Super Strong Flex Hose Piece

thingiverse

UPDATE: My new version of a single printed joint hose component is live: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2842555 I made this component because there weren't any suitable easy-to-print and strong flex hoses available. It's a solid part with reinforced bases, making it difficult to snap them together. However, they are quite air-tight and hold their shape well. My main goal was to create a piece that wasn't just a shell but actually had solid material inside. Using FreeCAD, I designed this from scratch to achieve good wall thickness and tight tolerances. To print these components, use a raft, print them open side down, and snap them together by warming one side first. If your hands are too sore, it's best to practice snapping a couple of pieces together before continuing. Don't force the pieces together; instead, wobble them in large motions. For extra strength, I set my filament diameter to 0.32mm so that the walls overprint and create an even stronger part (the actual filament is 0.4mm). If air leaks are found after snapping the components together, apply heat shrink tubing over where they connect, making sure most of it covers the socket side rather than the ball side. Be cautious not to move the pieces while heating the tubing, as this can weaken and tear the PLA joint. To improve flow, dab a little acetone on the ball after connection (letting it sit for 5-10 seconds between the ball and socket). Then, gently blow on it to evaporate excess acetone. This reduces friction but may slightly impair air leakage if done too much. I've successfully used these components with an air compressor, so they should hold up well in most applications!