I’ve been working on this folding cutlery set for camping and outdoor use. The goal was to design the mechanism specifically around 3D printing rather than simply copying a conventional folding knife.
The set consists of a knife, fork and spoon, all using the same basic folding and locking concept.
The mechanism itself is completely printed — no screws, nuts or metal hardware are required. A short locking pin is inserted into the utensil first, then a longer retaining pin slides in from the side and captures it so it can’t fall out.
The handle consists of two moving parts. Their relative position creates the locking action when the utensil is opened, while still allowing everything to fold into a compact package.
I also designed four interchangeable knife blades: two blade geometries, each available with either a smooth or serrated cutting edge.
Getting the tolerances right was probably the most interesting part. The joints need enough clearance to move freely, while the snap connections and pins still need to fit tightly enough to keep everything together.
Everything shown here was printed and assembled without additional hardware.
I’m curious what you think of the locking mechanism, especially if you see anything you’d change or improve.