Excavator Model Hinges Won't Move

[Bonch]

I am trying to print the excavator from this Makerworld link [Fun Assembly Excavator by SOFUN_ART - MakerWorld]

However the cab portion has print in place hinges and they will not release to fold the cab correctly without breaking the part.

Is there a way to adjust the slicer setting to allow better spacing in the hinges when using PLA. I have read PETG helps the hinges work better but don’t have any on hand and was hoping to print this out and get it put together for my grandson who loves him some excaBators. He is almost 3 and will love this model.

I haven’t looked that the track supports but they may be fused also.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Olias]

Welcome to the forum.

What you are experiencing can be compensated for in the X-Y hole compensation. What you want to do is increase the gap between the hinges by enough to clear the hinge gap but no so much as to cause the hinge to become sloppy.

There are numerous tools out there to determine the tolerance but here is one such example. Hinge tolerance test (build-in-place) by Atoi | Download free STL model | Printables.com

Print them hot and try to move them. The loser ones will break free the tight ones will be fused. Note the number and then try dialing that into the X-Y compensation to start with. Then reprint that one and change the X-Y compensation accordingly. Positive numbers increase the size, negative decrease.

If we slice the model and zoom in on this section.

Then apply a -0.2 contour, the cap between the hinges increases.

Likewise with the pin in the hinge, we can increase the size of the hole by using hole compensation to make the hole smaller.

Just remember, contour=outside of the mode and hole=enclosed part of the model.

[Bonch]

Thank you so much. I am printing out the test models now and will reset the x-y compensation and reprint the cab and see how it works. Hopefully it will work great and my grandson will be very happy with his new toy.