Hi all,
Apologies if this is the wrong section. I have a set of the 4mm Heat set inserts (ID: 4255) on order and would love to get a recommendation for what size hole to reliably mount them in PLA. Thanks in advance
Design hints for heat set inserts
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Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88112
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: Design hints for heat set inserts
It varies depending on your printer, print settings and to some extend the filament too. For various reasons, most printers tend to print holes a little undersized. So you may want to do a test print or two to determine how your printer/filament combination prints holes.
On my old UP Plus-2 printer, I would just design with 4mm holes and they would work great with 4mm inserts. However, for best results, there are some other refinements such as wall thickness, taper and clearance for displaced material. Hackaday has a nice article on the subject here: https://hackaday.com/2019/02/28/threadi ... t-inserts/
On my old UP Plus-2 printer, I would just design with 4mm holes and they would work great with 4mm inserts. However, for best results, there are some other refinements such as wall thickness, taper and clearance for displaced material. Hackaday has a nice article on the subject here: https://hackaday.com/2019/02/28/threadi ... t-inserts/
- ik2012
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 1:58 pm
Re: Design hints for heat set inserts
Thanks for that link, very informative. I went with a 4.18 mm hole and a depth of 5 mm. Everything worked great with the stock "super draft" settings at 5% infill in Prusa Slicer. Printed on an Ender 3 Pro. The insert seated itself and a few seconds of light pressure with the iron and the job was done!
- stormbard
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2016 9:35 pm
Re: Design hints for heat set inserts
I recently purchased this as well and had the same question. Is there a data sheet for the inserts?
- ik2012
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 1:58 pm
Re: Design hints for heat set inserts
Not from Adafruit unfortunately. In my pack of M3 inserts the nominal diameter is 4.18 mm. Give yourself an extra mm of depth at least to account for the melted plastic. 5mm depth worked great for me.
McMaster Carr also sells inserts, they may have mechanical drawings available for a similar size.
McMaster Carr also sells inserts, they may have mechanical drawings available for a similar size.
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.