Magnetic Switchblade

I find the intricate mechanical design of pocketknives to be very intriguing. While magnetic locking mechanisms are growing in prevalence, magnetically actuated deployment systems remain less common, motivating me to explore this concept firsthand.

This design draws inspiration from gravity knife architecture, achieving blade deployment with significantly fewer moving parts than traditional spring-loaded out-the-front (OTF) knives. Magnets embedded in the blade base and housing provide controlled actuation, while smaller auxiliary magnets secure the switch in place to ensure reliable locking.

A simple prototype has been 3D-printed for proof-of-concept. I am working towards developing proficiency in Mastercam to produce a practical and sleeker, aluminum CNC machined iteration of my design.