I've been trying to get the right stuff to build a wade extruder and I'm a little confused about how to attach the idler block. Some pictures seem to show the bolts with the heads in the recessed slots threaded side through the idler, some seem to go the other way. (perhaps with nuts trapped in the inside slots?) Also, I'm trying to find out where to get the springs. I had ordered these from McMaster part number 9657K155 which are about 10mm OD but 10mm seems too large and they kept popping out, they also don't seem to have enough load according to the wiki. So I was thinking of ordering part number 9434K164 which is a lot stronger and is about 6mm OD. They're also pretty expensive, I guess I could just get some at a local hardware store, but they probably don't have a load rating... I also ordered M4 wingnuts from mcmaster part number 94300A310 and although their website says they are 17.6mm wide, what they sent me was 22.5mm which makes them almost impossible to fit right. It's really annoying to try and get metric parts here in the US. :( In case anyone is curious, I'm building a list of mcmaster part numbers to order all the stuff needed for a wade extruder here: [spreadsheets.google.com] once I get this worked out, I'll post it to the wiki. https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,46989,46989#msg-46989 Sat, 14 Mar 2026 19:18:59 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,46989,52476#msg-52476 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,46989,52476#msg-52476
[www.mcmaster.com]
[en.wikipedia.org]]]> jbayless Mechanics Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:07:03 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,46989,52370#msg-52370 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,46989,52370#msg-52370
Also, if you can't find strong enough springs, just bolting the idler directly will likely work, especially if you use only 2 diagonal.]]> Wade Mechanics Wed, 21 Jul 2010 01:38:25 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,46989,49459#msg-49459 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,46989,49459#msg-49459 I think it is easier for the filament load to have studs sticking out the extruder body and hold the springs with washers and nuts opposed to removing bolts every time.]]> Tiberius Mechanics Sun, 20 Jun 2010 06:15:31 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,46989,47631#msg-47631 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,46989,47631#msg-47631 Grogyan Mechanics Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:36:16 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,46989,47093#msg-47093 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,46989,47093#msg-47093
I wonder, if you can't find springs, could you use Belleville washers?]]> jbayless Mechanics Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:04:12 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,46989,46999#msg-46999 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,46989,46999#msg-46999
I can't help with the springs as I just use some I had recovered from old equipment.]]> nophead Mechanics Thu, 03 Jun 2010 03:03:52 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,46989,46989#msg-46989 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,46989,46989#msg-46989
Also, I'm trying to find out where to get the springs. I had ordered these from McMaster part number 9657K155 which are about 10mm OD but 10mm seems too large and they kept popping out, they also don't seem to have enough load according to the wiki. So I was thinking of ordering part number 9434K164 which is a lot stronger and is about 6mm OD. They're also pretty expensive, I guess I could just get some at a local hardware store, but they probably don't have a load rating...

I also ordered M4 wingnuts from mcmaster part number 94300A310 and although their website says they are 17.6mm wide, what they sent me was 22.5mm which makes them almost impossible to fit right.

It's really annoying to try and get metric parts here in the US. :(

In case anyone is curious, I'm building a list of mcmaster part numbers to order all the stuff needed for a wade extruder here: [spreadsheets.google.com] once I get this worked out, I'll post it to the wiki.]]> gr0k Mechanics Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:43:34 -0400