Functional Wrenches
In this project, you'll be learning about 3D printed on-demand tools before making a functional wrench. Watch the intro video below and browse through the project sections to learn more about the journey.
In this section, you'll be bringing your functional wrench to life with 3D design and 3D printing! The first step is to find a nut and bolt mechanism that you'd like to design a wrench for. This might be a fastener system you find around your home or alternatively an STL file can be downloaded here if you want to 3D print an example nut and bolt. You may scale this in your slicing software as you wish. Once 3D printed, it may be required to run sandpaper over both the nuts and bolts for a few seconds – this will make the threads run across each other more easily.
Nut & Bolt Demo Model
1 STL in this fileOnce your nut and bolt has been identified, select either the Tinkercad or Fusion 360 tutorial below and follow it to design your wrench. There are options for both voice over instructions and text-based instructions so simply pick your preferred method of learning.
🖥️ Tinkercad Video
If you want to take your wrench design to the next level, check out some of these extension challenges!
Design a complete set of wrench models to fit different sized nuts and bolts. When doing this, consider labelling wrenches with their size and developing a storage/organisation system for them.
Rather than designing a set of different wrenches, are there ways you can incorporate multiple wrenches into a single design? If doing this challenge, think carefully not only about the wrench profile but the way the device is held by the user.
Consider designing an adjustable wrench using a 3D printed mechanism. This might be an adjustable screw thread that allows you to use the wrench with different sized nuts and bolts.
In addition to functioning as a wrench, could you create a multi-tool? Think carefully about who might use the wrench and what others tools they might find helpful.
🔑 Key Learning
This project teaches learners how nuts, bolts, and wrenches work together. It also develops skills in CAD design, 3D printing, measurement, tolerance, tool design, prototyping, and testing functional objects.