I'm planning to use some drop in tee nuts (link) in a project I'm working on, and wanted to use the CAD model to make sure everything was fitting well together. However, when I looked at the CAD models available online (link), I was not able to find the nuts. Am I just blind, or are they missing from the models? Either way, can someone help me by telling me where I might find a CAD model of these nuts?
So I just realized there's no way to download a STEP file from that link. Since I'm working on a Chromebook in OnShape, as far as I know, there's no way for me to get that model into my assembly. Can you provide the STEP file?
The link is not for STEP files but rather for .skp or SketchUp files and even then, they are for the latest SketchUp version which is not what most people here are using. I guess the files was not meant to be shared with us regular folks or it would have been posted for the 2017 version too.
Sketchup themselves removed 2017 from 3D warehouse download options But, not a problem: Extension | SketchUp Extension Warehouse has a free plugin called "Eneroth Open Newer Version" or Fusion360 and many other CADs support importing SKP files directly. They also provide Colladae (DAE) format which is widely supported We only have Sketchup available (mesh, not solid) but this particular part is an industry standard "M5 Drop in Tee Nut" so you should be able to find a STEP file on McMaster, GrabCAD, etc
When I convert the SketchUp file to STL and compare it to the three M5 tee nuts available in McMaster (link), none of them match up with the geometry from the SketchUp model. I suppose I'll have to try to generate the geometry myself based on the SketchUp model. Thanks for your help.
Actually, when I import the model, no matter what units I specify as the original units, the part still ends up huge. Could you provide the overall dimensions?
its just a standard Tee nut, the Sketchup model is community contributed, so maybe slight differences. Shouldnt make a difference for your model, its just planning after all - when you order the parts, it all goes together as it should
When you import an STL file into sketchup, you must click "options" (under the preview window) and set it to "millimetres - you can't assume it will know already.
Actually, it would have made a huge difference. None of the three tee nuts on McMaster-Carr would have fit in the rails. For what it's worth, here's a solid model version of nut which can be downloaded as a STEP file: link. To say the least, if I've learned anything over my 8 years working as an engineer (as well as more than a decade doing woodworking through junior high, high school, and college) it's that having accurate models saves time and money.
