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This is why you order parts...

Started May 21, 2017 | Discussions thread
drh681
OP drh681 Forum Pro • Posts: 20,742
Re: 3D printing

phil from seattle wrote:

drh681 wrote:

ProfHankD wrote:

drh681 wrote:

E Dinkla wrote:

drh681 wrote:

Being a locking lever, would a 3D Print hold up to the force needed to twist the lock?

Considered that. Hard to say what forces it has to stand. I use PETG filament now and if the fill grade is set high it might cope. More worried about the hole fit to be proper but shrinking the 3D part on the square rod is possible with some heat applied.

the part also has a double spiral cam that acts to tighten the collar.

I'm sure modeling that would be easy, but again wonder about it's durability in a 3d print. now the plastic lever has less resistance to turning than the old cast metal parts.

Actually, I have a 3D-printed PLA part as a coupler in the ice crusher in my fridge. As long as the parts don't get hot, PLA behaves a lot like aluminum.

Designing the part to be 3D-printable is the problem. Aside from the difficulty of measuring some aspects of the part you want to replace, design for manufacturability isn't trivial. 3D printers can't make arbitrary parts, so it's more than a matter of modeling the original part....

Thank you. All of that argues for paying for the injection molded Polycarbonate part.

3D printers and the available materials are pretty amazing now. PETG or ABS are very durable. I've done a number of photography related parts. Though, a $13 part makes it a moot point.

I almost opted for replacing the entire collar assembly at about $40.

the only advantage would be more modern flip style levers.

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