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The ZERO Stand: A Print-in-Place & Foldable

Open-source, snap together, print-in-place folding device stand that leverages structural dead-space to house extra EDC gear

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Most consumer tech stands are either static pieces of bent metal or multi-part plastic assemblies held together with metal pins and glue. We wanted to design a highly functional, traveling device cradle that could be manufactured on any standard FDM printer in a single job—with zero assembly, zero support material, and zero waste.

The result is the ZERO Stand. It prints completely flat. By carefully tuning the clearances of the internal pin-and-socket joints in CAD, the print-in-place hinges slice perfectly as separate moving parts but print together. A simple, satisfying mechanical flex right off the build plate breaks the micro-fuses, allowing the stand to fold upward and lock rigidly into place.

Even better, we hated the idea of wasted structural volume. The void created behind the main support kickstand was repurposed into a dedicated storage pocket designed to as storage for your EDC

Part of a Bigger Mission: The ZERO Ecosystem

This stand isn't just a standalone gadget; it was designed alongside our Discord community as a companion piece for ZERO—a modular, fully repairable, open-source power bank utilizing swappable 18650 cells.

In a world full of glued-shut, planned-obsolescence tech, we are building a modular power ecosystem where the user is in control. The ZERO Stand is our first purely mechanical, open-source release to support that ecosystem.

Mechanical & Print Specifications

To ensure the print-in-place joints rotate smoothly without fusing, the model relies on precise physical tolerances:

  • Hinge Clearance: Engineered with a radial clearance optimized for a standard 0.4 mm nozzle.
  • Recommended Layer Height: 0.2 mm (layer heights greater than this will cause the stepping layers of the hinge pin to fuse to the outer barrel).
  • Material: Works incredibly well in standard PLA, but prints beautifully in ABS/ASA for a premium, rugged matte finish that handles the heat of a hot car or travel bag.
  • No Supports: The angles of the folding arms and the storage pocket are modeled with internal 45° chamfers, allowing the printer to bridge every overhang naturally.

PANS.stl

STL of the main foldable frame

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 1.41 MB - 07/14/2026 at 09:25

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FULL_ASSEMBLY.3mf

Full assembly in one print

3mf - 117.70 kB - 07/14/2026 at 09:25

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BACK.stl

Back storage STL

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 185.22 kB - 07/14/2026 at 09:25

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README_START_HERE.pdf

Adobe Portable Document Format - 81.94 kB - 07/14/2026 at 09:25

Preview

LEFT.stl

STL Left side

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 21.57 kB - 07/14/2026 at 09:25

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  • 1
    Step 1

    The assembly is intuitive, every part snaps together perfectly

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