Adjustable Angle 3-Way Elbow, 1/2 Inch PVC Pipe Fitting Series #HalfInchPVCFittings UPDATE 2015-07-03

thingiverse

UPDATE 2015-07-03 - Tightening the tolerances results in a better fit overall, and it's crucial to ensure that your printer is properly calibrated before printing. A versatile 3-Way Elbow is now available for adjusting angles from 60 degrees to 180 degrees, specifically designed to fit 1/2" Schedule 40 PVC pipe. This innovative piece of plumbing hardware is part of a series of custom fittings I'm developing to complement standard piping options. Having successfully created the reconfigurable 22.5 and 45 degree angle elbows (available at http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:533514), I was prompted to consider whether there was an even more efficient method for achieving these angles. After all, these specific elbow models require significant print time and plastic usage. The game-changer came when it dawned on me that utilizing the pipe itself as a central axis would allow for greater adaptability in piping designs. The process begins with printing two bases and one nut of your preference once. By using either a 3-way or 2-way nut, you can easily modify the functionality to meet specific needs. When positioning is complete, securely attach the parts with glue for a seamless connection. Initially, triangular holes were incorporated into the design to expedite gluing; in earlier prototypes, air-tight piping proved challenging during drying times. Strategically placed ledges on top of the horizontal openings also facilitated smooth printing without additional support structures. New fittings will continue to be developed within this series, all branching from the original 3-Way Elbow. To aid with further customization, kindly notify me of any necessary pieces you have not seen created yet; please reference the #HalfInchPVCFittings tag for any resulting contributions.