Vacuum Bag Valve Riser

Inspired by others, I decided to create my own version of a riser to assist in the evacuation of air from a vacuum bag.  My version has a lip on the top surface to help stabilize a vacuum vent ring if you so choose to use one.  A surprising benefit is that with this lip you don’t have to press down as hard on the pump to keep the valve properly positioned and sealed, especially on spools that are low on filament.  Simplifies the whole process.

 

The challenge when printing these models is to get a smooth surface on the stage that is elevated above the plate.  Regular PLA supports results in a very rough surface, but enabling a PETG interface layer achieves an incredibly smooth surface.  Removing the support is not too difficult, just slip a utility blade into the seam on the edge and the support will pop right off cleanly.

Once I had my model refined I played around with the cylinder cutouts for aesthetics, so choose a plate with a design that tickles your fancy and happy printing!

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