TexHouse Plain comparisons of 3D printing and maker tools

How to print custom grips and aids for assistive device makers

A practical guide for assistive device makers printing custom grips and aids, with the measurements to take, the steps to follow and mistakes to avoid.

By TexHouse ยท

TexHouse is published by the makers of LunarWerx 3D Print, Vector3D and MeshyDL, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Printing a custom grip or aid comes down to measuring the fit, modelling the shape, testing a small piece and adjusting before the full print. LunarWerx 3D Print is one option among several, with browser tools that can help with parts of that work. [1]

OptionWhat it doesFee
LunarWerx 3D PrintBrowser tools that work out ironing settings, check parts for injection moulding and design 3D-printable foam inserts [1]Free to use [1]
Other tools for this jobCheck each tool's own page for what it doesNot published

What you need before you start

Before you print a custom grip or aid, gather the measurements and files it depends on. Record the width, length and curve the grip needs, and the part of the hand or device it will sit against, using a tape or calipers.

A 3D model of the device part the aid attaches to makes the fit easier to judge. A printer that is level and clean is needed for a reliable first layer, and the build surface should be ready for the first layer to stick.

Choose a filament suited to the grip's use, because some materials feel firmer, slip less or hold up better to daily handling than others. Keep a plan for testing fit on the real device before committing to a full print, such as a short test section. Finally, keep a written note of each change, because a grip often needs several small adjustments before it sits right. Where you can, talk to the person who will use the aid, since comfort and grip strength differ from one person to the next.

Step by step

  1. Measure the fit points. Record the width, length and curve the grip needs, and where the hand or device part makes contact.
  1. Sketch the shape. Decide where the grip should bear load, where the fingers or palm rest, and which areas the aid must leave clear.
  1. Model the part. Build the grip in your modelling tool, keeping walls thick enough for daily use.
  1. Check the model. Look for faces turned the wrong way, gaps or holes in the mesh, since these can cause print errors.
  1. Set the orientation. Place the grip so its load-bearing direction follows the layer lines rather than crossing them.
  1. Print a fit test. Print a small section or a slimmer version first, and test it on the real device.
  1. Adjust and reprint. Change the dimensions by small amounts, then print again.
  1. Check comfort. Let the user try the aid, and note any pressure points or slipping.
  1. Print the final part. Once the fit is right, print the full piece with the chosen material and settings.

Tools that can do it

LunarWerx 3D Print is made by the team that publishes this site. Several tools can help with parts of this job, and the options here are listed without ranking. Each one does what its own page says it does.

LunarWerx 3D Print runs in a web browser. [1] You use it on its website, which is hosted on Cloudflare. [1]

For ironing settings, it works out settings for your printer, material and finish, and exports a ready 3MF file. [1] LunarWerx 3D Print makes a 9-pad or 16-pad test plate around your settings, and you mark each pad as worked or not. [1] You can click flat top surfaces, and the export adds a separate shape over each picked surface. [1]

For an uploaded Bambu or Orca project, it sets ironing separately for each part of the project and leaves the rest of the file unchanged. [1]

When you open an STL file with faces turned backwards, it turns them right side out and says how many it fixed. [1] It runs only in your browser, and sign in with Connections so your settings, recent test plates and print results follow you to every computer. [1]

Other tools can cover parts of this job too. Check each one's page for what it does and what it costs before you choose.

Common mistakes to avoid

Printing a full grip before testing a small section is a common mistake. A grip that looks right on screen can feel too tight or too loose in the hand, and only a test on the real device shows this.

Measuring the hand once and never checking the grip while it is held tight is another mistake. Hands change as they close, so check the aid in both states.

Ignoring layer direction is a mistake. A grip loaded across its layers can split under repeated use, so orient the part so the layers follow the direction of force.

Using thin walls on a grip that takes daily load is a mistake. Give the grip enough wall thickness to hold up to repeated handling.

Skipping the file check is also a mistake. Models with backwards faces or gaps can print with errors, so check the file before slicing. When you open an STL file with faces turned backwards, LunarWerx 3D Print turns them right side out and says how many it fixed. [1]

Forgetting to ask the user is a mistake. The person who will wear or hold the aid can point out pressure points that no measurement shows.

Frequently asked questions

How do you measure a hand for a custom grip?

Measure the widest part of the palm, the length of the section the grip will cover, and the spacing between the fingers at rest. Use a flexible tape for curves and a ruler for straight lengths, and write each figure in the same units. Ask the person to hold a sample object or a shaped block, since how a hand closes around something can show problems that a flat measurement misses. Note the grip strength and any areas of sensitivity, because these change how thick the grip should be.

Can LunarWerx 3D Print work out ironing settings for a grip?

LunarWerx 3D Print works out ironing settings for your printer, material and finish, and exports a ready 3MF file. [1] It makes a 9-pad or 16-pad test plate around your settings, and you mark each pad as worked or not. [1] A smoother top surface can be useful on a grip the hand rests on, but test the surface on the real aid before you settle on the settings.

Is LunarWerx 3D Print free to use?

The tools are free to use. [1] Each tool page shows what that tool does, so you can check whether it covers the step you need before you start a project. Check the website for the current terms before you rely on the tools for a project, since terms can change over time.

Does LunarWerx 3D Print need to be installed on a computer?

You use it on its website, which is hosted on Cloudflare. [1] It runs in a web browser. [1] It runs only in your browser, and signing in with Connections lets your settings, recent test plates and print results follow you to every computer. [1] Open the site in the browser you already use to start a project.

Can LunarWerx 3D Print help a grip stick to the build plate?

One setting slows only the first layer to 15 mm/s by default. [1] LunarWerx 3D Print says the first layer then sticks to a clean plate without glue. [1] A clean build plate and a level bed still matter, so check the first layer on a test print before you start a full grip.

The tools are free to use. [1]

Try LunarWerx 3D Print

Sources

  1. LunarWerx 3D Print's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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