Folger Tech Kossel 2020 T-nut support to make Assembly of Frame easier

thingiverse

After wrestling with horizontal aluminum extrusions, refusing to budge without rotating t-nuts, I wondered if there wasn't a simpler way to do this. With a 3D printer already at my disposal, I began searching for an easier solution involving additional plastic components. After conducting several test prints, I finally achieved a nice fit on the tnut support. A small raised metal strip between the t-nuts holds everything in place while the plastic part ensures the t-nuts remain oriented correctly during assembly. Assembling the horizontal frame was surprisingly easy with these inserts in place. The weight of 18 of these plastic supports, printed at 20% infill, comes in under 0.4oz. I used eSun Black PLA+ for these parts. I've attached an OpenSCAD file and two STL files - one with two t-nut supports and the other with six t-nut supports. Start by printing the smaller STL file to see how well it fits, then adjust the OpenSCAD file if necessary. I've also prepared some cutting and gluing plastic jigs for the arms, which will be uploaded separately.