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Crawlerin
(@crawlerin)
Prominent Member
Kensington lock slot

Hello,

Prusa Mini looks fairly small and not too heavy to carry away. Will it have some mechanism to repel grabby hands from snatching it away and quickly leave?

Posted : 20/10/2019 11:18 pm
Laird Popkin
(@laird-popkin)
Estimable Member
RE: Kensington lock slot

This is a brilliant idea for printers in schools. Admittedly kids can still pull wires, etc. Come to think of it, the whole printer might need to be in an enclosure...

Posted : 21/10/2019 2:56 am
bobstro
(@bobstro)
Illustrious Member
RE: Kensington lock slot
Posted by: @crawlerin

[...] Prusa Mini looks fairly small and not too heavy to carry away. Will it have some mechanism to repel grabby hands from snatching it away and quickly leave?

I think most of the expensive bits would still be too easy to pull off. It's an easy-enough feature to incorporate at least. I think @laird-p has a point: Any printers unattended in schools should probably be locked in cabinets... for theft and safety reasons.

My notes and disclaimers on 3D printing

and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

Posted : 21/10/2019 3:35 am
Crawlerin
(@crawlerin)
Prominent Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Kensington lock slot

Yes for schools with kids those definitely should be locked. I was thinking places with people that already understand they should not touch hot stuff and use printers deliberately - mostly after-school activities for students, presentations, booths, or even print in place on sites. 

The slot place may actually be trickier than one thinks - you want the lock attached to something that's more structural and cannot be easily detached, and where the lock does not obstruct movement of any axis.

Posted : 21/10/2019 10:20 am
Andreas Steinel
(@andreas-steinel)
Eminent Member
RE: Kensington lock slot
Posted by: @crawlerin

Prusa Mini looks fairly small and not too heavy to carry away. Will it have some mechanism to repel grabby hands from snatching it away and quickly leave?

Very good idea. Even if it's only for insurance purposes. We still have a huge box of Kensington locks just for this.

Posted : 22/10/2019 7:55 pm
Nikolai
(@nikolai)
Noble Member
RE: Kensington lock slot

I like this idea!

The only thing to decide is which part has the highest value? Usually the frame is the cheapest part and is easy to detach from the rest.

Often linked posts:
Going small with MMU2
Real Multi Material
My prints on Instagram

Posted : 22/10/2019 9:17 pm
ACE
 ACE
(@ace-2)
Trusted Member
RE: Kensington lock slot

Swapping the screws for something with a screwhead not readily available should not be an issue. Ovalhead, Trianglehead, ... there are some options.

Posted : 22/10/2019 10:30 pm
Crawlerin
(@crawlerin)
Prominent Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Kensington lock slot

Those locks are not for somebody who has 20 minutes to disassemble the printer undisturbed. For that, you need other measures, not to mention its usually highly suspicious if somebody you are not familiar with sticks screwdriver into your printer. It's more to deter people who walk in, grab something, hide under the coat (metaphorically speaking) and leave the site. And make it more difficult to sell that thing right behind next corner when it has lock and a piece of metal wire dangling off of it. 

This post was modified 4 years ago by Crawlerin
Posted : 22/10/2019 11:22 pm
Sembazuru
(@sembazuru)
Prominent Member
RE: Kensington lock slot

Both the Z and Y axis structures are aluminum t-slot extrusions. That might be an option to see if there is either a 3rd party or a Kensington solution for locking to that type of extrusion.

See my (limited) designs on:
Printables - https://www.printables.com/@Sembazuru
Thingiverse - https://www.thingiverse.com/Sembazuru/designs

Posted : 23/10/2019 3:42 pm
John Peter
(@john-peter)
New Member
Kensington

Kensington is a great lock. I was also thrilled with the product’s portability, as it has a lightweight design. It ends up being an easy piece of equipment to bring on a trip to the library or cafe. Honestly, it shouldn’t have any issues fitting in a backpack or other traveling case.

Posted : 16/10/2021 1:49 pm
mrstoned
(@mrstoned)
Reputable Member
nut

What about a slot-nut with a kensington slot that is inserted into the extrusions on either the right or left side?

Prusa Mini+ kit. BondTech extruder. FW 5.1.2
Prusa MK3S+ kit. Stock. FW 3.11.0
Prusa MK3S+, used. Stock. FW 3.13.3

Posted : 16/10/2021 7:56 pm
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