Joy-Con Grip Controller - Single (+ & -)

Good Morning, Afternoon, or Night whenever you are reading this.

Have you ever used a Nintendo Switch before? If so, you may have come across some issues with the Joy-Con's such as it's uncomfortable to use a single one.

Now yes the Joy-Con's are pretty neat in its versatility in pair with the screen device to enable the switch to "switch" between handheld mode or console mode. But wouldn't be nice to fully utilize a single Joy-Con if it were more comfortable to use?

Well you are in luck!! I will be showing you a process to create a grip controller for a single Joy-Con.

Some tools you are going to need to use to accomplish this is a

1. Computer/Laptop
2. 3D Printing Files
3. I used STL Files but others like (OBJ, AMF, or 3MF) are alternative files to use.
4. Slicer CAD Program
5. Memory Card & Reader (Provided Image of the one I used)
6. I used a TF Card or MicroSD Card and its reader.
7. 3D Printer (Provided Image of the one I used)
8. Glue Stick
9. Filament
10. I used PLA filament
11. Pliers (Provided Image of the one I used)
12. Recommend a Small Bladed one

These are the files I used from a creator on Thingiverse, Manabun_Lab. Also to note, because each Joy-Con, + & -, have different button orientations. The creator created 2 controllers for each one respectively and their are a set of buttons to print off that attach to the controllers. Image for this controller is shown on the left.

Also I would like to reiterate that the site I used to access these files and heck even got inspiration for this project is through Thingiverse. Some alternatives sites you could use are Printable's or Reddit (r/3Dprinting).

NOTE: Click on the hyperlink on Manabun_Lab to access his thingiverse page of his controller. Big shoutout to this creator and definitely give a check of his other creations.

I used Cura to slice the STL Files into G-Code. Other CAD softwares you could use could be Orca Slicer or PrusaSlicer.

For the remaining of this instructable I will be giving steps on Cura to slice those STL Files.

1. Open Cura
2. Selet "From Disk"
3. Through your documents find the STL Files for either controller or button.
4. Select one
5. Ensure some settings are set such as
6. Infill Density - 30%
7. Printing Speed - 60 mm/s
8. Supports - Enable them
9. Choose "Normal" for Support Structure
10. Choose "Everywhere" for Support Placement

The default orientation is okay to have to slice and then print. But another orientation you could have it at to minimize the amount of used filament and time is by orientating the controller to where the bottom of the base of the controller lays flat and with its grips facing up vertically.

Once you the file has been sliced and adjusted. Finally you can then save it to your memory card. Insert the memory card into the printer. Before you print ensure your printer is set up by...

1. Center your Printer Bed and Printer Extruder by zeroing it out
2. Calibrate the Printer
3. Insert filament
4. Pre-heat the filament
5. Apply a thin layer of your glue stick to the printing bed to ensure that the first layer print sticks well
6. Begin Printing!!!

And let the printer take care the rest!! Just ensure to check up occasionally to ensure the whole printing process goes smoothly

Once fully printed, all there's left to do is to remove the supports. A set of micro pilers would suffice but be very cautious when removing the supports on the slot holder. It's just a strip line around the slot holder that needs to be removed.

In the image shown above, anything shown in blue around the slot holder is support and should be removed. While it'll be less obvious to observe once you have the controller printed but the image should give you a rough layout the support that should be removed.

If you need both + and - controllers then repeat the steps. As for the buttons, follow the same previous steps as well as you will only need to print one set as each set will print 4 buttons, 2 for each controller.

This turned out very nice and personally has made using a Joy-Con individually more comfortable. However, like everything there are always room for improvement. On my end, I could invest some time to learn more on how to use CAD softwares like Fusion360 to construct a Joy-Con Controller of my own.

Definitely a controller that has a way to slot the Joy-Con in and buttons implemented. As well as a way to see the indicator light from the Joy-Con to ensure the controller is still on and active. Heck I might even make one for the new Nintendo Switch 2 that is coming very soon to implement its magnetic mechanism instead of their slotted mechanism.