Hex Tool Handles

thingiverse

So I needed a way to hold a longshanked hex nut driver in a stub handle so I could get under the printhead of my original Prusa i3 MK3 and remove & change the nozzle on the hotend without having to buy a (costly!) dedicated tool. Rather than printing the whole handle with high-density infill, which would be expensive, the best solution was to produce a couple of different-length handles with interchangeable bit holders that contain the relevant toolbits. The bit holders are printed at 60-80% or more infill, but only cost a fraction of what it would mean if the entire handle was printed at high density. This idea means I can use the same handle with other toolbits, just like most toolkits where a single handle with multiple interchangeable bit inserts is used. Check out https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3605461 for a subsequent version of a handle that also uses the core-shaft method and enables interchangeability of toolbits. (This handle is smoother and longer, intended for a different purpose.) The handles are 12-sided extrusions about 35mm in diameter, with stubs 50mm long and the longer one 80mm. The 0.1mm clearance between handle and holder makes it easy to insert and remove the bit holder. The number of polygon sides makes it comfortable enough without losing grip, while their hand ends are rounded for ergonomics' sake. All I need is a few toolbit holders with permanently fixed toolbits that can be inserted into premade handles.