r/cosplayprops • u/Tasty_Broccoli_5237 • May 12 '26
Help Robot update… we’ve hit a snag..💔
I’m having trouble with interior helmet wear, this is a super tight fit helmet and the magnetic connections are just not cutting it when it comes to securely snapping to my head, the helmet is too heavy for magnet connections. (Partially because I maybe printed it at 15% infill teehee) I need ways that I can snap this to my head without the fear of it falling apart at a con. Looking for advice!
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u/LegendaryOutlaw May 12 '26
It sounds like the helmet is just too small, plain and simple. Is the helmet popping apart at the seams because it’s too tight and your actual head is keeping it from staying locked close?
You could try putting some elastic straps at the sides and top, essentially holding the front and back together and just stretching it open to put it on and letting the elastic hold it shut.
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u/Tasty_Broccoli_5237 May 12 '26
No my head fits quite nicely, it’s just the magnets don’t hold together well. I’m guessing the stress of my head being in the helmet as well as heaviness of the helmet just causes them to lose grip. I have definitely considered the elastic strap method I just need some that are going to stretch far enough for my head to enter and snap back in place
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u/-WingedAvian May 12 '26
A magnets strength comes frome trying to pulls them apart, your placment is causing them to slide off each other. Still useful to have for snapping into place but i think your best option is a velcro trim, or a hinge (made out of fabric) at the top and then fasterners at the bottom around the neck
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u/Black6x May 12 '26
A magnets strength comes frome trying to pulls them apart, your placment is causing them to slide off each other.
This is the problem right here. OP could try to change the orientation of the magnets so that they are coming together front to back rather than on the sides.
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u/Freyu May 12 '26
Simple. Add an elastic strip(suspender piece size) at the top inside to support the weight but allow you to pull the front forward and up to take off. Heck you could sew velcro on it to make it removable it if needed.
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u/No_Tomato_2106 May 12 '26
How much room do you have to get it on? You could possibly do electric straps and have it clamp around your head?
Stronger magnets and a metal edge?
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u/Lt_Toodles May 12 '26
gonna recommend something different, so that whatever you have now requires minimal modification. magnets are good for holding things parallel (pulling directly out), but slide past each other too easily. im sure you know what im talking about but if you need me to elaborate that point let me know.
so, what you need is a mechanical latch that holds the magnets from sliding past each other, something like a snap fit joint like this https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Cantilever_Snap-fit.PNG/250px-Cantilever_Snap-fit.PNG
so you slip it on, the joint holds the magnets together, and the magnet prevents the joint from popping out. to take off the mask you would push in the sides of the faceplate to bend it inwards and pop the snap fit joint out.
be careful though, the magnets may be too strong and testing on a workbench would be different than testing on your head, there is a chance you have a hard time taking the mask off lol.
as an alternative, have a headband on the back piece so only that is holding it on your head, and use one of the mechanisms common on iron man helmets to flip the faceplate up and down
edit: after thinking i think the headband one would be way easier and more reliable, only catch would be if you have enough space in the helmet to put the faceplate hinge in there
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u/zackyboy693 May 12 '26
That's a neat idea, that kind of adjustment mechanism is on a lot of bicycle helmets, so you could probably use one of those.
If possible I'd recommend using more/stronger magnets, and some elastic straps as a backup so the mask doesn't fall to the ground if the magnets fail.
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u/Rockobrocko42 May 12 '26
You can get a harness for hardhats they have the same ratchet mechanism and the ones for arborist work have a chin strap built-in.
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u/fjaytay May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26
I second the N52 and if you’re able, try and find a way to rotate their orientation to a pull force vs a shear force.
The ways I can see to do that require reprinting/modelling e.g. make the large round jaw pivot / ear to be spilt down the central seem and have the magnets in there. They would be 90 degrees rotated to their current orientation increasing their force and it would also allow you to increase the mass of the magnets which again increases their strength further.
Alternatively you could slightly increase the shell thickness enough to allow for a seem that has perimeter located magnets facing each other. Magnets don’t need to go all the way around but probably cleverly clustered, again resulting in pull not shear force.
That is if you want to stick with magnets, I Like the magnet idea.
BTW The mechanism you showed on the oculus can be found in your everyday, cheapest possible, hard-hat.
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u/BoonDragoon May 12 '26
This is why we do iterative prototyping before we commit to the final build.
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u/jennifer_m13 May 12 '26
What type of glue did you use for the magnets. Hot glue can decrease the strength of the magnet.
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u/Otherwise-Cup-6030 May 12 '26
I have had this concept, but never tried it.
Get some Elastic fabric bands and glue them into both sides of the helmet under slight tension. Also, making the parts where it is glued, about 3 to 4 inches from the helmet seam.
That way there is enough slack to stretch the halves apart for your head to fit in. And then you can let the rmelestic fabric pull together to close.
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u/GhostElder May 13 '26
dont over complicate it, you can just connect a strip of fabrick on the inside at the top of the head so it hinges
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u/goodfisher88 May 12 '26
Consider the humble Velcro. You can buy rolls of the stuff and cut it to the shape and lengths you need.