Threading insert storage

[Roger]

This is how I currently store all the different sizes of threading inserts. This was fine when I only had a few sizes, but now I've got all of these...

0.35

0.5

0.7

0.75

0.8

1.0

1.25

1.5

1.75


... which has made it a mess.

20211002_213843 by Georgia Montgomery, on Flickr

I hate things being hard to find or identify, so my solution was to design a little 3D printed set of drawers, one drawer for each size. I'm never going to have more than 3 inserts for any one size, so that decided the depth of the drawers. I currently have 9 sizes, and I doubt if I'll ever have 12 since I've got pretty much all  of the sizes to cover the Metric threads I'm ever likely to use.

The drawer handles have the size embossed on them in large letters and I'll put the drawer for the size I've currently got in the holder on the top so I know where it's going to go back into. That will also let me see the size it is. They all look so similar and the writing on them is really hard to read.

Untitled by Georgia Montgomery, on Flickr

That's all getting printed in one go overnight, so hopefully it will all be ready in the morning.

This is what I love about 3D printing. The whole project from start to finish took about an hour.

20211002_213731 by Georgia Montgomery, on Flickr

[jasonb]

Won't you need 18 draws allowing for internal and external inserts? Maybe a bit less a syou probably won't use the very fine ones for internal jobs

[Roger]

Oct 3, 2021 5:59:33 GMT jasonb said:

Won't you need 18 draws allowing for internal and external inserts? Maybe a bit less a syou probably won't use the very fine ones for internal jobs

Possibly, but at the momemt I don't have any internal threading inserts. I have a very comprehensive set of taps for the internal threads, I only screw cut large ones, for which I have a selection of boring bars that take HSS bits. My taps go up to M20 fine, and I'd rather spend the money on taps to be honest. One day I'll treat myself to a whole system, but the only ones I've seen so far are prohibitively expensive.

In reality, it's rare for me to make an internal thread large enough to require thread cutting.

Of course it's easy to print different drawers for other things, and either make another cabinet to take them or stretch this design. That's the joy of 3D printing, you can do whatever pleases you. I'm sure this will evolve over time.

[Roger]

I hadn't spotted that the raised numbers hadn't come out during slicing, the line width was just too small for the nozzle size.

However, it proved that the fit were good, so I've printed out a set with wider handles and larger numbers.

20211003_073834 by Georgia Montgomery, on Flickr

The print is still a bit stringy because I've just discovered that the Heat Gun has got a broken fuse holder and needs replacing.

It's also clear that the drawers can slide out a bit too easily, and I don't want to end up with them on the floor. To fix that, I'm printing out another body which has a couple of friction lugs at the back so that the drawers stay put until they are pulled forward.

20211003_133208 by Georgia Montgomery, on Flickr

The numbers came out really well this time though, so I'm really pleased with the result.

Time to fix the Heat Gun!

[Roger]

A final iteration of the little drawers, this time adding this friction arrangement to make sure the drawers don't slide out on their own.

This works really well, so I'll be using this idea again.

20211004_085744 by Georgia Montgomery, on Flickr