Hole Jigs

thingiverse

When designing new objects for my 3D printer, I frequently need to determine the correct hole size for bolts and other fasteners. For instance, assuming an M3 bolt requires a 3mm hole is not accurate, as it will result in a printed object with a hole that's too small for the bolt to pass through. I often encounter situations where I require two different sizes of holes. First, I want a clearance fit where the bolt can slide through the hole unimpeded. Other times, I need a hole that will tightly hold the item being located by that hole. For example, a bolt requires a clearance fit, while a nutsert (also known as a rivnut) demands a hole with a snug fit. Determining the correct sized holes can be a time-consuming challenge involving repeated printing until I find the right size hole. This process becomes even more complicated when using different materials, such as switching from PLA to ABS or nylon, which can produce varying results. To overcome this challenge, I recommend printing the hole jigs included in this project. Once printed using the desired material, these jigs provide a handy tool containing holes of various sizes for testing bolts and other fasteners. No more guessing is required - you'll get the accurate size instantly. The attached STL files cover a range from 3mm to 25mm, with incrementing hole sizes by 0.1mm between 3-9.9mm and 0.2mm for sizes above 10mm. You're unlikely to need closer tolerances than this. Incidentally, the plates on which the holes are located are all 2mm thick, and the lettering is situated on top. If you have a smart printing application, such as Simplify3D, with a multi-extruder printer, you can change the extruder color at 2mm to print the legends in a different color. Print Settings Printer Brand: MakerBot Printer: MakerBot Replicator 2X Rafts: Yes Supports: No Resolution: 0.1 Infill: 20% Notes: You can use resolution 0.2 if you prefer, as it won't make a significant difference in the final result. I designed this project using TinkerCAD.