(TLDR: I am making fixture plate plugs for smw “hobby” fixture plates. Are you interested in getting some yourself? If so, what material would be preferred: hdpe or silicone rubber? Fastening type: Hex wrench with threads or press fit?)
Hey folks,
I’ve had a Saunders Machine Works fixture plate on my nomad 3 for awhile now. I love a good fixture plate and it’s been worth every penny.
Praise out of the way, the holes are a right pain to keep clean. SMW has hole plugs for their larger hole machines but plugs for their hobby fixture plates (m6 and 1/4-20) are unfortunately non-existent 
Sourcing decent plugs has been oddly difficult as well. Any I’ve found of that size seem to sit proud of the hole which won’t work for a fixture plate. The only logical thing to do is make my own.
I figure if I’m making them myself, I could probably kit them out for a modest price and sell em on Etsy or something. Seeing as there is likely 0 demand, this would be more for logistics than anything… 
(I’ll make tens of dollars!)
So for the few who would be interested, what would you be looking for? For material I am thinking white hdpe. That would have some really good chemical resistance and last ~forever. It would make the kitting more expensive for sure but at a one time cost, who cares.
I could also do silicone rubber which would be easier to work with day to day but I expect the threads of the plate would shred them with use.
HDPE has the benefit of being rigid so it could hold threads. That would ensure the plugs are nice and secure but it might be annoying have to unscrew fixture plugs all the time…maybe it wouldn’t be so terrible though.
Regardless of which route I go, I’ll make a gallery thread to document the “making of”
Let me know if you folks have any opinions 
(and if Carbide 3d wants to pick up this idea themselves, by all means take it! I’d love to just buy a pack instead of making my own 
)