L0 spindle cover

[fixerup]

I made a metal drawbar and collet adaptor for some 5C collets for my Colchester lathe and now I need to 3D print a spindle cover. The cover will protect the L0 taper and secure the large spindle nut from flopping around when using the lathe. Printing and Cad work is all new to me but I am making some progress. To prevent 3D printed junk I like to print 1mm thin test piece and check for fitment. I can quickly print these test pieces and make adjustment if needed.
I used thinkercad to design it because that is the only cad I know how to use. I used a thread generator from maker world (https://makerworld.com/en/models/485168?from=search#profileId-401735) to make the 4 1/2" - 6TPI ( part 1). It fitted the spindle nut but very tightly, a bit of filling with a 60' profile and it fitted nicely. Then I made some really thin test print to check the fitment of the taper ( part 3, 4a, 4b, 5) and then the taper keyway fitment (part 5) . Now I have all the parts tested, I assembled them and pushed the print button. I will know the result in 8 hrs, crossing my fingers !

 

[fixerup]

It worked, the cover fits!
It sure beats buying a big chuck of aluminum $$ and the spend a few hours carving it, for just a protective cover and to hold the nut in place.

 

[jorogi]

Ooo, I likes, taking orders ?

 

[fixerup]

Ooo, I likes, taking orders ?

I wouldn't if this was a critical part, because I am sure there is some dimensions which are off, but it fits nicely once the nut is tighten and this is just a protective cover.
I started a new design because yesterdays print was done in two part. I started printing the taper until it reached the height of the first sample thread previously printed (part1). Then pause the printer and dropped the thread part over the taper, which was somewhat a close fit, then started the print again. The printer started to bridge the two parts together but the threaded part was moving around until there was enough bridges to tie them together. so it is only the bridge layer which is keeping these parts together, so there is a chance they could come apart. Should of grouped those two parts together in thinkercad, but I wanted to save the previous thread (part1) I spent 15 minutes to file until it fitted. LOL I am such a green 3D printing newbie! LOL
Version 2 will have a slightly smaller thread diameter ( hopefully no filling required to make it fit) and the two parts will be grouped together in thinkercad. If successful I would make you one, for the cost of shipping ,coffee and a donut.

 

[fixerup]

Bummer it didn't work. I tried to slightly alter the o.d dimension of the thread so that it would fit without doing some filling. The printed o.d was good but it changed to more threads per inch. Once the thread is generated in the program I guess it can't be easily altered? something is gone wrong in my thinkercad process. Being an absolute beginner I tend to click a lot and make correction to my design and In thinkercad when I press the undo button it goes through all of these mistakes and I meant a lot of them. I think I might not be back tracking my mistake far enough that I screw up the files.
This was a fun project, but I need lots more practice on smaller stuff to get better at it and print less plastic mistakes.
Sorry Jorogi, I will have to decline my offer to make you one.

 

[140mower]

Bummer it didn't work. I tried to slightly alter the o.d dimension of the thread so that it would fit without doing some filling. The printed o.d was good but it changed to more threads per inch. Once the thread is generated in the program I guess it can't be easily altered? something is gone wrong in my thinkercad process. Being an absolute beginner I tend to click a lot and make correction to my design and In thinkercad when I press the undo button it goes through all of these mistakes and I meant a lot of them. I think I might not be back tracking my mistake far enough that I screw up the files.
This was a fun project, but I need lots more practice on smaller stuff to get better at it and print less plastic mistakes.
Sorry Jorogi, I will have to decline my offer to make you one.View attachment 59531

Don't look at it as a failure....... One more and you're a collector.