3D printed multiband vertical antenna loading coil, tested at high power+ CW, SSB QSO

update nov 2021
VK1ERF has made a brilliant write-up on how to build and set this up. Make sure you check it out. digitalshack.org/?smd_process...
Here is montage of me making a loading coil for vertical antennas from scratch using the Ender 3 3d printer. The coil form is printed in PETG at high resultion. I have desgned the coil using fusion 360, with inspiration from an OK1CDJ design if I remember correctly.
I set up the antenna using a 6m fishing rod, 2 radials, each 5m long. The radiator was cut to give good SWR at 20m with shorted coil, and then 30, 40 and also 60m could be matched using the coil.
Thanks for watching.
.stl at thingiverse:
www.thingiverse.com/thing:452...
Music:
Jahzzar, Take Me Higher
freemusicarchive.org/music/Ja...

[@puneitsingh]

Great video and great setup. Very inspiring, thank you for making this video. 🙂

[@metalfabman5477]

Excellent! thanks for the video. love making antennas!

Great work! Many thanks for the stl!

[@freddyvancamp4768]

I will give it a try on my 3D printer , many thanks .

[@stahme10]

Thanks for sharing. Great video and helpful info.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Looks very professional, I'm currently working on a 160m add on coil for my adjustiwave. It's good to see the power handling capability. Well done.

[@ErnestGWilsonII]

Did you complete a larger coil and 3D print file for 160m that you can share? 73 W3GUY

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

@@ErnestGWilsonII I don't have a 3D printer. The project is still on the back burner. I'm now looking at using 3/16" copper brake pipe which should almost be self supporting.

[@ErnestGWilsonII]

@@MM0OPXFieldRadio very good, good luck! Let us know how you make out! 73 W3GUY

[@daveschwarz5279]

Excellent idea.... easier than cutting a thread with a lathe.

[@chanelkuini5883]

Oke good detil

[@Sinaisid]

Printing on my FLSun printer as I type - Really well done - cannot wait to try it out!!

[@SA2CLC]

Great to hear. Please post your make on thingiverse :)

[@Sinaisid]

@@SA2CLC Yes of course - will post tomorrow - should be a 10 hour print on the FlSun!

[@Sinaisid]

Done added a photo !!

[@DagonNaxos]

JFYI, I've used this as a form for a 75 ohm matching stub for a 6M Delta Loop and it's the perfect size to form the RG6 over 6 to 8 turns for the stub! Also, 1.5mm tempered spring music wire works well as an alternative to the fence wire and holds it's shape quire nicely.

[@ldrigg1]

Printed on modified Ender 3 V2 using PETG 240C nozzle 70C bed. Printed at 0.12 layer and normal speed. Eighteen hour print came out looking very good.

[@borisgonev5986]

Thank you for the design ! One question, with 5m radial (eventually trimmed for 20m resonance, and shortened coil), I've read you suggestions for electrically connecting in series 2 of these coils in order to achieve enough inductance for 80m while keeping the 20m resonant length of the radiator. My question is about the placement of the two-electrically-serial connected coils: Should they be placed collinear or they can be placed side by side while still keeping serial electrical connectivity ?

[@stromklangleipzig]

Nice thank you for Share

[@Mojomo777]

Thank for sharing, 👍

[@Francois_Dupont]

for portable operation, do you always need a SWR to check where to adjust the coil with the aligator clip?

[@user-wi7qw1pv4l]

Pw8gts muito bom parabéns

[@willisaefudin1638]

thanks for explan antenna

[@daveN2MXX]

I also made a loading coil, but I printed thin strips to guide the path of the wire and glued them to a PVC pipe...printing the entire unit will use a large amount of filament, and will deform if heat is generated or if it is stored in a high-heat area (like a car in the summer).

[@KU8RLY]

pla or petg isnt good for heat or moisture. abs or asa would be better.

[@sv8ggi]

Hello, fine job, what ENDER 3 model is your 3d printer? 73 Kostas

[@vk2ir1]

The coil base looks amazing. Do you have a file for the 3d printer so I could print one here in vk ? Regards Tommy vk2ir

[@SA2CLC]

Yes, there is a link in the description, Thanks OM

[@GharacDurac]

Bra idé. Jag ska bygga den för mina WWFF- och Pota-operationer. 73s SA7LAV

[@LB0FI]

I'm using this as a start for my first loading coil vertical build. How long are the radials? And have I understood it right with center pin -> coil -> radiator and shield -> radials?

[@SA2CLC]

Correct. I'm using about 5m radials.

[@LB0FI]

@@SA2CLC Thanks for the quick reply!

[@dario7128]

Hello, what diameter does the coil have to be? Thank you

[@bmatic2069]

Is the whip antenna on the top and what size?

[@RMJ01]

Does anyone have the screw sizes? I cant seem to find the right ones to fit. The Thingiverse link isnt quite clear on which holes are M3 and which ones are something else.

[@ronhall58]

Could you show a view of the inside of the finished coil at the SO239 end? I would like to see how you routed the electrical fence wire into the center of the SO239.

[@SA2CLC]

A stranded wire is soldered to the center conductor, and the other end of the wire has a ring terminal soldered to it. There is a small screw with a nut holding the soldered ring terminal on the inside, and securing a ring terminal with the fence wire crimped to it on the outside of the coil

[@VoeViking]

​@@SA2CLC Can you make a video detailing all the connections and sizes of the vertical wire. Please?

[@srinivasnyayapathi9083]

@Tommy I have been looking for something like this for a fieldday kit. Thanks. Please can you share yout files to 3D print it.

[@Vfoust]

What was the length of your vertical driven wire? I used your plans and built the same one thanks

[@SA2CLC]

I think it was 5m. Good luck with your projects :)

[@PatAutrey]

Would it be possible for you to show how are you connected SO239 to the coil windings - what hardware etc

[@SA2CLC]

There's a link in the description to a pdf describing everything :)

[@205a2]

How does the bottom hook up on the inside?

[@jimmymoser7007]

Does a video exist showing how you designed this form in fusion 360? Thnx, Jimmy

[@SA2CLC]

No, sorry. Make a cylinder, apply external threads, and cut away unwanted sections...

[@TwstedTV]

What antenna and pole is that ?

[@mark2727]

What do you charge for making a coil? De KD5SMF

[@SA2CLC]

I would like to help you out, but I think shipping from sweden would take the fun out of it. The design is on thingiverse, so you can have anyone nearby print it for you. Look for nearby makerspaces :)

[@hamprepper]

"Gun" show!

[@hamprepper]

Do u sell the 3d printed green parts?

[@Nic_ON5MA]

Can you buy this coil , don't have a 3d printer. Very nice 👌

[@gregorysmith3097]

You mention that it's aluminum fence wire, do you know the gauge? My local store has 14 gauge and 17 gauge. I'm guessing 17, but firgured it's best to ask.

[@SA2CLC]

You can use either. Measured the wire, it's 1.5mm diameter, which would comes close to 15gauge. I would probably go with 17 if I had a choice //Tommy

[@gregorysmith3097]

@@SA2CLC Cool, thanks for the quick reply. The 17 is about half the price too, so that's always a good thing.

[@knutnilsen8382]

Hi. What size do you use for the coil wire? Does the diameter matter? will 2mm wire do? And 6 meter long about?

[@SA2CLC]

The fence wire used is about 1.6mm diameter. A 5m radiator is resonant on 20m, A 6m fishing rod is perfect, to get "gp" style sloping radials

[@ErnestGWilsonII]

Thank you very much for making this and sharing it with all of us. Do you think you could make a similar 3D printed model that works on 80 m? Also could you make one that works on 160 m? If you are able to upload the 3D file somewhere and share it that would be great. Thank you very much, 73 W3GUY

[@SA2CLC]

Well. This covers both 80 and 160, depending on the radiator length. A loading coil that matches a 16ft radiator on 80m would need to be around twice the size as this one. The height of this one is about what I can fit in my Ender 3. Make two and put them in series :)

[@ErnestGWilsonII]

@@SA2CLC What about using the same 6m radiator / same pole in your video and a larger coil for 80m and an even larger coil for 160m? Also, new question now: How did putting them in series do? Any videos on that? Thank you and 73 Ernest W3GUY

[@joewillj]

Do you have the fusion 360 file available to share?

[@mrtonicsvls3624]

The central pole of SO 239 was connnected to the coil?

[@SA2CLC]

Yes it is.

[@mrtonicsvls3624]

@@SA2CLC Ok, so the centrale pole of SO2039 became coil and after the end of the coil became vertical element.

[@205a2]

What connects to the center pole of the SO-239 connector?

[@SA2CLC]

The beginning of the coil

[@205a2]

Thanks for the video. I printed it from thingiverse1 Heavier than i thought! Appreciate it.@@SA2CLC

[@huangbill6324]

Is there a special 80M-160M to share

[@SA2CLC]

No, sorry. But it all depends on radiator length. I doubt the inductance needed to load a 80m 1/4 on 160 is available on this coil form. Make two and series connect them :D

[@mhpreach]

Without a 3D printer how would you get a set to roll your own?

[@SA2CLC]

Perfect reason to get one. An ender 3 is amazing for it's price. Or, see if there's any makerspace around. They have printers for sure

[@mhpreach]

@@SA2CLC that’s all well and good if going to sell about a 1000 of them. For one job a lot of money to spend!

[@user-ss6zt2mo1l]

Where are the plans for that Amp !?

[@SA2CLC]

It's a dual 813 grounded grid amplifier. Schematics are available all over the web

[@user-ss6zt2mo1l]

@@SA2CLC Thanks !! 73

[@dougtaylor7724]

You should sell them.

[@Gm1vla]

Hi can you share your files for this please : ))

[@jirkasvitil2762]

there is a link to thingiverse....

[@Gm1vla]

@@jirkasvitil2762 thank you very much 73 Tony

[@ds3hws]

Vy gd

[@elonlovesyou]

No one will print these for me. Bummed out.