Need Advice - Is this dome overhang printable?

Hi RepRap Forums!

This is my first post, so go easy on me

I've just ordered the hardware for a RepRap Huxley, and have been designing parts for my first project - Bulkhead fittings with drain covers for my new hydroponics growbeds.

I have attached a render of the design. The smaller part on the right is glued onto a 40mm ABS drain pipe, and is inserted through a hole in the bottom of the growbed. The larger part on the left goes on the inside of the growbed, and the two parts are to be bolted together with a bead of silicone gel between the two parts.

The inner part is causing me some trouble to design, as I want to have the cap on the top to stop grow media falling in. At the same time, I want to be sure that the part is printable on the RepRap.

The dome overhang on the drain cover part has a 40mm inner diameter, and the entire part is 100mm high.

I have also thought of printing each bulkhead as three parts; the pipe fitting being the same, a drain grill without a cap, and a flat cap that can be glued on afterwards.

As this is my first part designed for 3D printing, I wanted to get some expert opinion on the overhang.

- Lars

If you upload an stl file of the part, I could give it a try and post the results

Hi Jaramaniac,

Thanks, that would be cool. I'm still a month or two away from being able to print my own parts yet

I mocked up the part using LightWave. I think there is an stl export, but I've never tried it.

I'll have to convert it, or re-draw it in CAD. I have access to ProE, which does export STL as far as I know.

As soon as I have a file, I can upload it.

I also had a think about this this morning, and a 3 part solution with a separate flat top may be the better option. I may also go for small square holes instead of the long slots. I'll draw up some more ideas and post them.

- Lars

I believe it should definitely be printable, if not stand alone, then with some support material that just breaks away.

What format do you have it in at the moment?

I have access to a few different programs, i might be able to convert a copy and try.

Hi all,
i see this post is getting old with no answer to the question.
Larslander, did you manage to print it?
if you still need a model, give us a few dimensions of your component,
at least, we need the spherical radius, this can be modeled in 10min (ish)
Rhum51.

Hi Lars,
A few questions... is the dome top needed at all on the left hand part in your illustration?
If the dome is needed, then does it need to be domed on the inside also?
If it can be flat topped then there's no problem as a well calibrated printer will have no difficulty bridging that gap and putting a top on that cylinder shape. If it needs to be domed on the inside also then it could be printed with support switched on as you slice, and the support material removed later.

Just some suggestions.
Regards,
NumberSix

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