A Stylish solution for my Headphones

For the last year and a bit, I have enjoyed my Sound Peats A6 headphones. Their long listening time and great sound quality make it an enjoyable experience when listening, whether plugged in or wireless; at home or on the go. 

However, daily listening has caused the headphones to crack at the extenders. Because I regularly use them extended, this means that there is less material to support the plastic. Once I had noticed the cracking naturally, it became a concern, as I did not wish to be buying another pair of $100 headphones.

 

Coincidentally, I had just bought a 3D printer the previous month. This then sent my mind whirring as to how I would solve this problem. 

 

Initially, I had thought of a hinge-clip combination that relied on the properties of the material. Designing it up in my notepad, I quickly came to the conclusion that my PLA would not be suited for a material hinge. From this, I decided to explore the possibility of a clip-based solution. 

 

Having explored it on paper, I then went and did my first test print. To my delight, the tolerances I had chosen from the beginning (sizes of the clip) worked spectacularly. All I had to do then was make the design look sleek and stylish. As my graphics teacher always says, function comes before style. 

 

After a few minutes in the blender, adding some curvature, I was finished. With two satisfying clicks, they snapped into position without trouble. A month onward, and the clips still work amazingly well.

 

I have seen no further signs of cracking on my headphones, and they now have a hint of color that they lacked.

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