Tips and Tricks 02: Soldering Rivet Nuts

In this Tips and Tricks manual, we’ll show you how to turn your 3D printed model into a fully functional object. This time you’ll learn how to solder rivet nuts into a printed element in order to make a casing for the bus pirate. We used Z-ESD for 3D printing this particular model.

Because of this material’s properties, the electronics that will be inside the casing, will be protected from harmful effects of electrostatic discharge. The casing will be frequently opened and closed, so installing screws into plastic would be highly impractical and would cause the threads to wear off very quickly.

That’s why we recommend to solder rivet nuts into the casing to avoid damaging the model and having to reprint it.

Be sure to check the previous episode of the series to learn some useful tips on printing with Z-GLASS.

Necessary Tools

You’ll need a 3D printed model (preferably printed with Z-ESD), a soldering iron and rivet nuts.

Heating the Soldering Iron

Heat the soldering iron up.

Make sure that it’s hot enough to warm the rivet nuts up to the temperature that will melt the material. We set the maximum temperature of 500 °C.

Preparing the Nuts

Choose the right size of the rivet nuts for the holes in the model.

If the nut is too small, it may fall through the model and if it’s too big, it can break the model.

We used 8mm diameter nuts which are just a little bigger than the holes. They fit in tightly.

Soldering the Nuts

Solder the nuts into the holes.

Remember to hold the nuts upright so that they go straight into the holes. Do not tilt the nuts in any direction as they may pierce through the model.