Parametric Design of Easy-Connect Pipe Fitting Components Using Open-Source CAD and Fabrication Using 3D Printing
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| Type | |
|---|---|
| Authors | Abolfazl Taherzadeh Fini Cameron K. Brooks Alessia Romani Anthony G. Straatman Joshua M. Pearce |
| Location | London, ON, Canada |
| Status | Designed Modelled Prototyped Verified |
| Verified by | FAST |
| Years | |
| Uses | Pressure testing |
| Links | Sourcecode: https://osf.io/fqjxe/ |
The amount of non-revenue water, mostly due to leakage, is around 126 billion cubic meters annually worldwide. A more efficient wastewater management strategy would use a parametric design for on-demand, customized pipe fittings, following the principles of distributed manufacturing. To fulfill this need, this study introduces an open-source parametric design of a 3D-printable easy-connect pipe fitting that offers compatibility with different dimensions and materials of pipes available on the market. Custom pipe fittings were 3D printed using a RepRap-class fused filament 3D printer, with polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) as filament feedstocks for validation. The 3D-printed connectors underwent hydrostatic water pressure tests to ensure that they met the standards for residential, agricultural, and renewable energy production applications. All the printed parts passed numerous hydrostatic pressure tests. PETG couplings can tolerate up to 4.551 ± 0.138 MPa of hydrostatic pressure, which is eight times greater than the highest standard water pressure in the residential sector. Based on the economic analysis, the cost of 3D printing a pipe coupling is from three to seventeen times lower than purchasing a commercially available pipe fitting of a similar size. The new open-source couplings demonstrate particular potential for use in developing countries and remote areas.
Source
[edit | edit source]- Sourcecode:https://osf.io/fqjxe/
- The repository for continuous development can be accessed on GitHub at https://github.com/uwo-fast/pipe-fitting-SCAD
- https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6955018
- https://certification.oshwa.org/ca000069.html
Keywords
[edit | edit source]additive manufacturing; distributed manufacturing; fused filament fabrication (FFF); sustainable development; design for additive manufacturing (DfAM); water management systems
See also
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- 3D printing safe for water - Summary: https://awionline.org/awi-quarterly/fall-2022/3d-printing-animal-welfare, Study: https://awionline.org/3d-printing-animal-welfare
- Water quality for guest health at remote Amazon ecotourism lodges
| Authors | Abolfazl Taherzadeh Fini, Cameron K. Brooks, Alessia Romani, Anthony G. Straatman, Joshua M. Pearce |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Organizations | FAST, Western University |
| Cite as | Abolfazl Taherzadeh Fini, Cameron K. Brooks, Alessia Romani, Anthony G. Straatman, Joshua M. Pearce (2025–2026). "Parametric Design of Easy-Connect Pipe Fitting Components Using Open-Source CAD and Fabrication Using 3D Printing". Appropedia. Retrieved August 2, 2026. |
In the News
[edit | edit source]- Open-source 3D Printed Pipe Fittings Reduce Water Waste, New Study Argues 3D Printing Industry