Expander for copper plumbing

thingiverse

I had to weld some copper tubing in order to set up water filtration systems. Some of the components were tiny, making it challenging to grasp them while scrubbing the pipe clean. So I built this expanding pipe holder for 3/4-inch tubing. It functions flawlessly, turning even the most stubborn pieces into a breeze to clean. I utilized a 5/16-inch bolt because the bolt, washers, and nut would all fit snugly inside the tube. The flexible components expand slightly as you tighten the nut, allowing them to grip the pipe securely. Then, insert the end of the bolt into a drill and use sandpaper to clean the pipe while it spins. The internal components are generic flexible TPU filament; initially, I attempted to print the flexible part as one unit, but it failed to adhere to the bed, so I redesigned it as a two-piece assembly, which prints effortlessly. The two outer cones are made of PLA. All parts were printed at a slow pace with 100% infill. You will need to print two flexible TPU pieces and two PLA components.