What If I Don't Have A 3D Printer?

Not to worry! You can use a 3D printing service such as 3DHubs or MakeXYZ to have a local 3D printer operator 3D print and ship you parts to you. This is a great way to get your parts 3D printed by local makers. You could also try checking out your local Library or search for a Maker Space.

3D Printed Parts

All of the parts are 3D printed with FDM type 3D printers using various colored filaments. I printed these parts in regular PLA, but it can be printed in ABS or other high-strength material if you need more strength. I recommend printing out the pieces individually, as opposed to printing them all together at once. 

Tolerances

Tolerances are subject to change depending on filament materials and slice settings. Parts that need to snap fit together might be too loose or tight. Mounting holes might be too large or small. Different types of 3D printers, nozzles, filament and slice settings are all things that can affect the tolerances.

Dry Fit Testing

I highly suggest testing out the 3D printed parts before going through the entire assembly. Here are some things to test.

  • Does the screws and hex nuts fit into the mounting holes?
  • Does the mount slide into the aluminum extrusion properly?
  • Does the cover properly fit snap onto the case?

Most things that are too tight can easily be fixed with a little sanding using a filing tool. If holes are too loose, it might not matter since hex nuts will be used to tighten parts together. 

Design Source

I designed the parts in Autodesk Fusion 360 and made the source available to download. It contains full parametric design history so it's easy to remix the design or repurpose it for a new project. 

Slice Settings

To get the most accurate tolerances for the snap fit features, you'll want to adjust your slice settings accordingly. The parts were tested with PLA filament, other materials that have more shrinkage such as ABS or Nylon may have different tolerances.

  • 220C Extruder temperature
  • 65C Bed temperature
  • 0.2 layer height
  • 0.35 line width (0.48 extruder width)
  • 2 wall line count
  • 25% infill
  • 60mm/s default printing speed

This guide was first published on Jan 02, 2018. It was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

This page (3D Printing) was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

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