Parametric Design of Easy-Connect Pipe Fitting Components Using Open-Source CAD and Fabrication Using 3D Printing
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...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4494/9/2/65 |
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| author | Abolfazl Taherzadeh Fini Cameron K. Brooks Alessia Romani Anthony G. Straatman Joshua M. Pearce |
| author_facet | Abolfazl Taherzadeh Fini Cameron K. Brooks Alessia Romani Anthony G. Straatman Joshua M. Pearce |
| author_sort | Abolfazl Taherzadeh Fini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7743aa8ca9cd45598cc7c3094ca38e09 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2504-4494 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing |
| spelling | doaj-art-7743aa8ca9cd45598cc7c3094ca38e092025-08-20T02:44:50ZengMDPI AGJournal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing2504-44942025-02-01926510.3390/jmmp9020065Parametric Design of Easy-Connect Pipe Fitting Components Using Open-Source CAD and Fabrication Using 3D PrintingAbolfazl Taherzadeh Fini0Cameron K. Brooks1Alessia Romani2Anthony G. Straatman3Joshua M. Pearce4Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, CanadaDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, CanadaDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, CanadaDepartment of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, CanadaDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, CanadaThe 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4494/9/2/65additive manufacturingdistributed manufacturingfused filament fabrication (FFF)sustainable developmentdesign for additive manufacturing (DfAM)water management systems |
| spellingShingle | Abolfazl Taherzadeh Fini Cameron K. Brooks Alessia Romani Anthony G. Straatman Joshua M. Pearce Parametric Design of Easy-Connect Pipe Fitting Components Using Open-Source CAD and Fabrication Using 3D Printing Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing additive manufacturing distributed manufacturing fused filament fabrication (FFF) sustainable development design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) water management systems |
| title | Parametric Design of Easy-Connect Pipe Fitting Components Using Open-Source CAD and Fabrication Using 3D Printing |
| title_full | Parametric Design of Easy-Connect Pipe Fitting Components Using Open-Source CAD and Fabrication Using 3D Printing |
| title_fullStr | Parametric Design of Easy-Connect Pipe Fitting Components Using Open-Source CAD and Fabrication Using 3D Printing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parametric Design of Easy-Connect Pipe Fitting Components Using Open-Source CAD and Fabrication Using 3D Printing |
| title_short | Parametric Design of Easy-Connect Pipe Fitting Components Using Open-Source CAD and Fabrication Using 3D Printing |
| title_sort | parametric design of easy connect pipe fitting components using open source cad and fabrication using 3d printing |
| topic | additive manufacturing distributed manufacturing fused filament fabrication (FFF) sustainable development design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) water management systems |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4494/9/2/65 |
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