Introduction: Tiny Drill Bits in 3D Print

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This small instructable is essentially only a tip on how it is possible to use tiny drill bits in 3D printed tools (drills).

I've tried several 3D printed hand drills from www.thingiverse.com, but they all had the same issue: 3D printed chuck couldn't hold a tiny drill bit properly (by the "tiny drill bits" I mean drill bits with a diameter under about 1.5 mm (~ 1/16 inch)).

Tools

  • 3D printer
  • cyanoacrylate glue (aka "ca glue" or "crazy glue" or "super glue")
  • Rotary sander tool (for example "Dremel") (optionally)

Material

  • tiny drill bits
  • material for 3D print (PLA is good enough)

Step 1: Replacement of 3D Printed Chuck

As I wrote, 3D printed chunks have shown up to be unusable for tiny drill bits. But I got the idea to glue the tiny drill bit into a hole in the main axis of a 3D printed tool. Yes, it is that simple. But it works.

I used cyanoacrylate glue. I also decided to sand the shanks of the tiny drill bits a bit to a flat surface (see in the picture above) to increase reliability: to prevent the drill bits to become loose in case of a bigger pressure. But the sanding is not essential, It is a recommended improvement.

Step 2: Tool: Tiny Gimlet

My prime motivation was to make a tool that could easily clean ("push through") a clogged nozzle of a standard tube of cyanoacrylate glue. I've tried a needle, a paper clip, a pin before, but nothing worked well. Then I found out that a 1 mm drill bit works for that. And then I decided to create this tool.

It is basically a tiny gimlet.

The STL file is below. This model is designed for a 1 mm drill bit. For different drill bit sizes, you can simply print it in the corresponding aspect ratio: for example for 0.8 mm print the model as 80% of the original size.

Attachments

Step 3: Tool: Hex Drill Bit

The next step could be some kind of generic adapter. Something to prevent the drill bit from slipping in the chuck while drilling. Something with standard size...

I chose hex bits. Standard hex bit size 1/4 inch = 6.35 mm.

You can glue a washer (M2) or a nut (M3) or any piece of magnetic metal to the bottom of the bit.

Attachments

Step 4: Tool: Modified Pump Hand Drill

One 3D printed tool I liked was the "Pump Hand Drill" from www.thingiverse.com. Specifically: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:731086 or https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:945686. (In Czech, we have a beautiful word for this tool: Svidřík.)

Here is a simple modification. Not for a hex drill bit yet...

Attachments

Step 5: Know the Cyanoacrylate Glue

An important part of this instructable is cyanoacrylate glue. Therefore, I decided to also write down its properties:

    • ca glue hardens due to the air moisture. This also means:
    • it instantaneously glues human body parts (e.g. fingers) (therefore it is called "crazy glue" in some parts of the world).
    • the fumes irritate eyes.
    • among other things, it glues perfectly PLA and also PETG. It is an excellent glue for 3D printed objects.
    • it doesn't require clamping.
    • according to the Wikipedia page Cyanoacrylate, the shelf life of an unopened tube is about one year;
      but an unopened tube stored in a home freezer can last for many years.
    • it is possible to buy "cyanoacrylate acceleratortor" for faster hardening, usually in form of a spray.
    • acetone dissolves hardened ca glue.
    • higher temperature (more than about 100 °C) can cause ca glue softening.