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| High Standard Thumb Saver |
About a month ago I made a magazine catch for my High Standard Supermatic Trophy pistol by hand. It worked well enough that I thought other High Standard owners might be interested in it. So I decided to look into having my Thumb Saver mass produced.
I drew up a CAD model and submitted it to a plastics manufacturer to see about having the part injection molded. While the cost per part was very low, the set up costs for making the dies was prohibitive. I didn't think I could sell enough to ever recoup my expenses. Plan B was to have the part 3D printed. The cost per part is higher, but there are no set up costs.
So, I optimized the CAD model for 3D printing and ordered a sample. I redesigned the part a few times to increase strength and minimize volume. A few tweaks and a few samples later, I had what I was looking for.
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| Too small! |
Note to self: check measurements carefully. My CAD file was in centimeters. The printing service defaulted to millimeters. The first prototypes were just a little too small.
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| too weak |
I had to find the right printing process with the right material. Some plastics are too weak for anything beyond a prototype.
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| Too thin. |
The next version was better but I felt a few areas were too thin. So I beefed them up for greater strength. I also removed material where it wasn't needed.
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| just right |
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| rear view |
The final part is printed in nylon; strong but flexible. I think it should provide years of reliable service. I use it every time I shoot; it makes loading so much easier and faster. This one is designed for the military grip models. If there is enough interest, I may make one for the slant grip models as well. If you would like one for your High Standard, the Thumb Saver can be ordered here.
