This 3D printed battery connector is for a very common cheap power tool battery sold in Europe.
It goes by the brand Parkside Tools here and is sold by Lidl. It may be available in some countries under a different brand.
There are quite a lot of battery connector designs on Thingiverse, but they all seemed quite complicated. So I decided to make a very minimalist one that prints fast (12 minutes), fits snugly and just does the job.
You can find a longer video showing the gluing process here:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oBbF3bcDck
Note that some battery packs do not have internal overdischarge protection, so care should be taken to avoid discharging the packs below around 3V per cell. For an 18/20V pack that's usually around 15V. The connection system is actually pretty solid, so with good quality plated copper spade crimps it should handle a decent amount of current, but don't push it too far. I'd envisage this adaptor being used for things like lights and USB chargers. Adding an inline fuse is always a good idea.
Here's the openscad script. Just copy and paste the text below into the openscad freeware and then build and save the STL file. I'm doing it as a script so you can hack it to fit other battery systems.
//Parkside battery mini adaptor
//Use with two male spade crimps
difference(){
union(){
//main block
cube([46,20,10]);
}
//side slides
translate([-1,5,5])
cube([6,21,6]);
translate([41,5,5])
cube([6,21,6]);
translate([4,5,-1])
cube([3.5,20,12]);
translate([38.5,5,-1])
cube([3.5,20,12]);
//Terminal cutouts
translate([8.5,1,1])
cube([6,18,10]);
translate([31.5,1,1])
cube([6,18,10]);
//terminal slots
translate([10.5,17,1])
cube([2,10,10]);
translate([33.5,17,1])
cube([2,10,10]);
//cable slots
translate([10,-1,4])
cube([3,10,10]);
translate([33,-1,4])
cube([3,10,10]);
//plastic and time saver
translate([15.5,1,1])
cube([15,18,10]);
}

It's another short: the built-in 3d printing script to get the script click the three dots aside, select description, copy and paste the script from the description to open scad. That will give you your file for 3d printing this in about 12 minutes. Once it's printed take a file and clean off the edges first in the build plate. So it's a nice clean, snug, fit into the battery pack.

Take a cable that you've pre-terminated with two flat blade. Crimps make sure the ends are clear, so they don't short circuit and insert them into the negative and positive terminals in the battery pack, once they're in press them in snugly with a screwdriver and use hot melt glue in these channels to lock them in place, making Sure you don't glue it accidentally into the battery completely once the glue is cooled. You then have your connector, nice and solid slot straight in and there's your power.

5 thoughts on “Fast-print tool battery connector”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars D Hristov says:

    now make the script actually generate full holders for all battery brands including makita, so they hold the entire battery, so it can be then bolted to the side of a custom chassis, or even better yet, make them so they can be bolted together to make battery to battery adapters, so you can use makita tools on milwaukee batteries and vice versa.

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars coodude25 says:

    Any good recommendation on a battery management circuit? I heard that these come without any safety circuitry.

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars GothicKittyMadness says:

    now do one for Black + Decker please ๐Ÿ˜€

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars ndupontnet says:

    Ah ah, the hot glue really makes it hardcore DIY ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars rafflesnh says:

    "Once your glue is tooled"?! ๐Ÿคฃ

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