PTFE bowden tube connector

This connector needs no extra hardware parts and is used to connect your bowden tubes together. Due to its mechanism, one is able to connect/disconnect the tube by simply twisting the screw cap a little. If you have to modify it to your particular use case, you are going to find the .step for download too

Printing: Just print it in PLA at the given orientation. (Screw caps on their flat side, Middle piece on its tip with brim). 

Prepare the connector:                                                                                                               Depending on your Printers tolerances you might need to wear in the threads by tightening and loosen every side at least 6 times! 

NOTE: Wear in is done without bowden tube. 

Thigten only by hand and DO NOT APPLY LUBE if you want to use the connector in a forward bowden setup. Lube might get on the screw caps “teeth” and prevent a firm grip. This does not mater for just connecting a MMU or Spool/Dry box to your printer.

How to use:                                                                                                                                                                      To make sure a tight fit, feed the bowden tube trough the screw cap. 

Then slide the tube in the middle piece. Push it in until you see the bowden tube through one of the inspection holes. 

Then slide the screw cap along the bowdentube towards middle piece an thighten it by hand until they wont come apart. 

If you are used to it, you can leave the screw cap connected to middle piece and just slide the bowdent tube in and out.

NOTE: If you want to use the connector in a forward bowden setup, you have to make sure to see “bite marks” on the bowden tube. These are caused by the screw caps teeth and repeated firm tightening with additional “pulling”. Once these marks are present, they wont come apart anymore.

Since i have no forward bowden machine in daily use anymore, i did the testing with my old Velleman K8400. It worked for 3h without issue. Ill do no more testing about this because it was more out of curiosity. Turned out one might be able to use this connector even under harsh conditions

The screw cap is the same as in my bowden tube feed trough:

https://www.printables.com/de/model/335850-ptfe-tube-feed-trough-fully-printable

CHANGE LOG 17.04.2024
Added the .step files for you to modify. This might come in handy if you want to integrate some aspects of the model in to your own project

 CHANGE LOG 16.12.2025
Added the .3mf and .step files for download too