Position-able vacuum nozzle for Festool

thingiverse

The Nozzle and Festool_End models need to be flipped end for end to print. (sorry) The hose connector on this design is engineered to fit snugly into the smaller Festool vacuum hose or about 1.45 inches in diameter. Feel free to scale these models however you like, but don't forget to scale the wall thickness accordingly. These parts work well with PLA, but it's often tricky to get all the links to have the same resistance. PETG is perfect for this application because it shrinks a little more and is more flexible. Note: All three models are solid designs, engineered to be printed with NO top, bottom or infill and 1.2mm walls. This should give you the right tolerance between the ball and socket ends. You'll need to set your slicer for whatever combination of line width and perimeters will get you to 1.2mm walls, and you may also need to adjust overlap and/or flow to achieve good results. In other words, it may take a little tuning, but thicker walls are better and there is some room for error because of the way they're assembled... You'll probably want to print an extra link or two for the next part. Assembly: You'll need some heat. A hair dryer should do, but I've been using a heat gun. I recommend starting with the nozzle and building back from there, otherwise you'll be pointing the heat gun at your hand. Place one link on a table with the larger socket end facing up and lightly heat it by pointing your hot air device of choice straight down into it for a couple seconds. It doesn't need to be super hot, just warm enough to stretch a little. Once the socket end is warm, press your first link (or the nozzle) smaller end first, down into it. Don't push hard or move it around. It should just slip right in, then let it cool for a second. It may take a couple tries, but when the heat's right they just pop right in and the socket shrinks back in around the ball. Once that's done, place another link on the table, heat and push the ball end of your now two links down into it... and repeat. When you have enough links, if any of them are tight just heat a little and wiggle them around. If any are too loose just heat a little and do nothing, well.. you could maybe squeeze on it a little, but the plastic should shrink up and get tight again.