HowTo: 3D Printing - Building a Y-distributor for a 125mm exhaust hose

While setting up the extraction system for my soldering station and the chamber of my 3D printer, I was faced with the problem that I had to somehow divide the suction port of the extraction system into two ways.

The goal was to be able to control both the branch to my soldering area and the branch to the chamber of my 3D printer independently of each other. I wrote about that in the post Build a servo controlled 125mm butterfly valve and Build solder fume extraction hose incl. funnel yourself a few components have already been introduced.

In order to be able to connect two butterfly valves to one intake port of my extraction system, I printed the Y adapter below. Three 125mm hose connections can be connected to this.

How this is constructed and how it can be combined with the butterfly valves or the suction hose is described in the following article.


Safety instructions

I know the following notes are always kind of annoying and seem unnecessary. Unfortunately, many people who knew "better" have lost eyes, fingers or other things due to carelessness or injured themselves. Data loss is almost negligible in comparison, but even these can be really annoying. Therefore, please take five minutes to read the safety instructions. Because even the coolest project is not worth injury or other trouble.
https://www.nerdiy.de/sicherheitshinweise/

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Requirements

To set it up you have to do some simple manual work.

Required tool:

Required material:

In the following list you will find all the parts you need for the assembly.


Collect the necessary parts

Before you can start building, you should first collect all the necessary parts.

For the assembly you need the following parts.

  • 1x 3D printed Y-distributor
  • 3x 3D printed flange
  • 12x M3x12 countersunk screws
  • 12x M3 nut
  • approx. 2m foam tape approx. 5mm thick
  • 4x flange clamps
  • 4x M3x20 cylinder head screw
  • 4x M3 nut

Another view of the parts needed

You can find the STL files for printing at the following link. If you get an error when importing into your slicer, you should download the complete repository. When downloading the single STL file, GitHub often only provides the HTML file to preview the STL file and not the STL file itself.

About printing: I printed all components with 30% infill and 5 perimeters from PLA.


Install the mounting ring on the base

The Y-distributor is basically just the basis for assembling the 3D printed flanges.

So that hoses can be connected to the Y-distributor...

...you first need the parts shown.

The flange is attached as shown using the...

…M3x12 screw including M3 nut connected to the base.

To do this, each flange must be connected to the base using four M3x12 screws.

Other view.

Other view.

Other view.

Other view.

Other view.

Other view.

Other view.

Other view.

Other view.

Just like the first flange, you now also have to screw the remaining two flanges to the base.

Other view.

Other view.

Other view.

Other view.


Assemble 3D printed butterfly valves

In the article Build a servo controlled 125mm butterfly valve I have described how you can build butterfly valves that match this system.

If desired, these can then be connected to the Y-distributor and the individual branches can be controlled independently of one another.

For further construction you will need the following parts.

  • The prepared Y-distributor
  • 1-2x butterfly valves
  • approx. 2m foam tape approx. 5mm thick
  • 4x flange clamps
  • 4x M3x20 cylinder head screw
  • 4x M3 nut

Another view of the parts needed.

Another view of the parts needed.

Now cut the appropriate length of foam tape...

...and glue it to the inside of the flange clamp as shown.

Repeat this for the second flange clamp as well

To assemble the butterfly valve, you would now have to place the flange clamp around the flange as shown.

The prepared butterfly valve is then placed into the first and second flange clamps as shown.

After the two flange clamps are connected using the M3x20 cylinder head screw and the M3 nut...

... the butterfly valve should be fixed in an airtight manner but rotatably mounted in the flange clamps.

Further view of the Y-distributor including the connected butterfly valve.

Further view of the Y-distributor including the connected butterfly valve.

Now repeat this step again...

...with the second...

…butterfly valve to connect it to the Y-manifold in the same way.

Further view of the Y-distributor including two connected butterfly valves.


Install another clamping ring

The prepared Y-distributor can now be mounted on the intake port of the actual extraction filter using two additional flange clamps.

To do this, mount the flange clamps on the flange as before (initially provisionally).

Other view.

Other view.


Connect the Y distributor to the extraction system

In the following gallery you will find a few pictures of an assembly example of how you can connect the Y-distributor to the extraction system.


Build a servo controlled 125mm butterfly valve

You can find information about the construction of the butterfly valve in the article

Below are a few videos and photos of the construction of the butterfly valve.

Simple function test.
Structure incl. Y-distributor.
Example video of automation using a wifi socket.


Build solder fume extraction hose incl. funnel yourself

In the article 3D printing - build solder fume extraction hose incl. funnel yourself I have described a way to build a soldering extraction hose from a few standard exhaust hoses and a few 3D printed parts. You can find all the information and materials you need in the linked article.


Have fun with the project

I hope everything worked as described for you. If not or you have questions or suggestions please let me know in the comments. I will then add this to the article if necessary.
Ideas for new projects are always welcome. 🙂

PS Many of these projects - especially the hardware projects - cost a lot of time and money. Of course I do this because I enjoy it, but if you think it's cool that I share the information with you, I would be happy about a small donation to the coffee fund. 🙂

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