I’m looking to start keeping hardware for prints that need additional parts to complete them. A Pi case that I printed needed screws that I don’t have on hand and needed to go searching for some.
It got me thinking to keep a container of stuff ready that would get used often, but I don’t really know what to keep on hand. What do you have readily available?
I have a pack of M2-M5 screws + nuts + washers thats come in handy. Also, heat press inserts (if you have a soldering iron) can really help clean up designs. Again, I just have a M2-M5 pack with various lengths, and I think it even came with the soldering iron tips for each insert size.
I’ve had trouble finding Metric fasteners in my local hardware store, so I just buy variety packs online. Also, most 3D prints Ive run into use Metric sizes, with the occasional 6-32 screw here and there.
Zip ties are nice if you mess around with your printer or work on electronics (cable management).
M2, m3 and m5 bolts of various lengths,
The inserts and a tap. For weak connections, instead of the insets, I just tap out the hole.
Other hardware I keep on hand are wiring and soldering, resistors and other vitamins, smooth rods (for making pins, etc).
Mostly I buy what I need as i need it but things like electronics components, they tend to be more less bulk buys.
I wasn’t sure about what type of screws to get. I haven’t printed off enough that need them to know quite yet, but not having any also has held me back from printing those things.
I was thinking about springs, but it seems like there’s just too much variety to really keep much on hand.
I have a box of 8mm round x 3mm thick neodymium magnets and a box of 8mm round x 1mm thick neodymium magnets. Originally, I got the 3mm thick ones for a print I got of thingiverse and then the 1mm thick ones for some stuff I waned to do. Overall, I use the 1mm thick ones more. But the 3mm ones are nice when I want a solid connection. That they are 8mm in diameter is probably less important than just having standard sizes I can design around. So, I’d say have some standard magnets you can design around. The exact sizes are probably less important; but, knowing you have them, you can plan for them.
This is most of mine, at least on the metric side. M3 variety is most critical and gets replenished most often.
You can only keep so much hardware before it just becomes disorganized. I have a variety of screws and nuts from M2 up to about M6, as well as some Imperial sizes as well. A few different lengths.
I usually don’t bother with threaded inserts too much and instead just tap the plastic itself. Obviously it depends on what the part is being used for.
The reality is that it shouldn’t be a surprise what hardware you need after the print is done because 95% of the stuff I print is stuff that I design myself, so if I know I have 1/4-20 screws that are 1/2" long, then that’s what I will design the part for so I’ll have them ready to go when the print is done.
I’m always torn between metric and imperial hardware because inch sized screws are cheaper and easier to get locally (Home Depot, etc), but metric and imperial are basically equally easy if I get it from Amazon. Then there’s McMaster with the biggest selection but it’s spendy.
DIN912
DIN 7991
small plastic screws
square nuts
GB91 (split pins)
aluminium or copper tape (grounding/EMI-shield)
conductive foam (EMI grommet)
plastic glue (solvent) & cyanoacrylate
My most commonly used fasteners for prints are m2 countersunk self tapping screws like these.
They’re small, but generally stronger than the prints they’re going into. If it’s something that may need to be disassembled and reassembled, I’ll use M3/4/5 socket-head cap screws and nuts or inserts.
I also keep a variety of magnets on hand to imbed in prints.
Then, of course, there’s bearings, threaded rod, aluminum extrusions, hinges, hookup wire, electronic parts, clear acrylic sheeting, etc.
My usual scheme for purchasing hardware goes something like this:
Create design and bill of materials > buy a bulk pack of hardware that includes the specific parts I need, plus extra if it’s cheap > store extras in 3d printed modular drawers, adding more drawers to the stack as needed.
