Hinges and Axels

I've heard from other articles that interlocking pieces that need to move should be 1cm apart, however for things like hinges or car axels that would be too much (for a small car), if I printed an axel, hinge or track with 1-5mm space separately would they fit together? Let me know if I didn't explain this clearly enough.

Good news! I dont think it's 1 cm apart. I think you may have misread...

Someone could easily have cautioned you to make sure they were 1mm apart though. What post did you read this in?

-Whystler

I can't remember. I posted this because I couldn't find the ones I looked at. 1mm makes far more sense, but is this space required so it doesn't print the two parts as one or because the final result has a margin of error? e.g. if I printed two objects separately with only .5mm or even .2mm would they still fit together?

Actually, in this thread WetMorgoth suggests but also suggests keeping gaps above 0.25mm.

I have to say that would be great news if the gaps can be 0.25mm, but I'm not sure if they really can be.

Hopefully someone will show us their experiments when they do them

I'm up for building stuff. I can make a hinge parts that fit together with about 1mm of clearence, then we can try printing them together in place or separately and fitting them together. If you have other ideas or suggestions let me know.

I've made:

https://www.shapeways.com/model/8473/hinge_test__separated_.h tml

and

https://www.shapeways.com/model/8474/hinge_test__in_place_.ht ml

I'm also planning on making a little cylinder (about 5mm radius) and a cube with cylinders cut out of it (5, 5.05, 5.1, 5.15 radii or something like that) to test the accuracy of the material.

As a side project im currently working on making somthing like a rollerblade wheel, so it will have bearings, axle, screws and some other close tolerances.
Depending on how much it cost for the size i want, i will print it and get some videos demonstrating it.

Awesome, I happened to see some videos on youtube with ball bearing rollers. I'm curious how that will work out with friction etc.

Youtube links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7h09dTVkdw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwSxUzrOzSE

pzich, great work. Can you clarify the comment in the models. Is it 1mm radius or diameter clearance? In other words if the pin is dead centre in the sleeve, is there 1mm either side, or 0.5mm either side making 1mm in total?

Also the cube with varying size holes is a great idea.

If you print these, please be sure to post a video.

It's a good thing you asked. I was ititially designing it with 1mm clearence on all sides, but I just measured it and there is .5mm clearence.

I might print them but I'm not sure if it'd be better for me to or our friends at shapeways. I don't have much use for them and it would probably be at least two weeks to get them to my house.

I've cut the model size down quite a bit, the actual length of the hinge has been cut in half and the wings have been cut down quite a bit, price has also been cut in to one third of the original price.

https://www.shapeways.com/model/8553/hinge_test_mini__in_plac e_.html

https://www.shapeways.com/model/8554/hinge_test_mini__separat ed_.html

I have also created the Pin and Holes model I was talking about:

https://www.shapeways.com/model/8558/pin_and_holes.html

I just created and ordered this model to check out tolerances and friction:

https://www.shapeways.com/model/8592/friction_tolerance_test. html

Once it's in, I'll do a blog post about it.

Cheers,

Bart

Very nice, although I think it would be interesting to see a circular hole, just to see how the pixelization factors in, since it is printing in a grid. Both would be great to know, I've got a few things in mind (engine, car, etc.) that have rotating parts, I'm hoping for very little spacing for the axes/crankshaft/hinges. Keep us posted.

I was woundering about the materials friction, Would you think it be best to use a roller type bearing or ball bearings with the ST&F material?