Strong Locking Carabiner - Customizable

A locking carabiner optimized for strength, which you can customize to get the exact size you need. A locking gate arm and hook helps it withstand more force than a lot of other printable carabiner designs.

 

While I've tested a wide range of values in the customizer, it's impossible to test them all. If you find a combination of values that results in model errors please post a screenshot of the values so I can replicate and fix it. Note that since strength is a main priority of the design there's a limit to how small some parts can get. 

 

Features:

• Use Makerworld's Customizer to get exactly the size and shape you need
• Gate arm is mounted on a printed hinge (so it doesn't spring closed, but it also doesn't stress the filament every time you open it)
• Gate arm hooks onto the nose for maximum lateral strength
• A sliding locking sleeve keeps the gate closed
• All parts are designed to print in an orientation that maximizes their strength when the ends of the carabiner are pulled

This should go without saying, but printed carabiners are for convenience, not safety. DO NOT USE THIS FOR SAFETY-CRITICAL APPLICATIONS. 

 

Assembly

Slide the locking slide onto the arm from the hinge hole side. Ensure the arrow is pointing towards the lock nub like this:

Tip: Check that you can slide it all the way up over the lock nub and back down. If it's too tight or too loose, try re-customizing it with a different lockFrictionTolerance value. The provided print profile includes two sleeves to test, one loose and one tighter. 

 

Lay the arm flat with the printed side up. Drop the pin into the hinge hole with the flat edge on the same side as the arrow:

 

(Optional) Add a small drop of superglue to the circular edge of the hinge hole in the main body. This will make the hinge less likely to accidentally pop out. 

 

Drop the arm over the main body so the hinge pin drop into the hole. Make sure to maintain the pin orientation:

 

Use a lot of force to push the arm hinge and pin towards the carabiner nose (the top in these pictures) to lock the pin in place. You might be able to do this with finger strength alone, but it's much easier with a pair of pliers:

Tip: If you are having trouble getting the pin fully seated and don't have pliers, close and lock the carabiner and then hook your fingers around opposite ends of the carabiner and pull hard.

 

 

Unless you made the carabiner extremely thick, there should be enough play in the hinge to rotate the arm over the top of the nose into its normal position. 

 

To lock it closed, slide the lock over the nose until it stops. To unlock, slide it back down. 

 

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