3D Printer Accessories
Introduction: 3D Printer Accessories
If you have a 3D printer you will also have tools and accessories such as scrapers, spatulas, tweezers, nozzle cleaners, nozzle spanner etc. to name but a few.
Some you will need for each job and some you will need for maintenance and repair.
How do you organise them, do you keep them near at hand, remotely stored, together or separately.
My preference is to keep the day to day tools immediately to hand.
This project will demonstrate a method of organisation for tools and accessories utilising the 3d printer to make the organisers which are designed to integrate with the printer frame, although this is only one of many uses to which they can be applied.
Supplies
Materials
3D printer filament.
Tools
3D printer.
Pallet knife.
Sanding paper.
Craft knife.
Needle files.
Applications
Cura
BlocksCAD
Step 1: Design
The design requirements were that the elements should be self supporting, easy to install and position requiring no screws to hold in place although provision is made for screws for added strength and security subject to position and the item to be held in place.
This design will be compatible with 20 x 20 mm aluminium struts with a 5mm groove size which is typical in the build of a 3d printer.
The key design item was the locking mechanism which would be the common feature for all the elements.
Some elements would be totally integrated consisting of the locking mechanism and the accessory while others will have these two elements separated enabling different fixing orientations to accommodate different supporting attachments to suit the item to be held.
These elements were designed using BlocksCAD.
The current system consists of 16 elements (although further elements can be added as further requirements dictate), these consist of:
9 hooks (3 horizontal mount, 2 horizontal/vertical mount & 4 vertically mounted).
1 USB holder, vertically mounted.
2 ring holders, 1 horizontal mounting & 1 horizontal/vertical mount.
7 integrated elements.
5 pin mounted.
3 supporting elements (1 pin, 1 horizontal clip and 1 vertical clip).
1 filament guide, vertically mounted.
*Vertically and horizontally mounted refer to the orientation of the strut to which the element attaches.
Step 2: Printing
Each element is available as an STL file and can be printed individually or on mass subject to preference.
Original printer settings although these can be changed subject to requirements:
Layer Height: 0.15 mm
Infill: Tri-Hexagon
Infill Density: 25%
Base Adhesion: Brim
Filament: PLA
Scaling could be applied to change the size of the elements.
However, the size of the locking key needs to remain the same unless a different size strut will be used.
Step 3: Filament Guide
Depending on your printer the route from the filament reel to the filament feeder and the hot end may be straight forward or a more meandering route.
This may result in the feed angles being very acute putting strain on the filament or the point of entry resulting in wear or strain and a less than smooth transition in the feed path.
In an effort to reduce or remove these issues the following filament guide was created.
The guide fits on a vertical strut and simply fits in the groove, inserted vertically and rotated 90 degrees to the left or the right to sit horizontally.
The ring of the guide is printed as a complete circle meaning the filament has to be fed through the hole when loading and unloading.
However, a slot the same width as the filament (typically 1.75 mm), could be cut in the ring to simplify loading and unloading.
If a slot is cut in the ring ensure the filament path is away from the cut to prevent the filament exiting the guide.
Step 4: Hooks
There are 3 horizontal mount, 2 horizontal/vertical mount & 4 vertically mounted hooks.
Horizontal mount
These are designed to be mounted with a clip and pin and to be attached to a vertical strut.
The clip fits on a vertical strut and simply fits in the groove, inserted vertically and rotated 90 degrees to the left or the right to sit horizontally.
The hook is then inserted up into the clip and the pin inserted into the hole in the clip through to the hook.
A screw (M2.5/M3 ~16 mm), can be fitted or glue applied if required
The hook is in three forms, small hole, larger hole and separate small and larger hole to accommodate different needs.
Dual (horizontal/vertical), mount
These are designed to fit horizontally or vertically requiring no clips or pins.
Simply insert in to a groove and rotate 90 degrees (left/right) or (up/down), subject to the orientation of the strut. 858