How small can holes be printed?

Discussion in 'Design and Modeling' started by Pico, Sep 22, 2012.

  1. Pico
    Pico Member
    I have searched but can't find the answer to this: how small can holes be printed in ultra detail? I would like to have printed an object, wall size 6 mm by 2.6 mm with a number of holes going through the wall that are .37 mm in diameter. Can this be done? If not, how large could they be printed? Cleaning powder from the holes is not a problem, that can be done with a small drill bit.
     
  2. Last edited: Sep 22, 2012
  3. Pico
    Pico Member
    Thanks for the info. I think I will submit a design that has .37 mm holes and see what happens. If this can be printed, it would save me an enormous amount of time machining this item.
     
  4. stonysmith
    stonysmith Well-Known Member Moderator
    2mm is the minimum "drain hole".. you can make much smaller holes than that.
    Take a look at the second picture on this model: http://shpws.me/3QAx

    The pulley on the end of the arm has a 0.30 mm hole thru it.
    In the closeup photo you can see a human hair threaded thru the hole.
     
  5. Pico
    Pico Member
    Wow! That's incredible. Just what I wanted to know. Thanks!
     
  6. Sorry Pico, thought you were talking about a drain hole. SS was a great model and example. :)
     
  7. Pico
    Pico Member
    Thanks again for the great info. SS has saved me a ton of work.
     
  8. Pico
    Pico Member
    This is a follow up about the parts that were printed. The holes were not printed, however, I designed a countersink on the outside of the part and I was able to use it tto he hand drill the holes which saved me the time of making a drilling jig and hand drilling them. Also, it was much more accurate. Here's some pics, the first shows the part drilled with a .013" bit and threaded with a .09" monofilament nylon line. The second, it a holding jig, strung with the line and the third, with a tire. This is a wire wheel for a 1/24th scale model. Thanks for the help.
     

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