63mm Butterfly / Throttle Valve Type Non-Clog Blast Gate for Workshop Dust Extraction Network

thingiverse

Update 24Aug20: I've posted a new design for a blast gate based on a ball valve: [thing:4578649](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4578649) _______________________________________________________________ Update 03Jun20 I've posted a 100mm version of this blast gate based on a ball valve: [thing:4422842](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4422842) _______________________________________________________________ After clearing the clog from the commercially available blast gates in my workshop dust and chip extraction network for what felt like the hundredth time, I decided it was time to create a better design. Naturally, I searched Thingiverse but couldn't find anything that fit perfectly (it doesn't mean that there isn't something out there, just that I didn't see it!). I sat down in Onshape with an idea, which, as I drew it, evolved into two ideas, and then into two finished 3d printed objects. Both designs work without clogging, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. This is the second design based on a butterfly valve throttle-like assembly. This takes up less space than the sliding blade of the first design and is more of an anti-clog arrangement than the self-cleaning action of the first design (the first design is thing 4298421). Both designs are nominally for a 63mm rigid tube system, as shown in the photographs, but flexible hose of the same nominal size also fits. In addition to printing filament, you'll need four short M5 bolts and two short socket head M3 x 6mm and one socket head M3 x 10mm or 12mm bolts. The M5 bolts should self-tap their own threads into the holes printed into the Tube_1 frame, or you could use an M5 tap (or any other thread size that fits the hole). Likewise for the M3 bolts. The longer M3 bolt is used to hold the lever on the butterfly shaft. The holes may need to be eased with a suitable drill bit. The lever has an arrow-like shape at its tip, which shows which direction to rotate it to open the gate. You need to print two tubes, the two halves of the butterfly (Butterfly_1 and Butterfly_2) and one lever for each gate.