Threaded Hose Barb pipe fitting for Hot Tub heater

thingiverse

I needed replacements for broken original pipe fittings that go into the Hot Tub heater, but couldn't find any suitable options that matched the 240V6KW SSE-00-OH-OF 19400 0034 Watkins MFG Corp specifications. The problem was that none of them fit, neither the 3/4 nor 1 inch hose barb style, so I decided to design and print my own replacements. Initially, I attempted to use PLA, but it cracked every time I tried to install it, forcing me to switch to ABS. However, the ring above the threads would drip a little during printing, suggesting that the design might need some adjustments to prevent this issue. Considering an alternative approach, I thought about printing the part upside down so that the flange edge would taper outwards, but was concerned that the part might become top-heavy and detach from the build plate. Instead, I modified the original attempt by making it flange back into the barb, which provided a bit more strength. During installation, one of these modified parts snapped off when I tried to fit a cold hose over it, putting too much stress on it. In retrospect, this was likely due to excessive force applied during fitting, rather than any inherent weakness in the design. To mitigate this risk, I recommend using teflon tape on the threads, even though they are plastic, and tightening carefully without over-tightening. Later, a friend suggested trying to print the part with PETG, which resulted in a much stronger and more resistant product that was less prone to cracking or breaking. Moreover, printing it upside down yielded a cleaner finish without any issues.