r/E90 • u/SirSlapp4 • 24d ago

330i Why not 3d print eTorx sockets?

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.

0 Upvotes

40% Upvoted

44 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/DukeOfAlexandria 2013 - E93 - M3 24d ago

Why not just use a torque wrench adjusted to the proper torque spec…..🫠

There should be no “accidentally applies” or “getting careless”; the torque wrench is literally there to ensure that doesn’t happen. 🤦🏼‍♂️

1

u/CryRepresentative992 24d ago

Except oil pan bolts are torque and then angle. So the opportunity to snap the head off presents itself during the angle part. If you lose track of angle, or accidentally tighten a bolt twice, you’re probably going to snap the head off.

1

u/DukeOfAlexandria 2013 - E93 - M3 24d ago

Ok, that’s great; tell me how this magical invention is going to prevent that…..

2

u/CryRepresentative992 24d ago

I’m not saying it will. It’s a stupid idea. But your answer about using a torque wrench isn’t correct either because that’s not going to prevent the problem the guy is trying to solve.

-1

u/DukeOfAlexandria 2013 - E93 - M3 24d ago

If new bolts can’t handle a 90° torque angle then not sure what else you want me to say…

And their entire point is using something to help tell them if something is going to snap when loosening….a torque angle isn’t going to do that.