Heated Inserts for 3D print screws

 Worked on inserting magnets and heat inserts for screws today (into 3D prints, for better strength).

I paused the print for the magnet insert and let them have 2 layers printed on top after. The Prusa XL needed help clearing the nozzle upon resume, it did not do that itself.

I sized the hole purely based on the magnet size and that was fine.  The magnets were fairly weak with the 2 layers on top so plan accordingly in the future.

For the brass heat inserts: they worked with the dimensions I measured off the inserts - however, I needed to countersink the insert holes (made a surround that was 1 mm more in DIAMETER, 1 mm deep - should have used 2mm for both those offsets).  However the extra plastic that came out the top was easy to sand away.  Some sort of drill press setup for the soldering iron would have helped them go in perfectly straight.

I used my older soldering iron (basic Weller) with new tips that are sized for different heat insert sizes.  

Bought a very nice Hakko solder station for my electronics work - had to order the tips/heaters separately (which was annoying to find out later) but they are nice and sharp for working on the tiny PCBs.




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