Bed Clip Tool

thingiverse

I use glass print beds on all my FDM printers, both round and square. I secure the glass with 20MM binder clips, which can be found at office supply stores. The 20MM width is ideal for me; larger or smaller clips don't work as well. My hands are affected by PN (neuropathy), making it difficult to open the clips to a width of about 6MM to hold the glass and metal bed in place. Many people struggle with opening clips wider than a few sheets of paper. I designed a custom 3D printed tong to address this issue, allowing me to use all my fingers and hand strength to fully open the binder clip. I'm surprised it took me so long to find a solution. The design doesn't provide a mechanical advantage; instead, it lets my entire hand do the work. Tongs are simple and easy to make, consisting of only one part. The thin section at the rear of the tong flexes easily, minimizing the risk of breaking when squeezing. This tool is robust and not flimsy.