Lock nuts in notches??

[cassetti]

Ok, wow, I really hate to ask this but a quick search didn't turn up much

Reading the geneb 1.13 manual and cross referencing against mhackney's excelent write up. However I ran into a small snag... The dang lock nuts don't seem to fit into place... does this mean I need to ruin my black finish by sanding the space larger or am I doing something wrong? I was able to force one into place with 'gentle' persuasion, but it doesn't seem right....

On my work's Makerbot Replicator - their laser cut frame used square nuts which fit into the slots nicely. These lock nuts on the other hand......

Advice would be great before I damage anything else!

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8378/8550 ... e5a7_b.jpg[/img]

[dbarrans]

I found it was easiest to put them in while holding them with needlenose pliers. It's too easy to get them cocked sideways when putting them in by hand. You really need to keep the flats on the nut parallel to the sides of the slot.

- dan

[Polygonhell]

If you have a small file, you can just file the inside of the slot, there was fairly significant variation in mine some the nuts were loose others were hard even with pliers.

[geneb]

You might also try rotating the nut - I found during my build that sometimes doing that would result in the nut fitting into the slot.

g.

[cassetti]

Yeah, I did find some fit into the slot very nicely - others just wont go willingly into the space! I think I need to file some edges to make some of these fit, i do have a few files, but i think my round one is the best fit... the triangular file i have is a bit of a tight squeeze...

[geneb]

You could also try filing the nut.

g.

[Polygonhell]

You could also try filing the nut.

g.

I found filing the slots a lot easier, I just used a flat file from a set of microfiles.

[cassetti]

Yeah, I think a set of micro filers would be helpful - it does seem the laser cutter wasn't calibrated - cuts seem to be at a 5 or 10 degree angle for some of the panels - doesn't appear to be a major issue though

[Polygonhell]

All laser cutters produce tapered cuts, I have no idea how most compare to the SeeMeCNC parts because I simply don't see LC parts much.
My only issue with the LC parts was I had a couple of parts that weren't cut all the way through on one sheet, part of the filament mount, and nothing I couldn't fix.

[cassetti]

Gotcha, now that I got the hang of it, I'm having an easier time. I'm using a pair of needlenose vice grips lightly holding the nut while I slide it into place. Fortunately after some digging at my local sears (man that place is going down hill fast) I found 1 3-pack of micro-files! That should help with any nuts that won't go in easily.

About 5% done so far, I'll be posting a build thread and linking to my Flikr set with high res shots of my build

[Eaglezsoar]

I am working with the acrylic version and lots of them really are tight. The nut absolutely has to have the sides lined up with the slots and sometimes it seems you would need
a 45 caliber nut shooter to get them to go in! The long nose pliers worked the best if you ensured the flats were lined up. There are so many times they don't line up,
it feels like I never will get done. I like assembly but this one really requires a lot of time. Thanks for letting me babble....
Carl

[cassetti]

I am working with the acrylic version and lots of them really are tight. The nut absolutely has to have the sides lined up with the slots and sometimes it seems you would need
a 45 caliber nut shooter to get them to go in! The long nose pliers worked the best if you ensured the flats were lined up. There are so many times they don't line up,
it feels like I never will get done. I like assembly but this one really requires a lot of time. Thanks for letting me babble....
Carl

Damn that's rough. Glad I went for the black wood version

[halley]

Just a thought, but since "all laser cutters produce tapered cuts," you might find the nut will go in more easily from one side of the board, while being quite tight from the other side of the board.