custom carabiner making

[yosib]

what type of engineer, can make me a custom carabiner.

I'm looking to make a very specific item, which is similar to a carabiner, were/what should I look for, what type of engineering is it?

thank you
Yosib

 

[ivymike]

mechanical.
you might just talk to a machine shop, though.

 

[unclesyd]

Any mechanical engineer can design a carabineers. If this is going to hold up personnel it will have to be designed to the EN specs that covers carabineers to prevent any accidents and covering you know what. You will. have to have some type of testing done with the prototypes. Watch out for patents.

Having said that, I know you can go into to places like Harbor Freight and there are usually several sizes with no indication of codes or standards I just bought some.

 

[zeusfaber]

As unclesyd hints, it really does depend on what you want to use this thing for.

If it's primarily ornamental - or at least guaranteed to be lightly loaded, then you will get away with going to a machine shop.

Otherwise, you want to talk to a firm that specialises in forging load-bearing hooks (try googling something like "hook forging")

The two processes are quite different, and result in products which can look quite similar, but aren't.

A.

 

[cpretty]

I would go straight to the climbing gear manufactures - petzel, black diamond etc. Black Diamond have done some work with Kayak manufacturers on building custom bits with them, so they may be open to collaboration. Of course this won't work if you are competing with them. Getting their name on it may be worth something to you if you need confirmation of quality.

A machined version may work, but will be a lower strength than a similar forged version due to grain differences and work hardening etc. It will be significantly cheaper though for small quantities.

I would pick my machine shop wisely for this. Someone doing crane hooks etc will be your best bet to understand material choice, stress concentrations etc.

 

[TheTick]

You are in the general public looking for an engineer to sell his services. In the U.S., that means you need a registered PE. At a minimum, that means he is insured so that your survivors can sue after your carabiner fails.

 

[zcp]

Not sure of your exact application or whether this will be a marketable product or a 'one off' production, but any general engineering group could take care of this for you.

They will ask about application, loads, quantity, form/fit/function, material preference, desired costs of production, etc.

They will charge you a number that will seem to be way too much if you are just making one. But if you are lifting or doing any life safety with this device, their expertise will be worth every penny.

In looking for that engineering group, you would like them to be licensed (this may actually be required) and you would like them to be experienced in this area (product design, lifting, rigging, fall arrest, etc.).

Hope that helps.

ZCP

http://www.phoenix-engineer.com

 

[MALK]

What zcp says. Be very careful with this kind of kit, death injury and equipment failure are likely with badly made kit or poorly understood load conditions.