Thermal Insert Press

Basics

• A Device for Thermal Insertion of Metal Components into Thermoplastic Components
• Allows things like Threaded Inserts to be inserted into Thermoplastics
• More accurate, and efficient, than doing so by hand
• Can probably also be adapted to Thermal Stapling ( Hot Stapling seems to be a more common term?), Heat Staking etc
• Uses a similar mechanism as the Drill Press for the motion, but uses a Soldering Iron like device for heating the custom toolhead (perhaps a screwdriver?)
• May also have use for precisely cutting thick synthetic rope (devices like this are in some marine supply stores etc, but are often out of reach, this with a blade toolhead, and a rope holding+tensioning jig...)

Off the Shelf Options

Utilizing OTS Drill Press Stands

• An Article by FixturFab Showcasing this Method
• A Quick Amazon Search for "Drill Press Stands"
  • I Found "Drill Press Frame" to be more precise, but both worked

A Model Going for 2,721.600 USD?!?

• By Yardley Inserts
• If it's Chinese Yen that converts to a more reasonable 376.50 USD, but this is USA based supposedly so that doesn't make much sense
• Also why the ".600" and not ".60" if it is intended to be cents, since they did use comma for the thousand place, not "." like UK does or whatever
• I bet it is probably high quality, and maybe higher heat capacity but 2K+? Wild

Kits

Vector 3D

• A Video by the YouTube Channel "Vector 3D" Titled "Why did I wait for 100k views before doing this?"
  • Older title was "How Fast Can I Assemble... or something, didn't have time to watch it earlier, can maybe find it with the Wayback Machine
  • The video showcases their new "VLMP (Vertical Linear Motion Press) – Heat Set Insert Press"
  • It is a more standardized/adaptable version of their old design
  • Benefit would be supporting their YouTube Channel, and the lack of a need to Self Source Parts
  • As of 27/10/2022 it goes for £31.86 to £54.48 For Just Hardware to Everything Included Printed Parts
• At least from a USA Context this seems a bit pricy, especially if shipping/import tax etc is not included in the price
  • GRANTED the whole Support the Original Creator aspect
• Also is only Semi-Open Source (as far as i can tell), so not great there from a "os puritan" standpoint, although this may just be a matter of pedantics (ie contact them and get the license sticker put on the webpage etc) and/or they are doing an Open Source After Break Even / Open Source After Initial Profit / Open Source After Next Generation etc
• It also uses V-Slot Rollers instead of Linear Rails or Smooth Ground Rod etc, which granted it is not an aplication that needs anything better per se, but Cheap Linear Rails would be better in my opinion at least
• Either way i think it may not make much sense to do this option, but that is just my ( User: Eric 's take)

OSE Design

Soldering Iron/Heat Source

• Either a Pinecil or TS Series Soldering Iron ( MiniWare might have been the first to make it? It is open source-ish), both of which are Open Source
• Soldering Iron to Thermal Insert Adapters:
  • Basically, unlike with soldering, you want a flat end that fits in and grips the inserts well, not a pointed tip
  • Thus there are alternate tip adapters available, like these Lead and Cadmium Free Brass Metric Thermal Insert Adapters (Should look into what they use, for a page on Lead Free Brass / Lead and Cadmium Free Brass

Frame

• 2020 T-Slot Aluminum Extrusion
• Potentially even just (engineered-) wood / Acrylic / some scrap material etc if you are being cheap
• Also Could use 3D Printed Parts for Base, although it would have less mass to hold it down/in place
• M3 Bolts + Nuts

Motion System

• Cheap Linear Rails such as This 300mm Model by Iverntech (~21 USD) (Bearing Cleaning + Relubrication may be needed, comments seem a bit hit and miss on that aspect?)
• Counterweight System using Screw + Washer or Water Bottle For Adjustments
• Could also just use This Design by John Culbertson (Or perhaps adapt it from springs to a counterweight system, but otherwise use the same lever mechanism?
• Also 3D Printed Handles (For Motion and Lifting) either way

Internal Links

• Threaded Inserts

External Links

• A Video by the YouTube Channel "John Culbertson" Titled "3D Printed Thermal Insert Press"
• A Video by the YouTube Channel "Adafruit Industries" Titled "Heat Set Insert Press"
• An Article by Protolabs Titled "Threaded Inserts with Heat Staking and Ultrasonic Welding"