20x40mm Drop in Nut

thingiverse

When building with V-Slot Linear Rail, a limitation arises when projects are completed: there's no way to add parts because the rail's end is sealed, making it impossible to insert a new nut. A solution involves using a drop-in nut that can be placed anywhere on the rail. This design fits snugly into the slot and locks in place when turned. Initially, concerns were raised about the feasibility of this approach due to its compact size and potential weakness. However, these doubts proved unfounded as a PLA part printed with a Prusa MK2.5 was found to be remarkably exact and robust. Two versions of this design have been developed: one utilizing an M4 bolt that self-treads into the nut, while the other features an insert area for an M3 nut. Both designs appear equally strong, making them suitable for non-structural applications. It's worth noting that successful implementation relies on using PLA as the printing material, as PETG does not print well under these conditions. Furthermore, specific settings must be employed in Slic3r: '0.15 Optimal' should be selected from the 'PRINT SETTINGS', with perimeters set to 7 and infill at 100%.