Assistive Locker Handle

We made a handle that suctions onto a locker to allow special needs students to independently open their lockers. This device gives students with limited motor skills the ability to open their lockers, by utilizing the handles large size and grip.

Materials:

Brass Heat-Set Inserts - 25 for $12

Suction Cups - 5 for $12

Tools:

3D Printer

Heat Gun

Pliers

We designed the handle in OnShape and sliced it using PrusaSlicer. It was printed on a Prusa i3 MK3S+ with PLA at 30% infill. The print takes just under 8 hours and the handle was durable during testing. The STL and GCode are included.(The GCode will not work on any other printer, as it is specific to the printer we used)

Clamp or hold the handle so the press‑in holes face upward. Use pliers to grab the wider end of the press-in. Heat the press‑in with a heat gun until the brass darkens slightly, then press it into the hole. Repeat these steps for the other hole. The press-in and plastic gets very hot, so let it cool for 5–10 minutes.

Screw the suction cups into the press‑ins until they are tight. Make sure the tabs on the cups all face the same direction to allow for the handle to easily be removed from a surface. The cups can be replaced easily if they lose suction, just unscrew and swap them out.

Press the handle firmly onto any smooth, hole free surface. It should stick securely and is ready use. To remove from a surface, pull in the opposite direction of the tabs on the suction cups.