Screw Threads and 3D Printing

[Dave Richards]

This isn't specifically about woodworking but I thought I'd show a thing I made with my new 3D printer recently.

A while back I modeled a machinist's jack from old plans I found online.


I wanted to see how the knurling and the screw threads would print. This is what I came up with.




With the post screwed all the way down it's three inches tall. The threads work very smoothly and there's little slop. In fact I think there's less slop than there'd be in a similar sized meatl bolt and nut. It's looking a little grubby in a few places because I sand off some of the support with a piece of sandpaper I'd use to sand some carbon fiber plate. Didn't realize how dirty it was until it was too late.

 

[Robert Horky]

very impressive.

 

[Dave Richards]

very impressive.

Thank you!

 

[Darren Wright]

Looks like a fun project. I think I have a similar jack in the tool cabinet I found somewhere.

 

[Vaughn McMillan]

Very nice, Dave. I didn't realize you'd gotten a 3D printer. With your Sketchup skills, I can see a lot of possibilities.

 

[Dave Richards]

Thank you.

I've had the printer (Creality CR-M4) for about 6 weeks but I haven't used it much. For some reason it terrifies the dog in the same way thunderstorms and fireworks do and I can't bring myself to torture him very often.

 

[Brent Dowell]

Love it Dave! Great job on the knurling as well.

Printers can make a bit of a noise. Doesn't seem to bother my cat much But I could see it bothering some dogs.

 

[Dave Richards]

Thanks Brent.

 

[Dave Richards]

Great job on the knurling as well.

FWIW, the knurling was done for the handles of a tap wrench. It was a simple matter of copying that and resizing it for the jack.