Tapping into 3D Printed Parts

[pilleya]

Originally Posted by KohKohPuffs

I know that delrin can be threaded into, and like the filament used in 3D printers, delrin is made of plastic. If this is something that can be done, what filament was used, and with what print settings?

Delrin is an entirely different material to PLA or ABS and is much easier to machine and is supremely stronger, and would definitely be capable of holding a thread. Delrin is known as an "engineering plastic" for these reasons.

I think it is important to make the distinction between an "engineering plastic" and a material like PLA or ABS.

In regards to tapping a thread into 3D printed material, I don't think that the type of plastic is the issue, it is more method of printing. A printer that uses PLA or ABS prints in layers, meaning that these layers are points of weakness, the thread would have to go through these layers and would be reliant on these for strength. If a part is 3d printed with the hole that is going to be tapped already on the model, there will be concentric circle infill around this and this is the major point of weakness. Ideally the thread and print head nozzle diameter, would have to be selected to ensure that the edge of the thread was not a the point where two of the concentric circles join.

I think it could be feasible, but it would most likely be unsuitable for a high stress/load component.

What you could do is design the component in such as way, that you can use a nut embedded in the print to hold the thread. Make a nut shaped/sized hidden void in the middle of the print. Just before the printer, starts to make the lid of the void, pause the print and place a nut into void. It will then print over the nut and enclose it inside the print