Trying remove Z Axis for upgrade stripped allen bolts HELP

One of the allen bolts using 3mm wrench to remove z axis have stripped out. Have tried Extraction tool, no luck. anyone have any ideas?

These are the flat head ones that are recessed in the extrusion and no wat to get to them with vise grips or any other tool.

The only thing I have found is to drill it out being careful to not damage the threads too much so you can re-tap it when you finally get all the pieces of the screw out. Also use some WD-40. It is just not going to be fun if your extraction tool is not working.

You can drill the head off of it (carefully) and then get the rest of the bolts out. When you get the Z off you will likely be able to use some good quality pliers and carefully twist out the remaining thread.

Do you have a welder?mig or tig a nut on it.

I had the same problem earlier this year. I got a couple out using a rotary tool and creating a straight blade screw driver slot. I got the rest out using a screw extractor set. First drilling a pocket hole, then using the “opposite end” of that tool instead of using a drill (going in reverse) - I found it worked much better using a socket wrench.

Good luck with it - that was a stressful moment.

-scott

This is the one I usually do. Once the tension is off the threads (becaus the head is removed), you can usually screw them out with your fingers, but if not, get a vise grip on it. Only works when you can remove the whole peice that the screws are holding on though since you need to expose a little bit of bolt to screw it out…unless you are lucky enough to have a set of reverse direction drill bits like I have :slight_smile:

I was able to hammer a Torx bit into the stripped hex sockets, I THiNK it was a T-25 that fit. Once the Torx bit is driven in, you have to pound it and turn it simultaneously, like a do-it-yourself manual impact wrench. The turning and pounding must be synchronized or the bit will easily strip out. I used a small adjustable wrench on the hex bit so as to leave the end of the bit available for the hammer to hit. Getting the replacement screws in the correct length was even harder than the removal.

Thanks for the help everyone! I finally got them removed by drilling/prying the heads off and getting the post out with a tool made for that. Will be very careful with removing bolts going forward!

I had the same issue with these and after I removed the stripped ones, I bought some harder bolts on MCmaster Carr to replace them with. Flat/pan/button head hex bolts really are poor design choices when they get under about an M5 size beause they just don’t have enough depth to avoid stripping. I used to require cap head on the small ones on the equipment I designed because they give you a fighting chance for maintenence.

@jjneeb Same here, the McMaster ones are so much stronger.

I was able to remove mine with a cheap extractor set from harbor freight.

So easy to over-torque and break or cross thread all of the screws that come with the machine.

I do need replace the ones I damaged. Can you tell me what size you ordered?

From Bolt Depot I ordered: Metric machine screws, Star drive flat head, Stainless steel 316 (A-4), 5mm x 0.8mm x 12mm.

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