3D printing Thetford clips?

[jdmackes]

I'm about to tackle some toilet repairs, has anyone tried 3d printing the clips? I don't know what issues I'm going to find with mine but I thought that could be a way to recreate some of these parts that aren't made anymore

 

[Bill]

By "clips", I assume you are referring to the white nylon "wedges", sometimes called slides or hold-downs, that hold the toilet down on the tracks?

If so, my only comment is that the wedges need to be strong. Once in place, they are not subject to a whole lot of force. But as part of removal or insertion, they undergo a great deal, and they have to be tough enough to resist it. Brittleness especially would be a problem.

I have not done 3D printing, so I don't know the materials. But it must be considered.

Bill

 

[jdmackes]

There's lots of different materials that can be used for the print. I'd have to see which ones would make the most sense, but they have ones infused with carbon fiber so I would think that they would be able to hold up well enough

 

[Shane826]

Thetford p/n 36966. I think www.adventurerv.net still has them.

https://www.adventurerv.net/electra-magic-hold-downs-p-40515.html

If not, I have a pair. PM me if interested.

 

[Foxesin2619]

Hi. I have only one wedge original piece, decided to create the other. So here is the .stl file i created from original piece to print. I printed with PLA+ filament and used 0.4 standard nozzle 0.16 mm density 100%. Hope it works. Here is the thingiverse link:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7111484

 

[Bill]

Please report your results. There is a lot of stress on this nylon part. I have no experience with 3D printing, but this will be a good test of their strength.

 

[Foxesin2619]

i bought a new valve assembly for the toilet from dyers.com. I will try to put it all together. I think the amount of pressure nut and flange is to seal the sewer line and shouldn’t require too much force as long as the nut stay in same thread.

 

[Shrimpburrito]

You could certainly print that in nylon.....

Dave

 

[Foxesin2619]

I have also ABS and carbon fiber filaments but both are painful to print. They need higher temperatures and it is hard to get them to stick on plate. But when done give good results.