SkyWeather 3D parts

thingiverse

This is a collection of 3D printable components for SwitchDoc Lab's SkyWeather weather station. The project remains in its "work in progress" phase, as I have created the parts and installed them on my own SkyWeather station, but some adjustments may still be required. 10/12/2019 Update: I recently completed a comprehensive overhaul of this collection, grouping each component into individual parts with descriptive names for easier identification. There are now six distinct components, each comprising multiple printable pieces. Here is the current list: 1) Air Quality Sensor Housing - 2 parts 2) AM2315 Radiation Shield (Stevenson Shield) - 6 parts 3) Camera Housing - 5 parts 4) Camera Tilt/Pan Pivots - 5 parts 5) Lightning Detector Housing - 4 parts 6) Sunlight Sensor Housing - 4 parts The Air Quality sensor attaches to the bottom of the enclosure, positioning it correctly for accurate AQI readings. This design has significantly improved my readings, which are now comparable to those from a more expensive AQI sensor. The AM2315 temperature/humidity housing is a smaller version of a Stevenson Shield. To assemble this component, print 5-6 discs and one each of the remaining parts. Use 1/8" threaded rod, nuts, and lockwashers to secure the disc stack together. I used industrial-strength super glue for the mount, tube, coupler, and top piece. The Camera Housing is designed to be installed on top of the box (see my image). Its tall design minimizes obstruction when opening the box cover. If you only need to point at the sky, print the mount, pedestal, base, sleeve, and cover. Apply a thin coating of silicone adhesive to seal the glass window in the cover part using your finger. The channels in the cover part will help drain rain away from the glass. For panning and tilting the camera, print two sets of Camera Pivot parts 1 & 2 and the end cap, along with one each of the extension tubes. Use a pair of M4x16 bolts and washers to secure the end caps and adjust the tension on the rotating components. The Lightning Detector housing is essentially a round version of the original design from SDL. I also included an optional rounded box for aesthetic appeal. The Sunlight Sensor housing resembles the camera housing, intended for mounting on top of the box. ================================================== Update 10/04/2019: I recently added an enclosure for the Air Quality sensor. During the weather station's assembly, I discovered that the AQI sensor must be installed vertically to function correctly. A small resistor inside the sensor is heated to induce air flow, which only works when the sensor is in a vertical position. I designed this box and lid to house it properly. Initially, I planned to attach the sensor to the side of the box for simplicity, but realized that rain could compromise its functionality. Instead, I created a new design attaching the sensor to the bottom of the box. I also reworked the Stevenson shield for the temperature/humidity probe to make it pivotable. Since this housing requires vertical orientation for accurate readings, I designed it to be adjustable in case the box is not mounted vertically. While making these changes, I reworked the lightning detector pylon to have a round base. ================================================= 10/1/2019 First post: This collection of 3D printable components is intended for SwitchDoc Lab's SkyWeather weather station. The project remains in its "work in progress" phase as I have designed and fitted the parts, but not yet attached them to the Budd box, so some adjustments may still be necessary. The quartz window features a recess for the quartz, which I believe is an improvement over the original slot design. It prints without support. I re-designed the pylon for the lightning sensor, opting for a round shape that looks nicer and is easier to print. The significant change is the radiation shield for the temperature/humidity sensor - essentially a Stevenson enclosure. Although it might be slightly small to achieve 100% effectiveness, it should significantly outperform the original sun shield. For optimal accuracy, I intend to add a small fan to this component as well. I also plan to re-work the enclosure for the AQI sensor and possibly add a small fan to that design as well. All parts can be printed using PLA and then coated with a UV-resistant clear coating. The components were designed using FreeCAD, and source files are available upon request.