catchnhole

Because nutsnbolts was taken.

An ergonomic way to create nutcatches, screw holes and countersinks in OpenSCAD.

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Requirements and installation

catchnhole uses OpenSCAD's JSON import, which is only present in the nightly build, and must be enabled (Edit -> Preferences -> Features -> import-function).

Add a git submodule to your project:

git submodule add https://github.com/mmalecki/catchnhole catchnhole

Usage

use <catchnhole/catchnhole.scad>;

difference () {
  translate([-5, -5, 0]) cube([10, 10, 10]);

  // Draw a nutcatch parallel to bolt shaft:
  nutcatch_parallel("M3");
  // Draw a bolt gripping the nutcatch:
  bolt("M3", length = 10);

  // Or, draw a nutcatch sidecut into the part:
  translate([0, 0, 4]) {
    nutcatch_sidecut("M3");
    // Draw a bolt gripping the nutcatch:
    bolt("M3", length = 6);
  }
}

For more advanced usage, see the examples directory.

API

bolt(name, length, kind = "headless", head_diameter_clearance = 0.1, countersink = 0)

Draw a bolt up the Z axis, with head at the top.

Arguments:

• name (string) - name of the bolt, e.g. "M3"
• length (number) - length of the bolt
• kind (string) - the kind of the bolt, available values:
  • "headless" - no bolt head
  • "socket_head" - socket head cap (ISO 4762)
  • "countersunk" - countersunk head (ISO 10642, DIN 7991)
  • "hex_head" - hex head (ISO 4014)
• head_diameter_clearance - how much side clearance to leave for the bolt head, where applicable
• head_top_clearance - how much top clearance to leave for the bolt head, where applicable
• length_clearance - how much clearance to leave for the bolt past length (down the Z axis; useful if your origin point is a nut and your length is calculated, or just want to allow for longer bolts)
• countersink (number) - how much to "countersink" the bolt - move it down by the countersink * bolt head length

bolt_head(name, kind, head_diameter_clearance = 0.1)

Draw a bolt head up the Z axis.

Arguments:

• name (string) - name of the bolt, e.g. "M3"
• kind (string) - the kind of the bolt, available values:
  • "socket_head" - socket head cap (ISO 4762)
  • "countersunk" - countersunk head (ISO 10642)
  • "hex_head" - hex head (ISO 4014)
• head_diameter_clearance - how much side clearance to leave for the bolt head, where applicable
• head_top_clearance - how much top clearance to leave for the bolt head, where applicable

nutcatch_parallel(name, height_clearance = 0, width_clearance = 0)

Draw a nutcatch parallel to the bolt axis.

Arguments:

• name (string) - name of the nut, e.g. "M3"
• kind (string) - the kind of the nut, available values:
  • "hexagon" - hexagon (ISO 4032)
  • "hexagon_thin" - thin hexagon (ISO 4035)
  • "hexagon_lock" - hexagon locknut (ISO 7040)
• height_clearance (number) - additional nut height clearance
• width_clearance (number) - additional nut width clearance

nutcatch_sidecut(name, height_clearance = 0, width_clearance = 0)

Draw a nutcatch sidecut into the part:

Arguments:

• name (string) - name of the nut, e.g. "M3"
• kind (string) - the kind of the nut, as noted in nutcatch_parallel
• height_clearance (number) - additional nut height clearance
• width_clearance (number) - additional nut width clearance

Acknowledgements

• The authors of the BOLTS library