# 3d printing, a plumbing solution

**URL:** <https://forums.sketchup.com/t/3d-printing-a-plumbing-solution/282083>\
**Category:** 3D Printing\
**Created:** [July 18, 2024, 7:48pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/3d-printing-a-plumbing-solution/282083 "2024-07-18T19:48:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jclements](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/jclements/32/1231_2.png) [@jclements](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/jclements)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 7:48pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/3d-printing-a-plumbing-solution/282083/1 "2024-07-18T19:48:24Z")

</div>

I needed a part to fix a problem with my existing Shower Diverter. There was a large gap between the diverter and the shower wall causing a caulking issue.

I designed a “spacer” which I hoped would lessen the gap, help strengthen the diverter, and reduce the amount of caulking.

Note, the copper pipe and threaded fitting could not be repaired because the heat from soldering a new fitting would be close enough to damage the fiberglass shower wall.

I don’t have a 3D printer but I found a person in Portland, OR (Aaron at [Corvidcreationspdx.com](http://Corvidcreationspdx.com)) who prints detailed Miniature figures and asked him, if I made an STL created in SU, could he print a spacer for me.

This 1st time for me creating an STL. Below are photos documenting my process:  
1- I put the end of the diverter face-down onto a printer/copier and made a jpg file.  
2- I imported the jpg into a couple of 2d graphic apps to trace and then eventually exported as a Dwg file.  
3- After importing the Dwg, I took measurements of the actual diverter and scaled the Dwg accordingly. I used Layout to print and verify the scaling. Then created the STL file.

Note: The copper pipe is not parallel to the surface of the shower wall nor is it plumb to it, such that the _gap varies_. So, in SU I extruded the spacer close to the gap’s minimum dimension. The result in not perfect, but the gap was reduced by about half of what it was before.

 ![00- CorvidCreations 3d Printer](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/8/1/81c8034ed00e30cb5b3df9e8651d191e3e965d24.jpeg)  
 ![00- CorvidCreations Miniature Figures](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/b/c/bc3ead3ebe7dec1850ba740ebba154c7848df7f2.jpeg)  
 ![01- Diverter to be Replaced and Gap to Tub Side wall](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/1/1/11d0de92ae90bd14a9cdb0029d461f94dedab059.jpeg)  
 ![02- Copper pipe feed for Diverter and solder Joint](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/7/e/7ee40abfc82d08e8206a603589f85ac59a7bb91e.jpeg)  
 ![03- Diverter rear end, spacer to be Added](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/7/5/75cbf75f39f0a3665f5d2d0da3cc624049a6d6a8.jpeg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jclements](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/jclements/32/1231_2.png) [@jclements](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/jclements)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 7:50pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/3d-printing-a-plumbing-solution/282083/2 "2024-07-18T19:50:42Z")

</div>

More photos

 ![Scan of Diverter](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/f/2/f2b30b239c239077f240867a52f220110488b74f.jpeg)

 ![04- Diverter Spacer, Inner surface](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/7/3/739a39dd04f8b2c6625a81ed97793c00124c506f.jpeg)  
 ![05- Diverter Spacer, Outer surface](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/c/3/c3845d46401b86658e6d7daf8b5909d2635aa66d.jpeg)  
 ![06- Diverter with 3D Spacer placed](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/0/c/0c76fc5043074b0f48899be3397bfa57eff228f0.jpeg)  
 ![07- Diverter with 3D spacer installed to Shower Wall](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/9/5/9594da942286f7f6f1fe5c6ff68b4204a9a49cd7.jpeg)  
s