3D Printed Carabiners
As an exercise in 3D printing, these carabiners were a series of designs created as a functional solution to carry items in my every day use. More specifically, I considered how I could improve upon the common carabiner to include joints and simple movement in order to attach frequently carried items onto my backpack, freeing up my hands and streamlining my process of packing my things.
Designed in Rhinoceros and printed on 3x Formlabs SLA 3D printer.
Ideation
Beginning with the prompt of an “action figure” or an item that included movement and joints, I branched off to explore an area of passion and design interest - outdoor gear. One of the most functional items I use regularly, and what felt like a good use of the Fusion 3D Printer I had access to, is a carabiner. I realized that there was not much variation on the design of carabiners over time and wanted to take the opportunity to design one for a specific issue in my life.
During my time in the Michigan Marching Band, I often had to carry many items including my large instrument, uniform, and a rather clunky shako. Having a designated place to attach my shako would free up a hand to carry other things and limit the risk of dropping something else. The testing and final pieces you see are a result of this prompt to create a functional tool for myself which moved and included joints.
Design
In Rhinoceros, a 3D modeling software, I explored a variety of shapes, patterns, and fixtures that would allow for functional use of the carabiners made in this project.
