If I had parts in hand and free time yeah but I have neither 
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I have some and could make files and 3d print to test.
What help would you need at that point? I’m always open to help with advice/knowledge
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That’s a good point. Where do you get the parts made and does it need large quantities for moq or decent value?
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I also used shenzen 3d via craft cloud. Just upload the file and pick the material and finish and it will give you a quote from several suppliers. Shenzen 3d has been good and quick for me. Not a lot of part saving with multiples but definitely some! No moq either
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Strongly encourage you to read the thread you’re currently posting in. Respectfully.
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I used the “hide text” function quite a bit so people can just read what they want to, but that might have made it a bit more confusing. @CarelessAquarist or anyone else, feel free to DM me with any questions. Although I agree with Mr. Benjamin, the question you have is probably answered somewhere in the original post. Happy to help either way.
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Isn’t “aging” standard for SLM M300 parts from cloudcraft? 3-6 hours at 500C.
Though the info is quite contradictory on that page. The quoted material properties seem to be for non-aged m300. Aged should have a tensile strength of ~1800-2000mpa and hardness of 55hrc and tensile elongation of 4-6%.
But the description (to me at least) seems to suggest aging would be standard, even though their quoted properties suggest the opposite?
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This is the quote I got for additional hardening.
@Dinnye , the description is a bit confusing. This is the first time I’ve asked for additional hardening in Craftcloud. Even without additional hardening, they are a nightmare to drill and tap. My friend ordered a hardened set from in3dtec (you can select it as an option on that site). We are unable to tap them and our local machine shop said they would probably have to soften the metal to tap and then re-harden. Just based on experience so far, the extra hardening doesn’t seem necessary for my mod 1.1 herringbone gears. Will give it a shot if gears start breaking though.
On another note, This same order would cost $346.91 without tapping service. The order is for four driven gears and two truck clamps. I reached out to them for a quote with tapping and the price only went up by about $40 to a total of $385. This seems well worth the time savings alone, not to mention the broken taps.
Edit to add - https://www.gears-manufacturer.com/blogs/is-higher-hrc-good-for-steel-gear.html
According to this site, the 35ish HRC we get without the additional aging process is used for gears and automotive applications.
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Oh, good that we got that clarified.
I think I’ll do non-hardened for my prototypes and then abuse the hell out of them to see if we actually need the full-on hardening. Or maybe harden just the pinions. M300 still has amazing properties even without aging. I’m not worried at all about breaking the ones I’ll design, only slightly worried about wear. 35HRC should be enough though.
Regarding tapping, I think I’ll give it a shot myself with non-aged m300 with my servo tapping arm and some decent taps. Saving 40$ per board seems like its worth a shot given my equipment.
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I wonder if a thread-forming tap would have more success than a thread-cutting tap, particularly in un-hardened m300.
Doesn’t look like a great idea, un-hardened is still 35 HRC. M4 is ~36 TPI, it says max is ~56 TPI which is significantly smaller thread size, and even that requires extreme care
HSS-Co or HSS-E spiral point cutting taps should be just fine with TiAlN or ideally TiCN coating and some thick EP (extreme pressure) tapping fluid.
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Exactly what I was thinking. This order is just driven gears for two sets of drives with a set of truck clamps for one set of drives. Didn’t want to get driven gears that are harder than the pinions.
The set of gears with hanger clamps are to replace the hardened set my friend ordered that we can’t tap. The other set is going to retrofit some Apex drives, but we already have the pinions.
Your note on the tapping though, the quoted order is a total of 28 taps. With a full drive order you would be paying for 26 taps if you just have them tap the m300 steel. Probably similar price. This stuff is a bitch to drill and tap. If you’re a troglodyte like me and using an 18v drill then tap wrench, the $40 cost might be worth the time and headache savings.
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I have no doubt I’m missing something and making a mistake but I don’t quite follow.
I know it’s a little bit offtopic and I should have rather @ the experts / Venom121212 in the thread asking for help instead of @ someone looking for parts in the expert’s thread.
Or is it that @SirVesa is doing the printing personally instead of from a service? I read all the hidden text but was not quite sure, I do have a handful of failed steel parts I ordered from a service.
Thanks for keeping me in check regardless
Meh you’re good dude. Ben’s just a sexy pendant. The post mentions shenzen 3d but not craftcloud which is the service that connects you to shenzen 3d and other suppliers. Ask away.
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Good catch, added the site. @CarelessAquarist , not sure what parts you are trying to make, but if you send me the STL files or post them here I can guess at what measurements you might change. Would just need to know what the part is fitting to.
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Just for comparison’s sake, the cost to tap 6x holes on each hub (12 total M5 x 0.8) was only $20.
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Rockwell testing of the maraging steel from Shenzen 3d came back at 26 HRC which is less than ideal. 30-35 HRC would be more appropriate for annealed and not hardened.
Hardening recommendation is 485°C for 4 hours and air cooling to room temp so I will be looking into accessing an oven this temp. Hopefully any potential shrinkage will not cause issues with the tapped threads.
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Holy shit dude. I have it in writing from them that their parts are 30-35HRC. Happy to share the screenshot. You should reach out and give them your results.
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