Sliding Patio Door Security Bar Retainer Bracket

thingiverse

This is a replacement for the retaining bracket that locks in place the security bar (a.k.a. "burglar bar"), which prevents the sliding patio door from being forced open. The plastic "ears" on the original retainers to all three of our patio doors had broken off after 8 years of use. I thought this would be the perfect project to demonstrate the "value" of my new 3D printer to my better-half. My CAD experience dates back to prehistoric times (circa 1980's), so it took me about 3 days to learn enough about using OnShape (OnShape.com) cloud based CAD system to design the retainer bracket and print out three of them. It is a hard business case to make for making the three brackets: $400 for the printer, $20 for filament and three days of my time, but the feeling of creativity and accomplishment is priceless. Well at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.