Quick Bolt

thingiverse

A versatile clip bolt for joining components of a build designed to fit snugly within an 8mm diameter hole. While these will never replace a reliable bolt, they work well for holding pieces together while gluing or welding, and make excellent bases for both tasks. On their own, they hold securely but lack strength. They cannot get smaller; I've tried that. Print Settings Rafts: No Supports: No Resolution: 0.1mm Infill: Any Notes: The connectors need to be pressed against a flat surface to clip correctly. To set up a custom size, use the 'bolt base.stl' file. By default, the stem of the bolt is 5mm long. Set this length equal to the thickness of the pieces you're joining together. If your software won't allow you to modify the part, the stem needs to be 7.8mm in diameter (3.9mm radius) and the required length. I use a flat head (2mm x 10mm) to avoid needing supports during printing. Attach 'bolt tip.stl' to the top of the stem, setting the round end flush with the stem. To connect, once the printed bolt is through the holes of the piece, place the male (smaller) part of the connector so that the fork slips into the side slots and the curved portion is against the round part of the stem. There will be a groove between the tines. With pliers, push the female (larger) end one from the other side so that the wedge fits into the groove in the stem. Don't worry if the last barb on the female breaks off on one or both sides; it happens but doesn't cause any problems.