
This is my take on printed anchors. I designed them for use with XPS foam from which I made an enclosure for my 3D printer. In combination with wood screws an washers they can be used to hold together foam boards or mount things like hinges or in my case also a spool holder. If the foam is dense enough you get a quite tough connection.Â
It is parametric and can be adjusted within quite a range with very basic FreeCAD knowledge.
The gcode file is just a sample printed in PETG. But PLA works just as well. In fact I used this project to get rid of some particularly bad PLA since you wont see the print defects anyway.
The FreeCAD (version 0.21.2) model is adjustable (within reason) by just typing in the parameters in the dimensions table.Â
Printing advice:
- use 0.6mm nozzle and 0.30mm layer height, no need to make the screws/anchors pretty
- set your slicer to print the screws/anchors individually if you print a whole batch to reduce stringingÂ
Usage advice:
- hold printed anchor with a towel/rag and then pre-drill it with the desired screw (see  picture or check video)
- do not use for load bearing applications/use common sense ;)
Needed hardware:
- woodscrews
- washers
Enjoy.
Check the video for more instructions on how to customize the screws/anchors for your needs and see some sample usage:
Parametric Styrofoam EPS XPS Foam Screw Anchor
by Martin's Musings · original on Printables ↗
Hobby & Makers / Mechanical Parts
♥ 857⬇ 2.1k🖨 22 prints
Print profiles
foamscrew 20x50mm (head x length) for 4,5mm woodscrew.stl
⏱ time and weight estimated after preparation · 1 material(s)
Made to order: we prepare this file when you order, which adds a few minutes before printing starts.
Prints on: A1 mini 0.4PLA
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foamscrew 20x80mm (head x length) for 4,5mm woodscrew.stl
⏱ time and weight estimated after preparation · 1 material(s)
Made to order: we prepare this file when you order, which adds a few minutes before printing starts.
Prints on: A1 mini 0.4PLA
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foamscrew 20x27mm (head x length) for 3,5mm woodscrew.stlDEFAULT
⏱ time and weight estimated after preparation · 1 material(s)
Made to order: we prepare this file when you order, which adds a few minutes before printing starts.
Prints on: A1 mini 0.4PLA
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foamscrew 20x27mm (head x length) for 3,5mm woodscrew.3mf
⏱ time and weight estimated after preparation · 1 material(s)
Made to order: we prepare this file when you order, which adds a few minutes before printing starts.
Prints on: A1 mini 0.4PLA
Order this print