Threaded Inserts in 3D Prints - How strong are they?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 มี.ค. 2019
- I've tested the strength of brass threaded inserts and will compare it to cut threads and 3D printed threads. Let's find out if it's worth adding these metal parts to your designs!
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Download the threads test: www.thingiverse.com/thing:351...
Articles on threaded inserts:
www.sculpteo.com/blog/2017/03...
www.instructables.com/id/Bolt...
www.ptonline.com/articles/fou...
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Being a mechanical engineering researcher myself, I absolutely love how accurate your experiments are. Not only do you try changing one variable at once, but you tell us where errors may come from. However, I'd really be even more impressed if you could formulate your experiments mathimatically so that, given any set of variables, you could find the maximum allowable stress.
It was a major pity that the torque wrench was out of a Kinder Egg!
The ratio of time needed to end up with an 11 minute video must be at least 100:1. Just to do the engineering and get the raw footage. Even more after editing.
I'm certain there are very few Creators who have so much hard work behind each minute of video.
The machine deflects before the part yields. Not very accurate
@@sheet-son Well I don't expect him to buy a super expensive tensile testing machine. So given his tools and budget, it is pretty accurate.
@@dmail00 Actually, a beam type torque wrench can be very accurate for this kind of thing. Typically better and more repeatable then a click type or electronic.
The primary benefit of the inserts is that you can screw and unscrew many times without the threads wearing out.
Matthew Humphrey exactly, plastic threads are sensitive to torque as he said and wear out quickly even with the right torque tightening
@@rotorblade9508 Not if you use a proper screw with threads designed for plastic. I don't get why people use machine bolts in 3d-printed objects as they are designed for metal threads. There exists such a thing as screw designed for plastic. You can get these for free from any broken appliance with plastic enclosure. Easier to use, better grip, and no need for threads, just a suitably sized hole.
@@ilkkavierula6664 The screws designed for plastic work great in applications where you screw it together and then never take it apart. Since these screws are designed to cut threads, if you remove them and put them back in, it's very easy to accidentally cut a new set of threads instead of screwing into the existing threads. That is a recipe for stripped threads.
On commercial products, you often see thread-cutting screws holding most things together, but then a threaded insert and machine screw on things like battery doors that get repeated use.
If you are able, you should have both thread-cutting and machine screws on hand and use the best screw for any given job. If your screw variety is limited by space, budget, or other factors however, I would consider machine screws to be more versatile.
@@jcon6734 Most of the time they settle on the existing threads. Especially if you start screwing with light force without forcing it (as you are supposed to do with any screw). Even if the screw cuts multiple threads it doesn't significantly weaken the holding power of the screw. This is due to the mechanics of how to screw works. The factor determining the holding power of screw in material is the shear strength of the material and screw threads. The variable determining the shear strength is the shear surface area and shear strength of the material. The amount of material removed by the thin thread of a plastic screw is so little it hardly has an effect on the shear surface area, thus the effect on pullout strength is very small.
It can be a bit counterintuitive, but you can try it yourself by screwing a piece of wood to a phone catalog or old book. It will hold there very firmly even though there are hudreds of "threads " between pages. To pull out the threads would have to punch through hundreds of sheets of paper, which anyone who has tried to hole punch through a thick stack of paper knows takes a lot of force.
Most of the times when screws fail in plastic it's caused by poor tolerances of screws and holes. If the hole is too big for the screw's cylindrical body, the screw can move sideways under cyclic loads, slowly chipping away the plastic holding the screw. Overtightening and sideways loads during tightening will also cause this.
If a screw needs to withstand huge amount assembly/disassembly cycles (more than a few dozen) best option is a self-tapping threaded insert. These are stronger than mold-in ones (especially when used incorrectly as melt-in with) or helical coil inserts (which are not intended for this purpose at all, they are for thread repair). Mold-in inserts will not bond properly when installed using melt-in technique with soldering iron or similar. They require either ultrasonic welding device, or proper heat press if they are not injection molded in place. Hole tolerance is also critical for them to work.
Edit: If you want to study more, may I recommend:
www.stanleyengineeredfastening.com/-/media/web/sef/resources/docs/other/threaded_fasteners_for_plastics.ashx
techcenter.lanxess.com/scp/americas/en/docguard/Joining_Guide.pdf?docId=77016
www.celofasteners.cn/img/cms/Cat%C3%A1logos%20industria/Screws%20for%20plastic%20CELO.pdf
www.spirol.com/library/main_catalogs/SPIROL-Inserts-for-Plastics-us.pdf
As some good starting points.
@@ilkkavierula6664 It seems like you know your stuff. Since the screws aren't actually removing material, it makes sense that cutting a new set of threads wouldn't weaken it too much. That said, it sure seems like I constantly strip threads out when I'm not careful to catch the original threads. Any thoughts on the actual problem? Am I just particularly ham-fisted?
I will say that I disagree with you on the heat-setting threaded inserts. While they might not bond "properly," if the plastic is breaking before that bond fails, I'd say it's good enough. The self-tapping inserts might technically be better, but they're also an order of magnitude more expensive and I'm not sure you'd see much real-world benefit.
Once again, doing great things for the community. Thanks. great video!
Someone else may have already mentioned this, but you should do a 100% infill print and see if you can get the failure to occur at the actual theads and not the material around the hole. You're seeing similar strength because the failure is the same. It's the material outside of the hole where infill is weak.
Two things I would love to see a follow up on:
- Like most of the comments here I use primarily m3 threads. I'd like to see how comparisons change at that size
- My preferred way of adding threads is to create a square hole with the same minor diameter as the screw and then threading it in. It seems like the material pushes into the corners and reduces the amount of cracking I see. I'd be great to see this experimentally confirmed
square hole ?! thx I'm gonna try that in my next design
I use M3 for everything 3d-printing related.
I do too
Me too :) And i'd be interested if results with PETG are the same, cause that is the material i use 90% of the time ^^
Me too.
M3 is definitely the most used for 3d prints
Same. M2 for the tiny stuff and M3 Torx head for pretty much everything else. Usually don't print parts that require something as large as a M5.
Seeing that you uploaded a video has been the highlight of my day. Honestly. I love your videos and hard work and I love sharing them with teachers and students I work with at a makerspace.
Hands down the BEST 3DP content creator! Asking the real questions
Used max layer height of 1.5 mm and changed to PETG, I am now using these parts in our industrial machines. Works great for brackets and guides. Great work like always. By the way, I have subscribed over two years ago. One of the few that I really appreciate your experiments and comments.
This saves us a lot of tests. Thebk you!
I love how in-depth this man goes into stuff likes this, and the way he explains it is just solid and simple!
Your videos are amazing! I love all the tests you do and have learned a lot about the how to make my 3D printed parts stronger. Thank you very much for sharing and keep up the great work.
i use m3 most often. and i often use pause and insert normal nuts inside the part
cool, I'll have to try that
yeah square nuts are better i just had a hard time getting them and have 1000+ of normal hexagon nuts 😁
@@tetraliteproducts542 you can buy square nuts off aliexpress for 1/10th the price
Yea it's really simple to do nowadays, too. For additional strength an easier insertion I can only recommend getting some square nuts (as others already suggested), as that basically removes any chance they'll start turning inside their cavities. For the same reason you also gain some leeway since the fit doesn't have to be as precise. You can also insert them in a vertical orientation without needing 'filler' parts to plug the cavities at the top a hex nut leaves.
Try getting the thin version, as they don't have a more 'rounded' side and are completely flat on both sides. In Germany those are the DIN 562 variant (the thicker ones are DIN 557).
Like others M 2, 2.5 and 3 are my most commonly used sizes for electronic enclosures and projects. I do use 4, 5 & 6 but not as many. Excellent as always :)
I love how you quantify what others assume. Beautiful information
As always, a well thought out set of tests. I have been using inserts in my prints for a couple of years now, but get lazy sometimes and just print the threads. Seeing the difference, you have cured me of this. Thank you!! 👍
"Because still, 75% of you watching right now are not following the channel."
Oh dam, you right. **click**
I just noticed...
Damn, now i feel bad. Somehow, even without being subscribed, youtube always answered my questions with the perfect CNC kitchen video.
I don't need to subscribe. youtube keeps recommending this channel anyway even though I don't have a 3D printer. 😁
How on earth can 75% not be subbed!? This is the most interesting 3D printing channel on TH-cam.
Man, I really love the work you do. It's so helpful for me to design better 3D printable parts.
I have been using threaded inserts for about a year now and absolutely love them! It’s also fun to assemble.
U R the best 3d printing Channel!
As a suggestion: Try some of the threaded repair inserts, which have a larger thread on the outside. Or some “helicoil” style to reinforce printed threads by increasing the effective diameter in the plastic.
Watched a couple vids before, but this was so helpful to my senior project I had to finally sub! Keep it up
Awesome video. I love how scientific it was and that you had a good design of experiments planned out. I know now how to go about managing threads on my 3D printed parts.
I mostly use M3 and M4 with M5 only on bigger items. Great video BTW.
one pro trick to reinforce critical areas without using very high infill percentages: strategically place a few 0,5mm holes. it's surprisingly effective for being so simple.
Was thinking about using threaded inserts for a project and needed a refresher on this info. Thank you for creating this and and in depth testing. You've helped steer me in a better direction. Going to use molded threads.
Stefan does it again ! This was extremely informative. Thank you !
You could consider to test also the influence of duration of heating up the inserts. Keeping them hot without pushing further could lead to more molten environment and a better fixation.
Finally a video using the metric system. Pleasantly surprised i didnt hear you say "23,6/465th hole".
I have to apologize for my fellow Americans. They are stuck in their ways, I wish we used metric.
only idiots would say it like that :P
I absolutely love the metric system.
as an American: metric is great for small things and precision. but you cant beat inches when it comes to rough construction like framing. it's easier/faster to say and cut 96 and a half inches rather than 2.4511 meters
Great video, love your approach for real world testing and measurements. Earned yourself another subscriber!
The added benefit of not having to adjust the thread, model the thread etc is great but the results here are fantastic. I hadn't thought of inserts before.
Brilliant video!!
The prusa edition of slic3r allows for modifier shapes to be created and imported.
Something I'll do in Fusion to add strength, which is based on your advice (I think) is to add cuts into the body, tiny cylinders, around structural parts. That way the the slicer prints extra walls where it needs support, without adding more infill.
Nice video, I keep watching your videos and they still are very good and reliable for test. Keep up the good work!
I love these kinds of testing videos! Please keep up them up!
Great video as usual, with a very good subject. I would be interested to see that with PETG as it is my main filament for mechanical parts. I usually use, non molded for M2.5 and M3
We are manufactured brass insert components and mouldings components
1:58
Stefan has a Canyon. Good choice, great video :-)
Thank you! These test were exactly what I was looking for 👍
Very will documented Test. Also very well done with the different printing directions. Exactly the comparison I was looking forward to for a long Time
I think you should do the same test with other sizes, it seems m3 is popular, and also test the nut insert method.
Excellent topic!! Thank you.
Hey Stefan, Great tests, I was surprised how well the threaded inserts performed. I have used them before, but not for any significant stress situations. Now I know they are far more capable than I thought.
Wow, what an informative test, thank you very much!
I prefer to pause the print and drop a nut into a hexagon shaped hole then resume printing and capture the nut inside my print. Thought I was subbed, checked, wasn't, now subbed.
That is quite genius. Thanks for that tip.
How do you avoid getting hotend hitting the insert?
neither do i own a 3d printer nor have any experience with engineering. still find your videos extremely interesting. please go on 8)
Really like video that show tests. helps answer a lot of questions. thanks
You do really good and usefull experiments, thanks for sharing you your results, that helped a lot.
If you ever revisit this, try doing oversized threads with a helicoil insert to bring them to spec in addition to the other tests
Yes, helicoil!
Yes!
Thanks for the testing. I've wondered about thread strength in parts. Do you think ABS would be stronger or weaker than PLA in this regard?
Thanks very much for the evaluation! Those inserts are exactly what I was missing in my life :)
I’m a beginning user of 3d printers. Valuable information. Thank you very much.
I like how it was used in the industry for many years and now we use it in our kitchen
I’ve used hexagonal shaped m3 inserts, which I’ve gently tapped with a hammer into the part, which give very good resistance to pullout (generally you have to destroy the part to get them out). Sadly, they aren’t cheap, but for a really neat and strong connection are the best I’ve found (and my uncle thinks they are really neat too)...
We are manufactured brass insert components and mouldings components
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing. Oddly thought about this recently.
Awesome investigation and really useful tips! Thanks a lot! I've didn't used small threads yet but I'll be using it soon.
I often use rivets to connect 3d printed parts that will never (or rarely) need to be separated. They are cheap and quick and never loosen when twisted. I've often wondered why rivets aren't used with 3d printed parts. A rivet gun is cheap, try it out!
Wow, I'm impressed how much all of those could handle. Although I also like the idea of making hexagonal holes in which you can precisely fit a nut. Probably more or less comparable to the inserts, but my guess would be that it may handle a bit more torque.
unless the nut was inserted from the underside with a small lip at the top surface, wont the nut just pull out the moment you try to tighten sth down?
@@JoshuaLotion I usually put the nut in on the other side, yes. In my experience it's rare that the design doesn't allow that. And with the right tolerances I have to pull the nut into the hole using a screw, which holds tight enough afterwards that I had to destroy some printed parts to get the nut out again.
It's good enough for my purposes and I can get nuts in every hardware store.
@@SaHaRaSquad Yea that does sound pretty effective and considering i have a whole box of various sized nuts. this is probably gonna be a method im gonna start using. thanks for the tip
I watched your last 5 videos without even noticing I wasn't subscribed because yt kept recommending me more, definitely deserved a sub tho, really nicely made test
We need more people like you! Great vid
I bought 200 M3 inserts in bulk, worth every penny and have used about half of them over the last year, the only thing missing from this video is any mention of the weight gain, a few inserts and your parts can easily double in weight, I've never had a problem with this, but 'flying' parts may well suffer.
also note I found a soldering iron of around 70W is best, my 15W just took too long.
m3 and m2 are common in the FPV community which has a tendency to also use 3D printers. great video, very thorough, subbed
Great content as usual and thanks for the high level of information.
Quality science, clear understanding of engineering principles, clear understanding of good 3D modeling. I subscribed after one view.
Keep it up!
Currently, I'm using small bolts (M3 & M4) with nuts embedded into hexagon shaped recesses.
Now, I'm feeling that inserts might be stronger. Could you test this?
Old video and comment, but I 100% agree, the "nut pocket" (as used significantly in the Prusa MK3S) is another great method and I think simpler overall.
I am Using threaded inseets mostly on parts which are disassembled regularly because they don't strip. Not for strength...
Yes, doubly so if the inserts are brass. Brass is too soft to give a strong joint with the normal pitch of metric threads. That is why he stripped out the threads when he tightened too far.
#316 or $304 stainless inserts are better for strength but not as good for repeated use because they tend to gall.
@Roderick storey
Self tapping is also a cheap option. Even if the cover needs to be removed once a month, so long as the self tappers work for about a year, they may be used in a cheap product.
This is my first vid with you. SUBBED in 4 minutes of the video!!!! My tiny brain understands your way of teaching quite well. TY!
Great video! My experience using both modeled, tapped, and threaded inserts exactly matches your results. In each case where I've had a failure it has been in another location of the part, never in the threaded connectors.
Servus,
Um ein M5 Gewinde zu schneiden, ist eine 4,2mm Kernbohrung der Standard, das fehlende Material beeinflusst deinen Test
Great test. But as Kartaurus is pointing out you should have drilled 4.2 mm. I have used 4.5 mm for M5, but only for selfthreading screws.
Thanks TH-cam Algorithm. Finally a good recommendation. Subbed !!
This is awesome! Seriously, this is some of the best 3DP content I've seen in a long while.
I recently had to do a vehicle design project for an engineering design course and the question of how to fasten the the various components came up. Threading the PLA directly with a tap or by modelling the threads was quickly ruled as one of the design criteria was that the vehicle needed to transform and would need to be easily disassembled and reassembled multiple times without fear of the threads getting worn out or cross threading occurring. Initially everything was held together using M5 brass inserts, but after about a month of destruction testing they were eventually replaced with steel M5 nuts snugly pressed into an inset on the opposite face.
Great video! I've used these knurled inserts on other non-3D printed projects before and they're great for what they are. I'll have to try these.
Now you need to find the absolute strongest configuration with which to use these.
Slic3r does allow you to add those modifiers in the slicer, it's just really unintuitive and clunky.
Get the beta. It's a lot less bad.
It's not bad in the regular, non-prusa, version
My point was that Slic3r has the functionality, in contrast to what is said in this video.
But the update is indeed a huge improvement.
Though the old system was good enough to make a print succeed that would have failed without it.
"Slick 3 R" LMAO
Sanladerer is influential.
Danken Stefan! I am planing to design some beer tap handles and the screw connection was a concern for me. I plan to try both PETG and wood PLA. Now with the information you provided I have some new ides. Thanks again.
very cool, I didn’t know about those insert till now
Wow, Nice test 👍😀
PetG would bee Nice to check as well😀👍
yes, PETG, ABS, ASA and perhaps Nylon would be great. Threads are usually to be used in straonger (constructional) material so it would be great to know how to do threads for mentioned materials :)
Didn't know Klaus from American Dad was into maker hobby stuff.
😂
I'd really like to know how you manage to make your videos SO GOOD!!! they just look Amazing! (and the thumbnails, oh man the thumbnalis are amazing!)
Thanks!
That modifiers trick is excellent. Thanks for sharing! (test were great too :) )
M5 is huge and overkill I would say.
Normally I go to either M3 or M4
The problem with M3 is that the head of the bolt and the nut are quite small and can't take any load. Using a washer and a brass insert will make them way better. I use M5 and M6 otherwise, it is not about the strength the bolt&nut can take but the area that the bold head and nut will cover to get just a bit more torque and to prevent creep.
@@squidcaps4308 I think, the brass inserts would really help m3, since you make the influence of the head size less
im wondering how 76% of y'all arent subbed yet
It's easy.
extrem hilfreiches Video. Danke ! Deine Videos sind super !
Very cool test. Good to know the knurled nuts are the way to go. I can't believe I didn't consider pressing them into a part with a soldering iron!
The inserts you linked to, weren’t the same as in your video. I can’t find inserts like yours anywhere. Do you have a link maybe?
1/4 inch and 3/8 please standard camera threads on Tripods
Considering many tripod camera bases are made from plastic, you'd probably be fine.
These are my favorite type of 3d printer content ... danke
I love watching your videos. They are so informative and enjoyable. This is a great test I've always been wondering about. Although I would like to also see a comparison of the brass inserts versus a printed nut trap with a nut, if possible. Thank you.
That's the way to go Stephan. Now in nylon?
Nylon sucks for such uses. It is not stiff enough. Nylon is tough so it is good for applications where giving a bit but not failing is the best option.
@@kensmith5694 you have a point.
@@stalawina Do you use threads or inserts?
That is the topic
@@stalawina
Inserts will do better. They spread the same force over more area. I suggest stainless ones for high loads. Brass avoids galling but is too soft for the standard metric tread sizes. Most folks don't want to have to use special screws. #304 stainless is almost hard enough to get the full rating out of standard screws.
Want to get your 3D prints to the next level? Check out our Heat Set Inserts and Tools at cnckitchen.store (Free shipping worldwide starting at €100).
CNC Kitchen Ich würde dir KEENSERTS Gewindeeinsätzen empfehlen. Die halten in Kunststoff Bombenfest. 😬😑
I would’ve subscribed if it wasn’t for the way you say Slic3r. :)
The annoying background music ruins the video???? why did you even bother adding music that 99% of people will not enjoy and about 20% will just stop watching?
Feel free to share the video (link or embedded TH-cam player) but please don't re-upload or self host it.
3d printed parts is made of plastic just melt the thing together to make connections
A good question and a good answer. Well done.
Man, that tensile strength tester you made is the best thing to happen to 3d printing in years
..okey..is ja schon gut..hab dann auch mal aboniert! ;)
I would say that that 75% unsubbed might be skewed
As there is probably a group like me; people who also watch your stuff on a different device that they’re not logged into
Such as me on my computer
I'm working in science, and I always love how you conduct your tests!!! Thanks!
Dude that is really incredible, i am gonna use them in my projects from now on... thanks... :)
3:59 bruh in like little parts of the video it’s an American talking
Edit: it might be the editor
This was a very well explained video, thank you
Really fantastic tests, as usual! Those parts with inserts look so nice, I'm just trying to think of some projects I can print that can use them now! :)
Some tests on living hinges might be fun for future videos.
Awesome test results, looking over your other videos now. Thanks from Colorado.