Comfortable Knob with Embedded Bolt

thingiverse

I spent a long time figuring out how to permanently embed a bolt in a 3D printed knob without using glue. Here's my idea, which I've successfully tested with several prints. This design is specifically tailored for use with a 1/4 inch bolt that's 1 inch long. While I typically work in metric, I had plenty of these bolts on hand, so I decided to make the most of them. At this point, I haven't adapted my design to accommodate other bolt sizes yet. That being said, printing is a highly specific process. When creating this knob, it's essential to orient the print with the manually added support facing downwards and the knob itself upwards. It's also crucial to use supports from the build plate alone, but apply a support blocker to the center section where the bolt will be embedded (the hex head and shank). Make sure nothing is printed within the interior cavity where the bolt goes. To ensure a smooth print process, have your printer pause right before it begins extruding over the hex cavity in the knob. By setting up your supports and pausing at the correct moment, the bolt should drop right into place, allowing the rest of the knob to be printed without any issues. While I'm not entirely sure about the strength of this design, I've been using several of these knobs for quite some time now, and they're still going strong with no signs of wear.