3D CAD Design and Printing Services

3D Printing for Blind and Shade Motor Adapters

We have been active in the 3D CAD industry for over 30 years, with powerful CAD class computers that can handle the task of building 3D virtual models for items associated with blind motors, such as tube adapters. We also have 3D printers that are well suited for printing tube adapters for blinds and shades, using the layer deposition method.

Our stock adapters are made for industry-standard Rollease^® tubing, which is the most common aluminum tube size in North America (see TUBE sizes pictured below). It is important to understand that TUBE sizes are measure by OD (Outer Diameter), as opposed to PIPE sizes, measured by ID (Inner Diameter).

At our Custom Shade Division we often manufacture blinds and shades for very large windows that require a wider tube roller. This also means we have to increase the tube diameter to 2" to combat sag (known also as 'smiley face'), and sometimes 2.5" for extreme sizes.

We also manufacture heavy duty motors that can handle the larger sizes with ease, and we have 'in house' capabilities for producing the required adapters for these larger blinds and shades. This allows us to optimize the design of these adapters so that they fit perfectly, without any slop that can affect motor performance.

Three Adapters Required for Each Motorized Blind or Shade

There are 3 adapters that need to have the diameter increased for each blind, regardless of the size we are stepping up to, whether the tube diameter is 2 inch or 2 1/2 inch. This schematic picture shows where the 3 important adapters are located; these are the standard 1.5" adapters, before any step-up adapters are added:

• (1) CROWN ROLLER (positioned at fixed motor head, rotates with tube on lubricated slip ring, providing support for tube end)
• (2) MOTOR DRIVE ADAPTER (positioned inside tube on motor axle, drives tube rotation. This critical drive adapter should be locked to the tube with a setscrew if you are using a tube with a smooth inner wall)
• (3) END CAP IDLER (positioned at opposite end from motor, rotates with tube on axle, providing support for tube end)

Upsizing Drive Adapters for Blind & Shade Motors

The next sequence of pictures reveal how our manufactured adapters allow a motor to drive a 2.0 inch tube, instead of 1.5 inch. Please note that we have used the same identification protocol as above: crown roller (1), axle drive adapter (2), tube end cap idler (3).

The first picture below shows what the standard 1.5" adapters actually look like (but please note they sometimes come in different colors (eg. black or gray instead of white, and vice-versa):

Here are the upsizing adapters we produce with our CAD system and 3D printers:

This picture below shows how the new adapters are combined with the original standard adapters to "upsize" and drive a 2" tube. Please note that that the upsizing adapter needs to be attached to the drive adapter so that it cannot slip off (you could use some glue):

Special Attention: Drive Shaft Adapter

The drive shaft adapter (center in above picture) that is driven by the motor axle requires some special attention.

If you are using a tube with a smooth inside wall that might allow the drive system to slip, you can use a setscrew to lock the adapter to the tube. Please keep in mind that there is a steel reinforcing plate embedded inside the 1.5" drive adapter that is faintly visible, so please make sure your screw is short enough to avoid this plate.

The Rollease tubing we use has proper tines (internal extruded ridges) that lock the adapter to the tube, so a setscrew is not necessary.

If you need to use a setscrew to lock the tube to the drive adapter, here is an article that shows how to install a setscrew to lock your drive adapter to the blind tube.

Mounting Bracket Pictures

Tube end view showing mounting bracket tab locked into motor head slot, with 2" plastic adapter for crown roller installed. Please note that we may occasionally supply different mounting brackets, but they all function in a similar fashion:

Tube end view showing end cap idler locked into mounting bracket (with 2" plastic adapter installed):