Angle Helper for brass thread insets

I've discovered the advantages of using threaded inserts for screw connections in 3D printed items, so I've designed a tool that helps me insert them at arbitrary angles. It uses a V-shaped arrangement of ball bearings to guide a long threaded rod with the insert at the end.

Additional items needed: 5x M3 x 3-6mm threaded inserts, 4x M3 x 8mm screws, 1x M3x16mm screw, 1 washer, 4x ball bearing 693ZZ.

Post-Printing

Finishing

You'll need some heat source to heat up the brass inserts until they're hot enough to melt the 3d printed plastic. Some people use soldering irons, I've found that a creme brulé burner is also quite handy (and capable of heating metal to red-hot (i.e. 500+ °C) rapidly.

Melt the M3 threaded inserts into the four front-facing holes of the slider part. They should be at about 120 degrees apart to provide a smooth guiding path.

Take care to leave just a bit of the brass protruding from the printed surface so the ball bearings don't seize up against the plastic.

Use the M3x8 screws to attach the ball bearings.

Fix the remaining insert into the back-facing hole of the slider part.

A piece of a M3 threaded rod is used as handle as the brass piece is heated.

Do not insert it all the way, and wait long enough for the plastic to harden again.

Note how the inner ring of the ball bearing sits on the brass inset.

This should move extremely smooth and precise.

Placing the insets

Here's how to use it

Category: 3D Printer Accessories