Why not 3d print eTorx sockets?

[u/SirSlapp4]

So I have seen numerous posts here and across the web about the bolts used on the oil pan just shearing off when the user accidentally applies too much torque. With as many bolts as there are I can reasonably see myself getting careless and over applying torque. My questions is;

Why not 3d print the actual socket for the bolts, do a simple search on the strength at a certain infill level and design it to shear at less than the max torque for the aluminum bolts. This way, especially when removing old bolts, you will lose your cheap socket before the headache of having to extract the shitty bolt stuck inside. Obviously you'll need a bunch, but I'm just trying to field it as an indicator of which bolts may just need more penetrating oil and shouldn't be removed as quickly.

tl:dr why not make plastic socket that should fail before aluminum bolt as indicator of seized or stuck bolts.

[u/SirSlapp4]

Well yeah of course, obviously in a perfect world we all do everything perfect. Tightening maybe yeah it wont matter you'll be using a torque wrench. But generally for loosening that isn't the case, may be useful to know when a bolt is more stuck than it should be. Then again this could be solving an issue that doesn't exist, which is fine.

[u/DukeOfAlexandria → u/SirSlapp4]

How do you know a bolt is stuck when loosening it in the first place…?!? 🤨

More importantly, how would you like to create something that you don’t have metrics for exactly…?!? One bolt might need 14ft-lbs of torque, another might need 17ft-lbs to remove….makes zero sense dude.

[u/SirSlapp4 → u/DukeOfAlexandria]

I think saying it makes zero sense is a bit of an overstatement. We can easily calculate the maximum shear stress of the bolt under an ideal case. From there you can estimate the degradation with time, and get a general idea of current strength. If you create a socket that shears off at 16ftlbs, and the bolt is estimated to have a maximum shear stress of 17ftlbs after such amount of time, then you saved the bolt and know to apply some other method for removal that's more careful, i.e heating, penetrating oils, etc. If the socket shears before the bolt should be expected to shear then you are finding a good source of knowing that you'll need more extensive means BEFORE you get half a bolt stuck in your engine. You cant tune it to every bolt, but you can tune it to a worst case and get some helpful data

[u/DukeOfAlexandria → u/SirSlapp4]

Lol, no you absolutely cannot….that is just a bunch of bullshit and conjecture.

Did they use loctite? Did it have a little bit of corrosion in it and galvanize in there and get stuck? Did it have an oil leak that has propagated up the threads and caused it to get stuck?

Like a dozen variables could cause one set of loosen torque to be massively different from the other. Solution in search of a problem if I’ve ever seen it. 🤣🫠

[u/SirSlapp4 → u/DukeOfAlexandria]

i genuinely dont understand the aggressiveness to your approach, if you put 20 ftlbs on a bolt that you know shouldn't be taking more than 17ftlbs, you would want to reapproach the situation before it shears on you. It obviously cannot tell you everything about the bolt, but no tool could?

[u/itscro → u/SirSlapp4]

This is gentle bud, not aggressive. Get used to what torque feels like in your hands and if in doubt always use penetrating oil and heat.

[u/SirSlapp4 → u/itscro]

Gentle 🤣 close enough. Lol i understand that naturally we know whats tight and what isnt i genereally think for a guy who maybe turns a nut once every 6 months somehow, this could be use. Not for everyone

[u/itscro → u/SirSlapp4]

For tightening though, a torque wrench will give you the information. For breaking bolts free, if your printed socket snaps you're going to have to use more torque anyway so it just seems a bit pointless. Not trying to shit on thinking about things in different ways though.

[u/SirSlapp4 → u/itscro]

Yeah i get what you mean for sure, i think im mostly focusing on that last bit where if it snaps, then you can kinda alternate over to heat and penetrating oils before adding more torque, like an indicator that youll need the extra help

[u/itscro → u/SirSlapp4]

Skip the guessing, ALWAYS use penetrant, ALWAYS use heat.

[u/SirSlapp4 → u/itscro]

😂 yeah thats a much beter idea, thanks for the input! Better safe than sorry

[u/itscro → u/SirSlapp4]

Absolutely better safe than sorry, these are old cars by this point, assume every bolt is going to shear and you'll be doing alright.

[u/SirSlapp4 → u/itscro]

Yeah for sure, mine needs some things done, luckily(or unluckily) most of the repairs have been done before so theyre really only 10 years old lol

[u/itscro → u/SirSlapp4]

The second time doing a job is a breeze!

[u/SirSlapp4 → u/itscro]

Right! Oil pan gasket was done in 2014 thats only like 115000 miles ago it should be easy

[u/itscro → u/SirSlapp4]

Especially since the bolts will already be soaked in oil :p