PermaTrack End Caps

I received my PermaTracks from RGB-Man. It took a while, but Mike at RGB-Man was good about giving me updates anytime I asked along the way.

I’m already looking forward to getting them installed, but I’m not keen on the idea of leaving the ends open, or cutting the side of the track to fold over to cover the end.

I decided that the best thing to do would be to 3D print covers for them. I’m only making a straight run (for now!), so I only needed a couple of end caps. I measured once, and like most of my designs, I’ve printed about 4 times (so far) to get a working prototype.

All designs were done in Fusion 360. I only use the personal use license (please respect Autodesk’s rules for use of the personal use license (i.e. non-commercial use only)).

For my latest prototype, I decided to go with one I can put a cable gland in (PG7 if you’re interested in the size). The other end will be solid unless I inject power from that end. Cable glands provide a water tight way to insert power/data cables. I don’t need a water tight seal on the PermaTracks, but it will also provide a way to clean up the look as well provide some strain relief on the pixel string where I connect it.

I think it turned out pretty well, but I will do some more tweaking to get a better fit and to better secure it. Currently it is only press fit, but I have ideas for a couple of different ways to more securely attach it without cutting or drilling the tracks, though that is an option.

I need to paint the Permatracks to match my house, and I’ll paint these endcaps at the same time (ordered white cable glands that I’ll actually use – that small of an item doesn’t need to be painted and won’t “stick out” as much as the black ones given the color of my house).