This is my design of a functional, robust, and reliable door or drawer handle. I created it especially for the FFF process to be printed using PLA, PETG, or ASA. The handle is mounted from the front using two countersink screws. This design keeps pressure on the printed layers and prevents the handle from breaking under large pulling forces along the layer lines.
Dimensions
The part number and file name have the following format:
LR2225-W<hand width>-D<hand depth>-H<handle width>-M<screw>.3mf
Hand Width and Depth
The dimensions W and D define the width and depth of the spacing for the hand. The number following the letter in the filename is the dimension in mm.
Handle Width
The dimension H defines the width of the handle, which also determines the thickness of the handle (H * 0.75). The number following the letter in the filename is the width in mm.
Screw Hole Diameter
The last dimension M defines the size of the screw hole. There are two variants, M4 for M4 wood screws with countersunk heads, and M5 for 4.5 or 5mm screws.
Screw Hole Distance
The distance between the two screw hole centers (S) are not round values because they are centered in the optimal spot between the outer and inner side of the handle.
If you need to know the exact distance for the various handles, you can find the precise numbers in the table below:
| W (mm) | D (mm) | Screw Hole Distance (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 20 | 122.9 |
| 100 | 25 | 120.8 |
| 100 | 30 | 118.6 |
| 120 | 20 | 142.9 |
| 120 | 25 | 140.8 |
| 120 | 30 | 138.6 |
| 140 | 20 | 162.9 |
| 140 | 25 | 160.8 |
| 140 | 30 | 158.6 |
| 160 | 20 | 182.9 |
| 160 | 25 | 180.8 |
| 160 | 30 | 178.6 |
| 180 | 20 | 202.9 |
| 180 | 25 | 200.8 |
| 180 | 30 | 198.6 |
About the Design
Handles on doors and drawers are usually mounted from behind to hide the screw from sight. However, 3D printed parts tend to break along the layer lines. Fastening the handle only at the lower half is not viable for this reason.
To mitigate this risk, I opted to fasten the handle from the front side. The screw presses the part from the front to the door or drawer, thereby pressing the layers together. If the user pulls on the handle, most of the pulling force is converted and pressed onto the screw head, facilitating movement of the door or drawer.
Precautions when Mounting the Part
Ensure that you fasten the screws carefully by hand to prevent cracking the material. Be aware that PLA can deform under pressure permanently; apply light force or use PETG/ASA for moving heavier parts or components.
