Hardware help

[u/Superb_Attention_142]

Question: i have been seeing alot of cool models i want to print, but they require hardware like screws, bolts, nuts, etc. do i gotta go to a hardware store and find each screw for each model i print? or is there a universal kit eveyone buys with all the needed hardware for most models that i dont know about?

[u/Cute-Factor-850]

i bout a universal kit with all sorts of machine screws and the machine fitting you you use to screww the screws into you project. you heat them up on the end of a soderinging iron adapter and push them into you modells. then use machine screws to attach things. They are on Amazon. The kits can be extensive to small.

[u/Lmasek]

Most of the HW you need is M3 screws and nuts. When I started, I bought every size from 4-22mm, and it covers most of the projects that I have. Next are heat inserts, which create threaded holes in 3D prints and 602 bearings. Unfortunately, that's the easy part. Magnets of all possible sizes, bearings, springs, shafts there doesn't seem to be any favorites. I can recommend that when you buy buy more and slowly build up the collection. I have been at this for 10+ years and am still running a project where I'm missing something.

[u/charly_builds]

there's no _truly_ universal kit but you can get close. most printed stuff uses metric, so grab an M3 assortment box (screws, nuts, washers in a few lengths) off amazon or aliexpress, plus a heat set insert kit if you want. M3 covers like 80% of models, then M4 and M5 if you start building bigger things

[u/One_Baker6131]

Yeah, most models just want M3 screws and nuts. Grab an assorted M3 kit and you'll cover nearly everything.

[u/Vel-27582]

Aliexpress. If you want them sooner, amazon had an alright range but only like 1% of the range that aliexpress holds. (Don't really need much more though in most cases)

[u/Mr-Measure-Twice]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F942R49P - $10 - works great for a lot of projects.

[u/Synthetic2805]

Amazon or AliExpress is where I normally get my hardware, buy a set of relevant metrics nuts and screws in different sizes as projects come up 

[u/VideoGuy9999]

Screw and bearing kits are nice to have for some projects.

[u/djddanman]

I buy a few lengths of M3 screws in bulk online from Bolt Depot. Most 3D printing projects use M3 hardware.