Printable M3 Bolt Replacement Rods With Clips

These rods can be used to replace M3 screws of a fixed length that are fastened with a nut on the other side, if tightness of the connection is not top priority. You can easily customize the rod length inside the 3mf file by changing the length of the “Rod” segment and then moving the three pieces (Head, Rod, Tip) so that they just touch.

• Make sure to print at 0.1 mm layer height.
• If you use the .3mf file, print only the plate called “Print”, not the one called “Construction”. That is for building your own M3 rods. Do not click “Arrange all objects” because it will mix the plates.
• Ream or drill all the holes with a 3 mm drill bit before inserting the rod.
• Make sure you use the correct length for each hole. The notches should just stick out on the bottom (see photo).
• Clip on the little C-shaped clips on the notches to secure the rod in place (see photo).
• The clips have an orientation, so make sure to attach them the right way. The bottom of the clip faces toward the “head” of the rod.
• If the rod is used as an axle, sand it a little bit to make the surface smoother.

Backstory: I did not have the M3 screws needed for the "wind-up Bathtub Boat V5", so I made printable M3-sized rods and clips. If your printer is correctly calibrated to print the gears, these rods should also pose no problem. See photos for assembly.

I found no quick solution for fastening the gearbox to the body using these, so I used heat-inserts for that instead.