Editors Note: Our SkyWeather Customer Dave has made some great improvements on the SkyWeather 3D Printed parts package. He had some great ideas with silicon o-rings that we will incorporate in future designs.
From Dave:
I have posted .stl files to Thingiverse for a set of variations on the printed parts for the SkyWeather project. In creating these I set out with a few goals in mind: 1.) improve weatherproofing without the use of silicon caulk, 2.) avoid glue if possible, 3.) accommodate the new SHT30 temperature probe, and 4.) have fun. The resulting designs feature the use of silicon o-rings as a seal between several of the parts and the project box, o-rings to seal the glass to the sensor and camera frames, a lightning sensor pylon that is assembled by screwing the parts together and is designed to resemble a Tesla Coil (achieving goal #4), a temp probe housing with integral mount for the SHT30, and an air quality housing with increased resistance to blowing/horizontal rain.
You can find these at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4651796 along with a writeup containing notes on printing and mounting each part, some general hints/suggestions, and sourcing for the o-rings that I used.
I hope you and your SkyWeather fans find these useful.
While I love silicon caulk for certain applications, it’s messy and irreversible. Thus my redesign. Also, I will use electrician’s Duct Seal (https://www.amazon.com/Gardner-Bender-DS-130-Duct-Compound/dp/B000GAUTW8/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=electrician%27s+duct+seal&qid=1605204511&s=industrial&sr=1-2) for any wire penetrations into the box – the stuff remains flexible forever and removes cleanly if needed. (It’s the clay-like compound used around the electrical cable where it penetrates the wall at the service entrance to your house.) Any hardware store will have it.
Another thing I didn’t show is the ventilation hole cover and the fan cover. I downloaded a design from Thingiverse and intend to sandwich window screen between it and the box to keep bugs out. Again, no caulk.
I bought the o-rings from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FMYO6Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (031 Silicone O-Ring, 70A Durometer, Red, 1-3/4″ ID, 1-7/8″ OD, 1/16″ Width (Pack of 25)) and https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FMWORU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (023 Silicone O-Ring, 70A Durometer, Red, 1-1/16″ ID, 1-3/16″ OD, 1/16″ Width (Pack of 100)). These were the softest durometer ratings I could find for these sizes.
As for the CAD package I’m using… I’m almost embarrassed to say, but I did mention that I just decided to learn CAD, so I used TinkerCAD. I’m always open to suggestions as to how to step up from there.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do to contribute to your efforts.