Year: 2025
Wire hooks fitting into clips.
Clips in place on wire shelf.
We use NSF wire shelving in our kitchen, because our apartment doesn't have a pantry. We also hang our kitchen tools and cast iron pans off the shelving with hooks, to maintain 1st-order accessibility, and save limited drawer and shelf space.
The standard s-hooks for wire NSF shelving have some design flaws- they slide and pivot while you are hanging something on them, and when taking something off you have to be careful not to to take the hook off the shelf as well (and find wherever it bounced to on the floor). There's a few 3-d printed solutions to this, but none of them will hold up to a 8" cast iron skillet.
So, there is a need for something to hold these hooks in place.
Starting with requirements: Something that clips over the top of the hook, holding it to the edge of the shelf. Should be removeable, not permanently attached to the hook, easy to apply and remove, but not likely to be unclipped by accident. Should be made from a single FDM print with as little support material as possible. One size must function across the manufacturing tolerances of the hooks and racks.
Initial Fit Tests
Some quick prints to dialing in the snap action, clearances, toggle length and location, how much should the clip overhang the the top and bottom shelf bar. Not yet bothering to model the hook yet.Supports Required
Initially, I thought I could make the design support-free. But, after the first print, realized having the hook through a closed hole didn't feel right - it was awkward to assemble, and couldn't be placed over a hook already on the shelf- this was an emergent requirement. In any case, the hole struggled to print.Designing for FDM
Internal overhangs limited to 45 degrees from print direction.Final Prototype
Make a whole bunch and use them!Some neat unintended consequences (features): The hooks can be repositioned by sliding, but lock in place when force is applied to the hook.
Download this model here: https://www.printables.com/model/1217914-stabilizing-clips-for-wire-shelf-s-hooks