Now that I have my 3d printer I am hoping to be able to put it to good use. With that in mind I am considering getting some parts together and wondered if you experienced folk have advice on things to aid construction and design.
During the assembly of the printer I realised how useful square nuts were but I am sure there will be additional parts that can be really useful and good to have in stock. Things I am thinking of will be parts such as:
Various fasteners of smaller sizes. My thoughts are M2.5 to M5 as I would think anything above that will potentially be too strong for the strength of the plastics. Thinking of hex and socket head. Lengths are obviously variable for specific tasks, but the m3x10 seemed good for the basic part to part fixing. I would have to increase the length slightly as the diameter increases.
Next obviously are the nuts. Hex obviously but I think square nuts too.
Sunken threaded inserts. I have seen the ones that are pressed in, sometimes using heat. I have never used these so any experience you can share would be welcome.
Pivot pins - my thoughts here are the small diameter polished pins for use as hinge pins (on hinges) or pivots on fixed lids, rotating parts etc. I presume these a tolerance/interference fit.
Springs. Springs can be handy for things like catches etc. Finding springs can be difficult and also be expensive. Sometimes these can be available through cheap things like ball point pens etc. I have also got springs out of inhalers in the past but many times parts that "click" as you twist them etc contain springs. A typical example is HHS videos have springs on the cover over the tape, but when designing things, constancy of size and strength would hopefully make a standard design viable across different parts.
Anything you have found useful please share what you used it for, where you got it and costs.
Looking forward to making stuff!
Mick
During the assembly of the printer I realised how useful square nuts were but I am sure there will be additional parts that can be really useful and good to have in stock. Things I am thinking of will be parts such as:
Various fasteners of smaller sizes. My thoughts are M2.5 to M5 as I would think anything above that will potentially be too strong for the strength of the plastics. Thinking of hex and socket head. Lengths are obviously variable for specific tasks, but the m3x10 seemed good for the basic part to part fixing. I would have to increase the length slightly as the diameter increases.
Next obviously are the nuts. Hex obviously but I think square nuts too.
Sunken threaded inserts. I have seen the ones that are pressed in, sometimes using heat. I have never used these so any experience you can share would be welcome.
Pivot pins - my thoughts here are the small diameter polished pins for use as hinge pins (on hinges) or pivots on fixed lids, rotating parts etc. I presume these a tolerance/interference fit.
Springs. Springs can be handy for things like catches etc. Finding springs can be difficult and also be expensive. Sometimes these can be available through cheap things like ball point pens etc. I have also got springs out of inhalers in the past but many times parts that "click" as you twist them etc contain springs. A typical example is HHS videos have springs on the cover over the tape, but when designing things, constancy of size and strength would hopefully make a standard design viable across different parts.
Anything you have found useful please share what you used it for, where you got it and costs.
Looking forward to making stuff!
Mick
