Inserting Inserts

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

On my latest project (The EnXLosure) it calls for a lot of melted-in inserts. So I figured I'd invest in one of those tools made from a soldering iron with the tips and the rail to drive them in an exactly perpendicular. Well... that does not work too well.

Its looking like a lot of the inserts will need to go in the old fashioned way... I.e., a long 3mm bolt with a nut, a washer and then the insert, cooked with a small torch and entered by hand getting it exactly square thanks to the washer. I let it cool then unscrew the bolt. 

The problem with the fancy tool is you have to have the part sit in just the right way to ensure the insert goes in exactly right. Good luck with that.

[david merten]

That's too bad. I had great luck with mine. Did a couple dozen on the paint holders I made for my son. It was a flat bottom plate and I put a little counterbore for the inserts to start in. The only one that got screwed up, I let my granddaughter do and she messed it up bad.

            David

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[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

There is a trick though with the tool...

Assuming the object can sit on the tool's base(which is a big assumption)... Do not put the insert all the way into the object while it's getting inserted. Leave a bit above the plane of the object surface. Immediately after the tool is moved up and out of the way press the insert in with a flat metal object that will square the surface of the insert to the plane.

[Kurt A 3d]

I so much prefer PRUSA's way of using square nuts to inserts.    I have heard of insert inserting tools you can build if you have a spare linear rail (use of old printer parts)

Kurt-A

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

Slide in nuts can also have issues. If the slots are too tight  getting them in can be a major pain. If the slots too big getting them into the optimal position or keeping them in place becomes a pain. Ideally the design of the object takes these issues into account. After a couple dozen inserts on the enclosure top I think I found the optimal approach... using the tool's soldering iron... removed from the stand and I press the insert in at the very end with a clean flat metal tool. That squares it in relation to the surface plane. 

The EnXLosure is a really big project. It'll be at least a week with all the prints and inserts.