Hardware and Tools - Printing in Plastic: Build Your Own 3D Printer - page 19

Some Hand Tools
We've just provided you with the list of power tools that you'll need to get the parts cut and drilled for
the 3D printer. There are also some hand tools that you'll need or that can make your job a little easier.
Rulers
For measuring out the cuts and drill points you'll be making, a basic ruler and tape measure will be
handy. But there are some cuts and drill points that require more accuracy than a standard ruler with
1/16” increments can provide. If you can find a special carpentry ruler with 1/32” increments, your
cutting and drilling will be much more accurate and the machine's overall assembly will go more
smoothly.
Figure 2-12 shows a special Incra ruler that allows you to insert a pencil point and mark the wood in
1/64th of an inch. You'll need 0.5mm pencils for the small holes, so buy a bunch. The metal block on the
end also allows for extremely straight lines to be drawn along the edges of the ruler. And if you insert the
fine pencil point in the various holes on the ruler, you can slide the ruler along an edge of a work piece
and the pencil point will draw a line the distance you've selected from the edge.
Figure 2-12. Rulers like this Incra ruler are indispensable for fine measurements.