Tweaked Cat Key Hook (stronger, easier to print)

Based on the design by a-arruti, but with thicker mechanics, and a separate lever.
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2715
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updated August 13, 2025

Description

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I really like the original cat key hook design by a-arruti, but I had trouble getting the lever to print right, and be strong enough to use. I looked through comments, and saw others were having the same trouble. I want to put several of these in my house, so I decided to go through and redo some of the pieces that people were struggling with. 

 


 

The lever has been significantly widened, and the base has been modified to match. The lever also now prints separately, and snaps onto the base. The tail has been slightly thickened, and the pegs that attach to the lever have been slightly lengthened. The lid's pegs have been given the same treatment. Additionally, the entire model is very slightly larger (resize this to about 95% to make it the same size as the OG).

 

I've also included some holes in the back to help with mounting. I intended for them to be screw holes, but they're a little small at the normal size; you'll probably have to widen them a little with a drill to get screws in there. Otherwise, maybe tacks would work; I haven't tested. of course, you can also just use adhesive :) Edit: if you need a better mounting solution, there are a couple remixes with more options!
 

The mechanism requires the force from the weight of the tail/lid/head to overcome the friction in the movement. I had no issues with this in my print, but some people have. Therefore, it might be a good idea to print those parts with a higher infill percentage just to add weight, or you could even embed some kind of weight in the lid. If your print has issues, try reducing the friction by cleaning up any print defects, and add a bit of lubricant if you've got it.


Some of these parts, such as the tail, cat, and lever, may benefit from supports. I used tree supports, touching buildplate only, with a high interface density, and got good results. Make sure to use good bridging settings on the base, so that the bar for the lever prints well.

My print used 0.2mm layer height, and 0.4mm lines. 20% infill, and 3 walls, with PLA.

Tags



Model origin

The author remixed this model.

Differences of the remix compared to the original

All mechanical parts have been remodeled for easier printing and better strength.

License