How to Make Your Own Joyconhandle

This Instructable is based on the Joy-Con Holder and is intended for anyone who wants to create a custom handle for the Nintendo Switch 1 controller. The goal is to make gaming more accessible by giving users the freedom to design a grip that best suits their individual needs. The handle can be customized into virtually any shape, allowing it to fit comfortably in your hand and provide a more enjoyable and accessible gaming experience.

The team:

1. Willem Martin (Willem.Martin@student.howest.be) – Product Designer
2. Bas Dhaese (Bas.Dhaese@student.howest.be) – Product Designer
3. Aleksandra Saronova (Aleksandra.Saronova@student.howest.be) – Product Designer
4. Mariza Elekchiyan (Mariza.Elekchiyan@student.howest.be) – Product Designer

Make sure to check out Joy-Con Holder

To create a custom handle, you can use almost any 3D modeling software, such as Fusion 360, Blender, SolidWorks, or Tinkercad. The exact workflow will depend on the program you choose, but the main concept is the same: you will create your desired grip shape and subtract it from another body to achieve the correct fit and geometry. If you are unfamiliar with this process, it is a good idea to search for a tutorial on “boolean subtraction” or “subtracting one shape from another” in your chosen software before getting started. This basic modeling technique is all you need to customize the handle to your own preferences.

Here's a smoother and slightly longer version:

The first step is to create the shape of your custom handle. Design it in whatever form feels the most comfortable and ergonomic for your hand, as there is no single correct shape. For the best results, make sure the top of the model includes a flat surface. This flat area will make the following modeling steps easier and help ensure that the Joy-Con holder fits and functions properly.

Next, import the provided Joy-Con holder geometry into your CAD software. Both a STEP file and a Fusion 360 (.f3d) file are available, so you can choose the format that works best with your modeling program. Insert the file as a separate body or component and carefully position it within your custom handle model so that it sits exactly where the Joy-Con controller should be.

Now you can perform the boolean subtraction. Start the Subtract (or Boolean Difference) command in your CAD software and select your custom handle as the target body. Then choose the provided Joy-Con holder model as the tool body to subtract from it. Once you confirm the operation, the Joy-Con shape will be cut out of your handle, creating the required cavity.