Laser-cut Pinch Valve

thingiverse

This 6mm silicon tubing pinch valve is crafted from laser-cut 3mm acrylic layers that are stacked and joined with M2 and M3 machine screws. It's perfect for controlling the flow of various substances, including air, water, fruit juice, hard liquor, or even materials that may contaminate regular valves. The valve is food-safe by design. Powering it is a lightweight '9g' hobby servo, and the silicon tubing easily pushes into the top of the valve. The prototype photos and video are from an earlier version; the uploaded design remains functionally identical but slightly refined. A Hextronik HXT900 servo is used, but any cheap 9g micro servo will suffice, though some may require adjustments to the bottom layers. Acrylic parts should be laser-cut and assemble the valve by attaching the servo, screwing an M2 machine screw through a cut servo horn, stacking three identical acrylic layers with M3 screws, adding three plastic rollers onto the M2 screw shaft, and securing them with an M2 nut. Congratulations on assembling your pinch valve!