8mm Radiator pipe cover

While radiator pipe covers are available, those supporting older 8mm pipes are not very easy to find anymore so I thought I'd design my own!

These fit only 8mm radiator pipes, and only those that go (nearly) vertically down through the floor. The hole through the middle is cone shaped to allow the cap to sit flat on the floor even if the pipe is significantly askew from vertical.

This part is fairly wide to cover relatively large holes in the floor that some of our radiator pipes have.

This is a single symmetrical part so print two for each pipe then snap them together around the pipe. They should be a relatively tight snap fit the first few times they are snapped together and have a fairly unnoticeable seam.

To get a smooth finish on the taper I recommend 0.1mm layer height. You will also have to enable build plate supports for the peg to print correctly, however you should block adding supports to the hole as the hole does not need a support. (Screenshot in Cura - I don't know how to do this in other slicers)

My recommended Cura Support settings are:

0.1mm layer height
Support Structure: Normal
Support Placement: Touching Buildplate
Support overhang: 70 degrees
Support density: 10 %
Enable support brim: ticked
Support brim width: 1.8mm

I printed mine directly onto a PEI build plate with only a Skirt, however the support settings need to be correct for the small support for the peg to stick to the build plate well.

This part should not be printed in PLA as a radiator pipe can get up to 75C which is above the glass transition temperature for PLA (60C) so the part would warp and deform over time and possibly yellow as well.

It should be printed in PETG, ASA or similar materials which can withstand 80C or more.

I printed mine in white PETG as I don't have any ABS or ASA and while the 80C glass transition temperature of PETG is still marginal it's probably adequate in practice and I've seen no deterioration of mine.