Summary

I am currently making some new X ends for my Sells Mendel using trapezoidal threaded lead screws, I have made the nuts for myself in a traditional fashion by machining and tapping the threads. However I started thinking about if the nuts could be printed, turns out they can but I always have trouble cleaning the threads. This is no problem if you have a tap but trapezoidal taps are expensive.

This thing is intended to suggest a method that you can produce your own Ghetto reamers to clean out printed threads.

I am marking it work in progress as I have not tried this, disregard the .stl as this is not a printed object (print it if you want to/can though).

Bear in mind that most threaded rod is soft, you could not fabricate a tap this way. This is only going to be suitable for finishing plastic parts.

Instructions

This reamer could be made in many ways by grinding, turning and milling, or even by hand with a set of needle files.

Grinding anything without taking proper care / pre-cautions is always dangerous, think about what you are doing before you do it and always at least wear safety glasses.

Cut a short length of threaded rod, I think this will work best for larger threads (printable ones I guess)

Using a die grinder (Dremel) or file cut two spanner flats on one end.

Using a die grinder, lathe (real or Afghan http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7868) or file taper the other end at about 5Â° slightly beyond the thread root.

Using a slitting disc in your die grinder, a file or a milling cutter at 4 straight flutes, the wider these flutes the easier swarf will be removed.

Deburr the threads using a file and ensure the edges of the teeth are left sharp.

Improvised Reamer For Cleaning Printed Threads

Improvised Reamer For Cleaning Printed Threads

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