DIY 3D Printed Brake Bleeder Cap

[dk1604]

A fun project if you have access to a 3D printer. It also gives one an excuse to learn some CAD skills. For this project I used OnShape.

The brake cap is for a 2008 Subaru Legacy. It was printed using PETG which hopefully is reasonably resistant to brake fluid.

It works rather well actually. No problem getting to the 10-15psi that I typically use to pressure bleed brakes. Much more convenient than my previous solution of clamping a cap down with Irwin Quick-Grips. If I were to do it again though, I might consider using two o-rings instead of just one for a better seal as there was a slight leak until I wet the o-ring with brake fluid.

DIY pressure bleeder setup.

New cap easily clears the strut tower brace. Interference from the strut tower brace meant I couldn't easily use my previous solution of clamping a cap down with Irwin Quick-Grips.

Brass hose barb fitting JB-Welded into the cap.

Designed as two pieces to minimize overhangs during printing. Though one could probably print it as one piece using supports.

 

[Astro14]

Well done!

 

[JeffKeryk]

There's DIY and then there's DIY! This is on another level.

 

[dk1604]

There's DIY and then there's DIY! This is on another level.

Thanks. I just occasionally dabble in the world of 3D printing trying to find projects to justify my purchase of a 3D printer. It would have made much more financial sense to just buy a Motive Brake Bleeder .

That said, projects like this have definitely given me a much better appreciation and understanding of the work that mechanical engineers and industrial designers do. Many freely available designs posted on sites like Thingiverse and Printables are amazing. There are some truly talented mechanical designers out there.

 

[Method]

Awesome. Love the concept and execution

 

[GMBoy]

That is so neat! You seem to be very up on that as well! Money can be made making parts that are no longer available or to improve a part.

 

[Trav]

I like it a lot, well done. If you want to make a few I will gladly buy one.
Edit: They do make barb fittings with a nut on the inside that you could use and O ring with and save $ on JB Weld.

 

[dk1604]

I like it a lot, well done. If you want to make a few I will gladly buy one.
Edit: They do make barb fittings with a nut on the inside that you could use and O ring with and save $ on JB Weld.

I consider the design a prototype/proof-of-concept so I wouldn't feel comfortable charging money for one. (I am just a novice playing with this stuff. I do Electrical Eng by trade.)

Do you have a 3D printer or know anyone with one? I'll be happy to send you the STL files.

In fact, since I used a free OnShape account to design it, the design is readily available to anyone else with an OnShape account. That gives one access to the whole parametric design. So if one wanted to, for example, change the thickness of the o-ring slot, its just a few mouse clicks. Over the years, I have benefited so much from all of the DIY and educational information online, here and elsewhere, so I am thinking of making the STL files available on one of the free sites like Thingiverse or Printables to give back to the community. Just need to figure out what is involved in that process.

 

[Carmudgeon]

In fact, since I used a free OnShape account to design it, the design is readily available to anyone else with an OnShape account. That gives one access to the whole parametric design. So if one wanted to, for example, change the thickness of the o-ring slot, its just a few mouse clicks. Over the years, I have benefited so much from all of the DIY and educational information online, here and elsewhere, so I am thinking of making the STL files available on one of the free sites like Thingiverse or Printables to give back to the community. Just need to figure out what is involved in that process.

Quite easy. Register an account, upload the files, and some photos to be helpful. Choose the licensing terms.

Write a description (even though some won't read, or perhaps comprehend, it) and publish.

 

[Trav]

I consider the design a prototype/proof-of-concept so I wouldn't feel comfortable charging money for one. (I am just a novice playing with this stuff. I do Electrical Eng by trade.)

Do you have a 3D printer or know anyone with one? I'll be happy to send you the STL files.

In fact, since I used a free OnShape account to design it, the design is readily available to anyone else with an OnShape account. That gives one access to the whole parametric design. So if one wanted to, for example, change the thickness of the o-ring slot, its just a few mouse clicks. Over the years, I have benefited so much from all of the DIY and educational information online, here and elsewhere, so I am thinking of making the STL files available on one of the free sites like Thingiverse or Printables to give back to the community. Just need to figure out what is involved in that process.

Thank you, that would be awesome! I will PM you with my email. I do not have a 3d printer but my brother does and I am seriously looking into one for myself to learn something new and have a valuable tool in the arsenal. The Saab community has been helpful with some STL files for obsolete plastic parts for the seat molding cover retention blocks on old saabs that has worked out wonderful and much better material quality than the originals, these last. Cheers!

 

[Carmudgeon]

Thank you, that would be awesome! I will PM you with my email. I do not have a 3d printer but my brother does and I am seriously looking into one for myself to learn something new and have a valuable tool in the arsenal. The Saab community has been helpful with some STL files for obsolete plastic parts for the seat molding cover retention blocks on old saabs that has worked out wonderful and much better material quality than the originals, these last. Cheers!

I have one of the typical Ender bed slingers. Venerable design, they're cheap, parts/mods are readily available (also cheap), but very "hands on" types of printers.

Great for learning how things work, but on the flip side, they'll probably force you to learn how things work. Putting aside needing attention when something goes wrong, to get the best out of them requires paying attention, and some tweaking, to a larger extent than some expect.

Printers can be as much of the hobby as the printing itself. It's not necessarily difficult, especially for the mechanically-attuned and inclined, but sometimes, one just doesn't want the potential hassle.

If you're not prepared for that level of hands-on, there are more turnkey/hands-off options now, at more reasonable prices, from brands like Bambu Labs.

Also look for something that's prepared to print materials like PETG, TPU, and ABS (proper ventilation required) that require higher temperatures, out of the box, rather than needing a retrofit of the hot end. PLA is ok for many things, but the others are better suited to more demanding duty.

Getting into designing things is also fun, and a different kettle of fish. Also makes one further appreciate the people who do it regularly, and well.