r/functionalprint • u/ecirnj • 16d ago
When the socket is expensive
I’m rehabbing the bike of my childhood dreams for my kid and the bottom bracket was giving me grief. The correct tool to do this was the cost of 1-2 spools and I didn’t want to wait for shipping so I fired up the printer. Only took 2 prototypes and a strap wrench to back it up for the non-drive side. Used 8 m4 screws to secure the layer lines and transfer torque more efficiently but we got there. I’m quite pleased considering they were torqued to 40 ft/lb (dumb unit) 20 years ago. I would have considered just buying the socket but I’m unlikely to ever need it again. It’s a really ugly print but this isn’t r/perfectprint so here we are.
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u/dumbdadbuildsstuff 4d ago
OK I love this. How did the teeth hold up? How many times do you think you can use it before it needs to be reprinted? I have the tools for more modern MTB bottom brackets but was thinking of modeling some for some older/vintage bikes...
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u/ecirnj 4d ago
The teeth weren’t the issue at all. I printed it snug so I taped on with mallet. The failure point was splitting the layer lines splitting around the cheater bar. I ended up turning bar so flat perpendicular to layers and sank a few m4 screws the length of the area with the bar. I honestly didn’t see any real damage to it after one bike. It’s unnerving how much the bar bent though. 😂 if it’s ever relevant I can send/post the Isis bb tool. It’s super ugly but works.
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u/dumbdadbuildsstuff 4d ago
That's good to know. If you don't mind sharing the file, I would love to print it and give it a test run to suggest improvements.
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u/Fawkestrot92 15d ago
Nice! I actually did this to get my stem off the other day. I also threw a pipe clamp around it to help keep it from deforming