Gareth's Tips, Tools, and Shop Tales - Issue #3

Tested Threaded Inserts for 3D Prints

How much better are threaded inserts over printed threads?

On CNC Kitchen, Stefan conducts a set of experiments to find out how much better threaded inserts are over 3D-printed threads that you build into a print. The conclusions: If your connection is going to receive a lot of stress and/or disconnecting/connecting, inserts are the way to go. If not, you can probably get by with threads designed into your prints. The other advantage of inserts? The satisfying act of sinking them into the print by heating them with an iron until the plastic melts.

Freeform Soldering LED Jewelry

Learn free-form while making this lovely LED jewelry

This wonderful Instructible, by jiripraus, shows you, step-by-step, how to make LED jewelry using LEDs, coin cell batteries, and freeform soldering. Besides being a great project, this Instructible is basically a beginner's guide to freeform soldering. He even includes templates for accurately bending the wire. [Via Maker Update]

THT and SMD Soldering Tutorial in Just Over 10 Minutes

Surface-mount soldering takes more practice than anything else

In this 11-minute video on GreatScott, Scott shows you most everything you need to know to do both THT (through-hole technology) and SMD (surface-mounted device) soldering, without a reflow station or a lot of expensive equipment.

Understanding Servo Horns

Which horn to use for which application, Daphne, Fred, or Shaggy?

On Amie DD's Twitter channel, she asked her followers to give her some insight into the different servo horns that usually come with a servomotor and what they are specifically used for. The collective wisdom"

The Daphne Horn: Multi-purpose horn that combines the best of disk and arm-type horns. Can serve either rotational or linear actuation functions. One commenter noted that a Daphne is what you reach for when you don't have a Fred or a Shaggy.

The Fred Horn: Used for continuous rotation or when the connection will be under significant stress.

The Shaggy Horn: This one was originally develop for R/C airplane control and is used for controlling ailerons because it pulls in on two sides allowing for one side to go up and one to go down at same time by same degree at the same time. The multiple holes adjust the total throw of the movement so you can set upper and lower limits. Can be used for any linear control applications.

And, of course, there's another wonderful tip in here, Amie's use of Scooby Doo Lego minifigs to ID the three horn types. More of this, please!

Testing Glues for XPS Foam

Which adhesive works best with XPS foam?

In an episode of the game crafter channel, Black Magic Craft, Jeremy tests various types of glues, adhesives, and cements to see what does the best (and cheapest) job of adhering XPS (Extruded Polystyrene) foam. Tl;dr: Gorilla Glue Construction Adhesive and Super 77 Spray Adhesive where the clear winners.

DIY Wire Nut Twist Drill

Look what the Mother of Invention just gave birth to.

I am a big fan of pin vises, the small twist-drills used in hobby modeling. On Instagram, Dennis Nestor shows off an improvised twist-drill he made by epoxying a drill bit into a wire nut. Yeah, that'll work.

Must-See Maker TV

Clear, detailed, and deep projects and tutorials from GreatScott

I have long been a fan of the YouTube channel, GreatScott. Done by a young German maker, the channel features really excellent, deep, detailed, but surprisingly clear projects and tutorials on electrical engineering and working with circuits, ICs, and microcontrollers. In this video, for instance, Scott provides an excellent tutorial on capacitor components and how to choose the right caps for your specific circuit designs.

More Tips in my Best-Selling Book

Do you have my book, Tips and Tales from the Shop, yet? If not, check it out. It’s gotten some very positive reviews and is an Amazon best-seller!