A fellow WaterPixel user asked me if it would be possible to make a hard dome port cap for a new port. They were not comfortable with the provided neoprene cover and wanted something that would provide more protection in and out of the water. I considered it for a bit and came up with the following design for a "universal" dome port cap. It's a parametric model so a port cap can be generated from just a couple of dimensions, providing it's for a conventional dome port style. I prototyped it for a Nauticam 140mm dome port and made another version of the users 6-inch dome. I printed this in a very tough TPU with a 68-shore hardness. It's flexible but quite rigid. I used an open face grid design to avoid the typical resistance that makes removing port caps harder than necessary. A pair of clips hold the cap in place, with bungees for a more secure connection.

What do folks think of this design? I've not tested it in the water yet but will soon.

Nauticam 140mm and 6-inch dome: (the smaller part in the photos is incomplete...)

First let me say that I applaud all of your efforts to provide free models and inexpensive parts to the community. In this case my feedback is that I personally wouldn't want to use a cap that leaves open the possibility of objects poking through and scratching the dome or the cap material being bent into the dome (and again potentially scratching it if something like sand is in there).

44 minutes ago, Isaac Szabo said:

First let me say that I applaud all of your efforts to provide free models and inexpensive parts to the community. In this case my feedback is that I personally wouldn't want to use a cap that leaves open the possibility of objects poking through and scratching the dome or the cap material being bent into the dome (and again potentially scratching it if something like sand is in there).

I can see that possibility but i think its low probability. I could make the mesh tighter however. I will try that maybe 5mm or less cells.

This is intended to replace a neoprene cover, not an OEM provided locking hard cap. In that context, this cap is quite stiff and will protect better than neoprene which actually does touch the glass and scratches domes with salt and sand all the time. This will flush well in a dunk tank even better than a hard cap and definitely neoprene.

30% hex pattern about 5mm cells:

This 68shore TPU is pretty cool:

Flexible, but supporting 19lbs / 8.6kg without deforming. The cap is under 60grams.

Edited Monday at 08:22 PM1 day by Dave_Hicks

Oooo I'd like one of those for my Sea&Sea 12mm, it needs the bump protection. You have a parametric model?

18 minutes ago, Grantmac said:

Oooo I'd like one of those for my Sea&Sea 12mm, it needs the bump protection. You have a parametric model?

Yes, it's a parametric Fusion360 model.

Inputs are simple:

• Outer diameter of the port shade (which must be 100% vertical on the OD)

• Height of the tallest shade leaf to the flat underside of the port body

• dimensions need to be accurate to 1mm, round up

The dome port needs to be a simple "mushroom" shape dome for this to work. BTW, the open grid is a property assigned in the slicer software, so it can be solid, tight, loose, whatever you like. It's just a modifier that applies a honeycomb infill with no top/bottom layers, creating the hex pattern.

If you provide your port model and dimensions, I will generate a model for it and include that when I upload the design to Makerworld. I probably won't share the Fusion360 file though.

118mm OD

45mm height

It's a wet lens but these dimensions should work

15 minutes ago, Grantmac said:

118mm OD

45mm height

It's a wet lens but these dimensions should work

Is this the boundary you measured?

Precisely

I am curious about the 68 shore TPU - who makes it, and is it AMS compatible (I'm guessing that it is not)?

25 minutes ago, Grantmac said:

Precisely

The grip tabs on the cap are not going to catch due to the bevel at the bottom, but the bungees will hold it in place.

I'll add this to the model.

1 minute ago, SwiftFF5 said:

I am curious about the 68 shore TPU - who makes it, and is it AMS compatible (I'm guessing that it is not)?

I am using Bambulab TPU for AMS - So yes it does work with the AMS!

I've only recently started to work with this version of TPU, and it is very nice. It is too rigid for softer rubber parts needed for things like my sync-cable-connectors, but great for more structural parts. This Port Cap and the Stage Bottle Hose Organizer work great with it. It's also super convenient to have it loaded and ready in the AMS at any time.

https://makerworld.com/en/models/2025358-scuba-hose-organizer-for-stage-bottles#profileId-2183580

Hi Dave,

Nice Cap/Cover! I created a similar solution for my WWL-1, simply closing it off at the front. However, it's also secured using bungees.

I created a similar solution for my WWL-1, simply closing the front. I also use bungee cords for securing it.

In my opinion, the protection is just as good with the mesh at the front, and the advantage is faster drying. I printed my cover with PETG. (If anyone wants one of these parts for the old WWL-1 (without a buoyancy ring) just let me know and I'll upload it to Makerworld.)

I also have TPU for AMS from BambuLab, but I'm not entirely happy with the material yet. It's quite hard and therefore tends to break more easily. I used TPU for AMS for my snoot adapter, but I'll probably reprint that part with regular TPU soon.

Tino

WWL-1 Cover/Cap, latest version, printed for a friend.