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What is MechLock?
MechLock is an innovative gearing system designed to use the weight of the console to lock itself in place. Utilizing a gearing system with a motion ratio, the lower rack of the locking system drives the motion. That motion is carried through a set of gears into the upper rack. Driven by a carefully calculated motion ratio, the upper rack moves further and faster than the lower rack, closing the gap between the upper and lower racks until the console sits snuggly, locked into place.
Simple? Yes. Reliable? Definitely.
All of our MechLock products utilize this gearing system to keep your console secured in its place. Each product has a tuned motion ratio based on weight, console size, and interaction with the One-Touch Charging design (where applicable).
What is One-Touch Charging?
SteamDeck Specific MechLock Features
The MechLock design for the SteamDeck incorporates a rotating feature in the upper rack. This pivot allows the SteamDeck console to rotate approximately 30 degrees out of the MechLock mount allowing you to pull the SteamDeck away from the wall/mount. When rotating away from the wall there is a cammed edge that helps disengage the initial stiction in the USB connector.
ROG Ally Specific MechLock Features
The ROG Ally MechLock uses a linkage system to drive a cam system that helps to disengage the USB connector from the Ally. Due to this system the Ally does not need to rotate and will disengage by pulling it straight upwards. Special consideration was made to alleviate the challenge of aligning the USB connector with the USB port on the Ally. This is relieved by the detent (alignment feature) on the lower rack. There is a piston which has a spring on it. This piston can depress until it aligns with the center screw on the back. Once aligned the piston locks the Ally so USB port aligns with the connector in the MechLock mount. It should be noted that different cases require different alignment features. For instance, the configuration for the ROG Ally MechLock with the dBrand Killswitch case utilizes the kickstand for alignment.
Legion Go Specific MechLock Features
The One-Touch charging system for the MechLock for the Legion Go has an additional gearing system that is driven by the movement of the lower rack. The USB port on the bottom of the Legion Go is used for charging in this case. This gearing system is designed to give the Legion Go a mechanical advantage over the USB connector assisting with stiction.
There is also an alignment feature on the charging rack that aligns the Legion Go with the mount and the USB connector with the USB port.
Switch Specific MechLock Features
The One-Touch charging on the MechLock for the Nintendo Switch features a USB connector rotation integrated in the lower rack. There is a tab on the pivot that locks into the front cover when the mechanism is fully up and rotated (Seen in attached diagram). When mounting your Switch into the MechLock mount the rack will stay in place until the Switch is engaged and rotated towards the wall. Once rotated the lower rack and Switch will move down until everything locks into place.
When removing the rotation will lock the rack into place as well as allow the Switch to easily disengage from the USB connector.