Making thread tolerances looser

[brownrc]

Using Alibre Design Expert v28, 3D printing some plates with 40 female threaded holes. Have in the past just ran a tap thru them and called it good. Would like to attempt making the threads looser, so I plan to dive in on tweaking some settings after reviewing posts. If someone knows of a thread that has sorted this out, please point me in that direction.

For this purpose, 10x32 threads, chose 2B, then in the drop down gives me four options under the "FORM" menu, I choose "Min Material (Loosest Tolerance)", but after printing a sample, I still need something looser then that.

An interesting side note here, My sample part is 2.00 x .500 x .375. It actually measures out that it needs a 1.005 scale in the slicer for the dimensions to match the CAD file. For a test, I applied the scale factor in the slicer... but I fat fingered it to a 1.05 scale.... Well, the interesting part is that the threads were far closer to fitting on that sample! Still had to use some force with a screwdriver, but that gave me the knowledge that I have to make a big jump if I want this to work out.

I'll stick to running a tap thru for now, but maybe someone has a suggestion, thank you!

EDIT - using Bambu H2S printer, with PETG filament

 

[dwc]

I would start out by calibrating your printer.
If the printed dimensions are not the same as the dims in the CAD that will be the first step.
Also remember that with 3D printing it is not always possible to get every dimension "right".
The slicers are pretty well optimised in the mean time, but are still limited by the nozzle size and slice thickness especially for features that are close together like in a thread.
You may want to try using a smaller nozzle and/or variable layer slicing.
Personally I have tired of all the fiddling to get threads to work on each new part and am now using threaded inserts in most cases.

 

[brownrc]

Good advice, thanks! Do you have a link to the inserts you have been using?

 

[dwc]

Good advice, thanks! Do you have a link to the inserts you have been using?

At least here in Switzerland all the companies offering 3D printing supplies have them in stock.
For example: https://www.3djake.ch/fr-CH/accessoires-dimprimantes-3d/inserts-filetes
In the mean time I buy from AliExpress, the parts are identical and cost 1/10th, look for brass threaded inserts.

 

[Joseph_L]

You can also usually do an axis and offset to loosen the thread if you have pro/expert.

Edit: Images didn't attach right the first time.

 

[Weekdayweekend]

I have been using the 'Califlower' to keep my printers calibrated. Not free, but it's cheap, and they work great. I recommend you look it up