The hobbing gristle

thingiverse

A custom-built sliced Wade's extruder was constructed as it generates high pressure; however, a lathe was absent. Dremeling the bolt (M8x8) using Elk's method from Thingiverse was initially effective but resulted in early bolt failure and subpar precision. To address this, an indexer was built for manual rotation post-hobbing cycle. An upgrade could include incorporating a stepper, though adjustments to the parallel port interface or emc-arduino configuration would be necessary. Lasercutting or routing (using 5.85 mm plywood) and assembling the indexer is recommended, with optional epoxy application. Distances should be set as hob center to base plate at 20 mm, and Y at 0 for surface of bolt. Safety measures include eye protection and maintaining a safe distance due to heat generation. A YouTube video (UoZG40X2cg4) is available for guidance, while gcode with pause commands at each indexing stage can be used. It's noted that 16 hob divisions per revolution might be excessive, so testing with fewer divisions could improve results.