Center Finder

thingiverse

I started building a tool to mark the center of a wooden board or beam accurately by hand. All you need to do is put the two legs around the piece of wood you want to mark and then use one of the holes in the middle to draw a point or line with a pen. This handy device draws inspiration from a long-lost, single-use tool used by woodpeckers that's no longer available for purchase, so I created my own version using a 3D printer instead. Instructions The first design incorporated metal inserts to support M3 screws, which significantly enhances stability and precision. The central rod is also made from an aluminum strip, making the tool sturdier than it otherwise would be. In a final push, I aimed to build one with solely 3D-printed parts and ordinary hardware on hand. Four of the holes will hold two M3x6 screws securely while five will support counter-sunk screws measuring twenty millimeters long. Notably, the chamfers perfectly complement screw heads without needing any threading or extra work, allowing for quick attachment of hardware through 2.6mm bottom holes. Initially, printing at 80% infill and four outer layers caused slight warping issues; however, since flatness isn't crucial in this application, it wasn't a significant concern.