Parametric Hinge Pin with Snap-On Cap for Boxes

Parametric Hinge Pin with Snap-On Cap

If you've ever finished printing a beautiful storage box only to dig through your hardware drawer and come up empty-handed on the right screw size — this one's for you.

Hinge pins made from screws have always been a compromise. You rarely have the exact size on hand, 3D-printed screws tend to be fragile and don't look particularly polished, and there's an inherent asymmetry that bothers anyone with an eye for design: a cap on one end, nothing on the other.
 

This parametric hinge pin solves all three problems at once. The snap-on cap gives both ends a clean, finished look, no hardware store run required. After about a dozen prototypes and careful refinement, the snap mechanism clicks into place with satisfying reliability — secure enough to hold, but designed to be printable on any standard FDM printer.

Fully Parametric

Configure just four values to match any hinge:

• Pin diameter
• Pin length
• Cap diameter
• Cap length

A preset file with the most commonly used sizes is included so you can jump straight to printing.

One Pro Tip

Always print two or more pins at a time. Small parts benefit from the extra cooling time between layers while the nozzle travels to the next piece — this noticeably improves print quality and strength.

Happy printing!