RC Car Stand Project – Feedback Welcome

[JK Cad]

After doing my first proper RC repair, I wanted a solid stand that made working on my RCs easier. I looked around but couldn’t really find anything that grabbed my interest, so I decided to design one myself. Since I’m currently in school for computer-aided design, it felt like a good way to turn what I’m learning into something practical.


I put together an early prototype, shared it in a few groups, and listened to the feedback. After dozens of hours in CAD and multiple design iterations, this is the version I’ve settled on. I’ve been using it for a few months now and it’s been working great — still very sturdy, even after some heavier use.


The stand rotates very smoothly, even with heavier RCs, using 3D-printed bearings. The lower attachments are modular and can be rearranged, and the RC tray is interchangeable to fit different vehicles. I’ve made some vehicle-specific trays (like one for a 6s Mojave) as well as a more universal flat tray for different RCs.


I’d love to hear what you all think and if you have any ideas for expanding the design — new attachments, tray options, or any changes you’d suggest.

 

[Ramp addict]

It needs one more thing, a lock to stop it from spinning when you don't want it to. There's nothing more annoying than trying to get my drive into a hard to reach screw while chasing it in a circle. Some way to stop it from spinning when you don't want it to would be nice.

 

[JK Cad]

It needs one more thing, a lock to stop it from spinning when you don't want it to. There's nothing more annoying than trying to get my drive into a hard to reach screw while chasing it in a circle. Some way to stop it from spinning when you don't want it to would be nice.

Yeah, I’ve thought about that a couple times and kept pushing it off since I couldn’t think of a good way to implement it. Definitely moving it up the list now that I know I’m not the only one who’d want that lol.

 

[332_RC]

Awesome work! If the two mating pieces were slightly tapered on the ID, matching each other, it wouldn't spin as easily. The bottom tapered big to small towards top, the upper stand, tapered likewise, big to small. Maybe a 5° taper.

 

[CreepyQuarryCrawler]

Looks good! Reminds me of my first vehicle stand that had hardware storage built into it.

I agree on stopping it from rotating. The aluminum one I have now has a lock.

I'm picturing a dowel or a plunger that holds the rotation in place.

 

[WickedFog]

Looks great!

I made one awhile back to hold a variety of vehicles.

 

[Spksh]

I fourth(?) the lock. What size bed are you printing on?

 

[WickedFog]

I fourth(?) the lock. What size bed are you printing on?

Me or JK Cad? If you're asking me I have a CR10 and a CR10 S5 which is 500mm x 500mm x 500mm.

 

[Spksh]

Me or JK Cad? If you're asking me I have a CR10 and a CR10 S5 which is 500mm x 500mm x 500mm.

My X1C is feeling a little cramped right about now

 

[WickedFog]

My X1C is feeling a little cramped right about now

You want me to 3d print you a bigger one? Your entire printer would fit on my build plate

 

[Spksh]

You want me to 3d print you a bigger one? Your entire printer would fit on my build plate

 

[WickedFog]

It's too big for most prints, but it sure comes in handy when printing something stupid big.

 

[Spksh]

It's too big for most prints, but it sure comes in handy when printing something stupid big.

Like printing a 1/5(?) scale car stand in one go?

 

[WickedFog]

Like printing a 1/5(?) scale car stand in one go?

The main part of the stand would actually print on my CR10. The parts trays are just a tad to big I believe. I can't remember.

 

[Lucifur10]

That stand is awesome. For my Superbird Speed car I would just attach those stick-on rubber pads to stop the flat bottom chassis from sliding around. That thing would be perfect.

 

[WickedFog]

That stand is awesome. For my Superbird Speed car I would just attach those stick-on rubber pads to stop the flat bottom chassis from sliding around. That thing would be perfect.

The arms can come off, which was the idea to begin with. I actually planned to put 1/16" neoprene on top of the plate for flat chassis sorta stuff. The arms are more for solid axle vehicles to rest the axles in althe V-blocks just like full size lifts. Try sitting a rock crawler on current flat top stands and the 4-links get in the way. Not with this one Plus I can easily print different riser blocks to fit any chassis.

The arms also get a good grip in A-arms too on buggies and such, as you see with the Ultima. Everything from my X-Maxx to my 1/12 stuff sits pretty good on it with all the adjustments it has. Heck, I bet I could position the arms inboard and sit an SCX24 on it with different risers

 

[RetroThutmose]

at the vintage races this guy had some vintage car stands that were really cool. they had nylon grips with cut outs to hold the chassis plate and an old-school ballhead equivalent. i talked to the guy and he said he and a friend might start manufacturing them because they really aren't much to create and you can just replace the old-school mechanism with a cheap and modern ballhead like this:

obviously the nylon grips wouldn't be fore every chassis, but for vintage stuff that's a lot of just straight cut alloy or CF it works great. and other options could make it more universal

 

[Lukedavis]

Could you have a collar that wraps around the bottom part of the shaft and attaches to the base, and have a thumb screw that when you screw it in pushes into the main shaft, stopping it from spinning? Something like this maybe?

its a super crude sketch, but this could work.