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[[Category:Water use]]
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[[Category:OSAT 3D-Printable Designs]]
[[Category:OSAT 3D-Printable Designs]]
[[Category:3D printing]]

Revision as of 14:40, 4 December 2014

Contoured Spigot for 5-gallon buckets

Project developed by Twfuller

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Abstract

  • Spigots manufactured for self-attachment typically rely on large gaskets to maintain a seal, which works with varying success on the curved surface of a bucket. By modeling a bucket with just its top and bottom diameters and its average thickness, it's easy to design a spigot with contours that fit well. This design is expected to fit a wide range of bucket sizes effectively. The main attachment is reasonably easy to print, and typical modification requires changing only 4 parameters in two files.

Bill of Materials

  1. OpenSCAD & the files located at http://libre3d.com/category/655/Plumbing/listings/800/Parametric-Contoured-Spigot-for-5-gallon-buckets.html [1]
  2. Appropriate feedstock for printer - be aware that some plastics like PLA absorb water readily
  3. Will likely require a gasket of some sort between outer section and bucket - 3.5cm gasket or flat rubber cut to size will probably be sufficient

Tools needed for fabrication

  1. MOST Delta RepRap or similar RepRap 3-D printer
  2. Tools necessary to make 3.5cm hole in bucket

Skills and Knowledge Necessary

  • Need to know top and bottom outer diameters of bucket, average thickness of bucket, and desired height of spigot - scripts will do the rest, assuming no other changes to geometry
  • Useful site for bucket dimensions: http://fivegallonideas.com/5-gallon-bucket-dimensions/ [2]

Technical Specifications and Assembly Instructions

  • Like many interlocking parts, especially those with threads, this is sensitive to print quality - use 100% fill, a reasonable layer thickness, and printing speed
  • Expect total print times for the whole assembly between 3-5 hours - obviously dependent upon print parameters
  • Assembly time is negligible, expect drilling the bucket to take longer
  • Be sure to orient prints for slicing in a sane manner - flat ends down, etc.

Gallery

Common Problems and Solutions

  • Previously mentioned sensitivity to print quality and likely need for a gasket
  • Stopcock is prone to ill fit, may be replaced with screw-based design in future

Cost savings

  • Typical mass-produced spigots for buckets retail for ~$2-5, though none seem to account for bucket contour and few are designed quite as heavy duty, and the cost of feedstock is furthermore quite low

References

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