Vortex tube

thingiverse

This is a functional Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube that prints in one piece without any adjustments needed. Simply print and apply 80-100 psi air pressure. I'm using the Form 2 SLA printer, which has sufficient resolution to print the passageways inside the tube. While I doubt this will work with an FDM printer, there may be innovative ways to make it happen. I've included the Fusion 360 file, STLs, and .form files for printing in clear resin. The primary tuning parameter for a vortex tube like this is the gap at the hot end that restricts how much air can come out. There are two .form files: one with a 0.35mm gap and another with a 0.4mm gap. I recommend using the 0.35 since the output air stream will be less voluminous and hotter. If you're experiencing printing difficulties, try the 0.4mm instead. The holes in this vortex tube are "letter R" drill size, suitable for tapping with a 1/8 NPT pipe thread. At 25°C ambient temperature, this tube produced 45°C hot air and 17°C cold air.