Flexible holding hose

thingiverse

Updated: It appears that in PLA, these connectors might not be sturdy enough to maintain a specific angle due to their design. However, they may work better in ABS or other materials with tighter versions providing more grip. The concept is still viable as an attachment strategy in PLA. For a more focused approach, check out my modified design. These connectors consist of two hollow spheres, with one sphere having slots on its side that allow it to flex and shrink, making them easier to fit together while allowing for larger size tolerances during printing. They are not designed to function like a hose for water; instead, they have holes in them. If positioned at the right angle relative to gravity, liquid will not come out. The intention behind this design is to enable movement while keeping a lightweight camera (or other objects) securely in place. To print these connectors, set your 3D printer to create hollow structures with zero infill, and disable both top and bottom layers. Use a single perimeter thickness for the printing process. In Slic3r, you can use the following command: "slic3r --m --perimeters 1 --top-solid-layers 0 --bottom-solid-layers 0 --fill-density 0 flex_hose.stl flex_hose.stl" (to print two at once). While these connectors are likely to remain functional as long as they remain hollow, it is advisable to test the fit of two before printing many. Adjusting the size of the bottom sphere using the OpenSCAD file can create tighter or looser fits, and increasing the number of perimeters will also make the connection tighter. Be cautious of Slic3r's tendency to connect near positions when printing. To save material while maintaining length, consider adding a pole in the middle. The files flex_hose_pole_20.stl and flex_hose_pole_40.stl provide options for 2cm and 4cm poles, respectively. Newer versions of these designs are less susceptible to weakness at the top and bottom of the pole.