Zigzag threaded bolt - GIF

[ToolTalkBot]

Zigzag threaded bolt.




Previously:

Bolt with built-in tensile strain gauge - photo and patent
D shackle nut vibrates off of bolt - video
Specialized bolts for botched jobs - photo
The life of a bolt in Formula racing - video

[Frank S]

It's almost a guarantee that bolt is an assembly made from 2 or more multi start machining's a left hand 6 start and a right hand 6 start then cut into pieces ground to precision lengths and squareness then glued together the head would have been glued on as well. stop the video almost anywhere and you can see the impossibility of being able to machine it as one piece. I don't know since I've never done any 3d printing, if it would be possible to 3d print it

[BuffaloJohn]

I don't know since I've never done any 3d printing, if it would be possible to 3d print it

Yes, you can 3D print that. If you can draw it, you can print it. The black bolt at the beginning of the video is 3D printed, as well as the nut.

[Floradawg]

A CNC mill with a fourth axis could make it.

[BuffaloJohn]

A CNC mill with a fourth axis could make it.

I think I have to agree with Frank on this one, I don't know how any mill could make the parts Frank pointed out:

[albertq]

Looking at the fine lines on the threads at the 25sec instant, it looks like it could be 3D metal printed, or even cast using the black plastic printed part as the "lost wax" mould form. In the jewellery industry the amount of detail in lost wax investment castings was amazing.

[nova_robotics]

A CNC mill with a fourth axis could make it.

It would be difficult. You would need a sub-0.5mm end mill to get into some of those corners. I have a number of 0.5 - 0.7mm carbide end mills for milling PCBs and I don't think they would be able to do work like this.

I believe this cast metal from a 3D print. The most impressive thing to me about this video is how absolutely perfect that casting is.

[Floradawg]

It would be difficult no matter how it was done. I just don't think it was made in pieces. It is possible but I doubt it.

[Floradawg]

I watched it again and at the 41 second mark some flashing is evident between the hex and the ends of the threads. Casting? Maybe so.

[BuffaloJohn]

It is a "lost PLA" casting made by Robinson Foundry

Here a video from them about it:

Here is their youtube channel and there are other interesting things:
https://www.youtube.com/@robinson-foundry/featured

More fun with bolts: