moon's bolt - yet another hobbed bolt

thingiverse

Introducing a reliable hobbed bolt I've been using for over ten months, offering better results than other options (see the complete feeder at thingiverse.com/thing:73082). It's time to share! Despite its 'old school' appearance, this bolt is highly dependable and beneficial to makers who don't want to spend on expensive machined bolts or build their own filament feeders/extruders. Compared to MK6 and Ultimaker drive bolts, it hasn't experienced grinding or slipping (except once with a brittle wood filament). Notable features include a larger diameter than M8 threads for better grip, large square teeth replacing spiky small ones, and a central groove that keeps material on the filament, preventing grinding and crushing. Unlike some other hobbed bolts, plastic doesn't accumulate in its grooves, eliminating slipping. It's easy to make with basic tools like a drill, Dremel, and steel cutting wheels, along with clamps, and it's extremely affordable. However, it isn't very visually appealing, consistency can be challenging, and compatibility with stock feeders/extruders may be an issue. This hobbed bolt is part of my filament feeder, which I've used for six months with excellent results (expect a post soon on revision 5!). I've even achieved impressive prints at 350+mm/s on my Ultimaker at the fablab with witnesses. As for designing another hobbed bolt tool, I'm skeptical due to the cutting wheel's rapid wear and its impact on tool consistency. Check out thingiverse.com/search?q=hobbed+bolt+tool for more options.