 

Split Printing - NEW FEATURE!

 

Allows for splitting the part so that layer lines contribute to thread strength. This dramatically improves snap strength for repeated adding and removing of threaded snaps. 

 

 

Snap Connector Height (Offset from board)

 

Change the gap between the base channels and the mounting surface. Default is 3mm to match standard Multiboard offsets and to traverse over dual snaps that connect Multiboard tiles. 

If mounting Multiboard tiles using screws and not using dual snaps, set the Snap Connector Height to zero to save filament and have a truly flush set of Underware.

 

 

Snap Holding Tolerance and Oct Scaling

 

Connection too tight or too loose? Adjust the bump-outs (Snap Holding Tolerance) or the entire octogon (Oct Scaling) to a better fit. 

 

Bolts

Bolt mounting screws through the channel into the Multiboard small threaded hole. This approach saves filament while offering a very strong connection. A tool is included to aid screwing and unscrewing. 

Note - This mounting method does not allow channel offsets from the board. If you mount your tiles using dual snaps, you will not be able to traverse dual snaps as they stick out from the board unless you extend the length of the bolt.

 

 

Thread Length

 

Change the length of the thread. Default is 6.5 which allows for strong connection through a channel and into a board. Add additional millimeters if needing to offset (although connection will be loose). 

 

Available Channels

I-Channel (Straight)

 

Length, Width, and Height

 

Note - Tall channels will have reduced holding strength due to flexing. 

 

Cord Cutouts

 

Add cord cutouts to the top channel for cord entry and exit. Change number, spacing, width, and positioning. 

 

Text Labels

 

Add text to your top channels in color, depth, or both.

Note - Font examples here are Raleway and Oswald

L Channel (Turn)

 

Length, Width, and Height

 

Modify channel length, width, and height. New Feature - Each side can now be edited independently. 

 

Zero Lengths - New Feature

Change a length to zero and the channel will properly render for an edge of desk exit or flush turns to a different channel. 

C-Channel (Curve)

 Width and Height
 

Radius 

 

Change the radius for wider turns. 

Note: A radius of 1 can be mounted directly against a radius of 2 and so forth if the width is 1. If the width is wider, be sure to multiply the radius by the width. For example, a channel width of 2 will require a radius of 1 to be next to a radius of 3. 

T-Channel

 Width and Height
 Sharp and Mitered Corners (New February '25)

X-Channel

 

Widths and Height

 

New feature - Change widths independently for different-width intersections.

 

Add height for more room. 

 

Y-Channel

 Width, Height, and Length
 

Output Direction

 

Change whether the outputs continue forward or turn outward.

 

Straight Distance 

 

This is the length of the straight section before the turns. Note, wider channels may produce artifacts. Changing this straight distance often resolves them. 

Diagonal Channel

 Width, Height, and Length
 

Output Direction

 

Change whether the outputs continue forward or turn outward.

 

Straight Distance 

 

This is the length of the straight section before the turns. Note, wider channels may produce artifacts. Changing this straight distance often resolves them. 

S-Channel (NEW!)

 Width, Height, and Length

Height Change Channel (NEW!)

Note: Due to shape, the top needs to be printed in the orientation shown. Some printers may require brim setting to be turned on. 

 Length and Width
 Height 1 and Height 2

Mitre Channel

 Width and Height
 

Distance from edge 

 

This value calculates (in mm) the distance from the corner to the end of the piece. Each sides are independently configurable. This value automatically adjusts when heights are changed to maintain the same mm. 

 

 

Mounting the Item Holder?

I recommend DavidD's flush mount Multiconnect for Underware as this provides the most secure fit. The only time this will not work is if you mounted your Multiboard using snaps and your Item Holder needs to sit on top of them. If this is the case, use the standard Multiconnect.

 

Mounting on Multiboard? Base Multiboard grid available here:
https://thangs.com/designer/Keep%2520Making/3d-model/9x9%2520Multiboard%2520Core%2520Tile-977730

 

Want to contribute? Send a pull request? Report an issue? Learn OpenSCAD? All code is available on GitHub. Join the growing community of contributors!:  
https://github.com/AndyLevesque/QuackWorks/

 

Changelog: 

  • v2.0 - Initial Release!
  • v2.1 - 2024-12-09
    • All Channels
      • Improved threading and added slop parameter for customizable threading ease
      • Improved parameters descriptions (thanks @fawix!)
    • Item Holder
      • Multiconnect on-ramps off by default
      • Multiconnect on-ramps on ½ grid intervals for more contact points (thanks @user_2270779674!)
      • Rounded Corners with rounding parameter (thanks @user_2270779674!)
      • Better naming of height/depth parameters
    • X Channel
      • New ability to have 2 different widths intercept
  • v2.1.1
    • Item Holder
      • Ability to reduce number of multiconnect slots (thanks nedergaard!)
  • v2.1.1
    • Item Holder
      • Reduced dimple default strength (1.5 to 0.8)
  • v2.2
    • Mitre Channel
      • Added internal corner option
      • Fixed length calculations for outside corner
  • v2.3
    • L-Channel
      • L-Channel lengths are individually customizable
      • L-Channel zero-lengths are now possible
      • Thanks macarie (Raul Macarie)!
  • v2.4
    • Snap Connector
      • New split snap connector - no more broken threads!
  • v2.5
    • S-Channel
      • New S-Channel for smother bends and shuffles to other lanes
  • v2.6
    • Height Change Channel
      • New Height Change Channel to transition nicely between two heights without leaving gaps.
    • T Channel
      • T Channel now has mitered corners for easier cable routing. Thanks @Porteregr!
  • v2.61
    • S Channel
      • Fixed mirrored S-Channel direction

Comment & Rating (427)

(0/5000)

I did design a Underware_I_Channel. But there seems to be a problem with the top at the edge. The edge does not clip strong enough into the baseplate. So the Top that should hold the cables could just so hold it self connected. The edge seems not big enough.
The designer has replied
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What size did you print? This is the same clip profile as 1.0, but now larger sizes can be made that can impact the clamping power. While we wanted backward compatibility, so offering the same profile was important, with scad we can now offer different profiles with more holding strength for those that don’t need backward compatibility.
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Replying to @BlackjackDuck :
I did print length of 25cm width 10cm and height 4cm. There is nearly no clip on the cover just a very small one.
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Replying to @BlackjackDuck :
Where can I find those scad profiles with more holding strength? Because I printed it with the tool above.
(Edited)
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Boosted
Thanks for the great work, my under desk looks amazing now! This system has solved an incredibly messy tangle of cables, I mean, just look at the "before" picture :D
The designer has replied
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Wow, that is seriously incredible looking. Thanks for sharing!
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Boosted
Very nice!
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I have this exact same desk top as well as the same sit/stand legs, thank you for the inspiration! I didn't even think about putting mounts in the gap between the leg supports.
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I think I may have found a problem with your underware item holder generator. Firstly, the box starts and ends at the right spot relative to the grids and the dimple end is in the right spot relative to grids - spot on. The problem is that the circle cutouts for the big thread multitools needs to be offset by half a grids width so that they align with a closed channel rather than an open bit. It is possible I didn't tick the right box though. Please let me know.
The designer has replied
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still amazing work over the whole package and I'm really looking forward to getting the entire desk done. Thank you!
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@david.d of Multiconnect and I chatted about this. He designed and tested an official spec for half-grid "on-ramps"/"quick-connects". I plan to incorporate those soon. In the meantime, you can go into the slot settings and change the frequency/distance between these on-ramps to ensure you have holding points where you need them. EDIT UPDATE: FIXED!
(Edited)
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1/2-grid offset is coded and in testing! Should have it out very soon. Also, I’m thinking these on-ramps might need to be off by default (with the option to turn them back on of course). Let me know your thoughts!
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This has absolutely transformed my desk setup, went from an ugly unorganised cable net to this 😍Thanks for the project!!
The designer has replied
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Thank you for sharing the pictures (and sharing on Reddit!). This is one of my favorite setups. And thanks for the boost!
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What material did you print these with? I have tried PLA but the channels are seem very very fragile. I went all the way up to 30% infill without much luck. How strong are those 90 deg angles on the cover piece?
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Replying to @elmischief :
Pla should be really fine, I found they feel a lot stronger when you actually start to attach it to your desk
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Boosted
What a great system for organization. Thank you for all of your work on this!
The designer has replied
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Awesome, thanks for sharing! Looks great!
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maybe I am being dense, but I did a custom container and just changed the dimensions in the SCAD editor online - but none of the connectors fit in to these grooves? Am I missing something or a piece that is supposed to slot onto there for the connectors to screw into?
The designer has replied
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That part uses the Multiconnect connector by David D: https://makerworld.com/en/models/790825#profileId-735507
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Yeah I had also spent some time to figure it out, maybe would be good to have information in generator which connectors to be used so newbies like me can easily find such things. :)
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I think there's a problem in the interaction between Underware_I_Channel.scad and Underware_Connectors.scad - when choosing the "Threaded Snap Connector" option on both, the resulting thread does not fit. It's either the hole is undersized or the threaded part is oversized. The "Bolts" option works well, though.
The designer has replied
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It is tricky to get the thread started, which I want to improve upon, but it should fit. Can you try to finagle it in until it grabs and threads? If it’s fussy, but threads once aligned, then that tells me I need to make alignment improvements. Otherwise I may need to make tolerance changes. EDIT: FIXED!
(Edited)
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Replying to @BlackjackDuck :
I'm going to agree with @ultraspidey here. The threads are really hard to get started, and even then, I broke 2 of them in the holes, so I'm going to scrap them and revert to the v1 of the I-channels.
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Replying to @HorizonXP :
Thanks for letting me know. With 2 reporting the issue it's a pattern so I'm going to get started on a fix right now. Also, if you have an interest, ping me directly on Discord (blackjackduck) and I can send you a link to my beta test site to see if my tweaks work for you. I should have some tests ready in about 15-30 minutes. The same applies to anyone else experiencing this issue.
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Boosted
In terms of matching generated pieces to the 1.0 collection, what is the height parameter we would use to meet the 2x and 3x high I-channels?
The designer has replied
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Great question! The 1.0 version is 12mm. I found just 18mm and 24mm alone give a lot more breathing room.
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Boosted
Another question: Curious if there is a reason you're using the older version of the MultiConnect slots in your models... the ones with the center dimple as the stopping mechanism? David made a v2 that uses bumps at the end of the slot instead, and I seem to recall he claimed it was better. And feature / enhancement requests (lol-aren't you glad?): (1) Rounded edges. Everywhere possible. Sharp corners suck! (I can't even imagine how hard that would be to build programmatically, though) And (2) My biggest complaint about Underware is probably the standard snap-in connectors, which seem to often hold too well (tearing out the holes in the channels if you need to reposition) or not quite well enough (again, the little nub into the channels is the weak point for sure). If they were adapted to low profile multiconnect screw-in connectors instead, though... (3) Ventilation hole options for generated parts? Also saves on filament. :) (4) How about a 1/2 width channel option specifically for LED strip lighting? Standard channels are way wider than needed. (or whatever width would be correct for standard 12mm LED strips... maybe 15mm?)
(Edited)
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Boosted
Replying to @BlackjackDuck :
Oh the larger sizes are great, for sure! The original collection of I-channels had parts described as "double-depth" and "triple-depth" for the tops, though, and I've used a number of them for more crowded channels. Does that mean those would match 24mm for double, and perhaps 36mm for triple? They weren't listed by size. I suppose I could load the model and see what size it says, duh...
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Thanks, this is a great system where you can customize everything to your needs. I had little space but lots of cables. The only thing missing for a beginner is documentation and examples since the system already offers many implementation options. 10/10
The designer has replied
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Wow that is a clean setup! You legitimately have me beat with aesthetics! I hope to circle back to better documentation soon. In the meantime, be sure to check out all the GIFs on the model page description and some documentation on @HandsOnKatie 's page: https://handsonkatie.com/underware-2-0-the-made-to-measure-collection/. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the boost!
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What are the hooks you are using to wrap excess cable around?
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Replying to @elmischief :
You can find this hook from underware v1.0
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i printed some Underware_I_Channel with the mounting option "Direct Multiboard Screw". I have the problem that i cant find this excat screw. i printed basically every variation from multiboard, but with not success. im little bit lost here.
The designer has replied
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When you click customize from this page, one of the options (in addition to all the channel types) is a connector file. This file has the threaded snap. This is customizable for tolerance, fit, etc.
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Replying to @BlackjackDuck :
thank you so much, now i can start managing these cables :D
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Boosted
Replying to @BlackjackDuck :
I just came across this same issue. Would it be better to use a different terminology than "multiboard screw" given it's not actually an official MB screw, but an Underware specific version? Calling it "bolt connector" would prevent this issue I think. It's called "bolt" on the Underware website and within the parametric modeller tool.
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