This is a 3D printed plasterboard wall plug for fixing screws to plasterboard walls

3D Printing
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This is a 3D printed plasterboard wall plug for fixing screws to plasterboard walls in positions without a stud backing. It’s equivalent to what is sold here in Australia as “Plasterboard wall-mates”.

YouMagine link:

I included the Sketchup file as part of the YouMagine files, in case anyone wants to modify the design.

I printed this in PLA without supports, but I needed to cut off a couple of strands of plastic because the thread overhangs are extremely steep, probably at the limit of what can be printed without support. The plug worked great once the edges were tidied up with my side-cutters.

Steps to use:

Mark the screw positions on the plaster
Drill a 5mm pilot hole
Screw the 3D printed wall plug into the pilot hole - it cuts its own thread into the plaster
Screw into the plug with a fixing screw

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I’ve heard it called a “hurricane bolt.” Similar to a hollow wall anchor or drywall anchor.

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Very useful, thanks for sharing it.

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Would love to see a closeup of your print, not sure how that would be possible without supports.

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@Anthony_Webb - yep, this design definitely pushes the boundaries of what can be printed without supports, but I printed it at 0.2mm resolution anyway, then just a few seconds with the side-cutters to cut away a few strays off the edge of the thread, and I am left with a perfectly serviceable wall plug!

It isn’t pretty looking, but it definitely works exactly as expected.
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@Anthony_Webb - oh, and if you have any interest in testing this design for yourself, I’m very curious about your “mileage” as well.

The STL can be downloaded here:

Thanks in advance!

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I printed 6 at one time and they seem ok. Have not tried any yet.
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@Michael_Rankin - Thanks mate, that looks fantastic, even better than mine looked straight off the printer!

I just used a scrap 30cm x 30cm piece of plasterboard to test earlier versions of these before I used them for real. I don’t want to test new things on my actual walls of course. My wife would get a bit upset of I did that. :wink:

Because they can easily be backed out of the board they are screwed into, I just reused the working plugs for my house.

Of course I would love to see how they went in real use, if you have the time.

Thanks again!