Fits machines that use the approx 40mm outside diameter button clip fittings (UP22, UP24, UP32 and UP34 models, for example). Check your machine before printing.

It's been fully been tested on my UP32 Ball Animal Origin model, and works like a charm.

This is my first foray into FreeCAD so I guarantee the execution is probably a little rough. But the design prints fine, looks OK, and works perfectly.

WAFFLE:

My ancient Dyson DC14 gave up the ghost last week. This time it was beyond my ability to fix, so I reluctantly splashed out on a new one.

I've collected a number of Dyson attachments over the last 30 years, and they've always been cross-compatible with the many models I've owned. But I see that Dyson has radically (and for no obvious reason) changed the way their accessories attach to the appliance. No doubt they'll claim the new design is an “improvement” - despite the fact that the new design actually prevents tools from rotating on the hose during use, placing extra strain on both the hose and the operator.

But even if it were an ”improvement", the cynic in me reckons the real reason is that it renders the old stuff unusable, and forces people into buying the new versions - with a convenient extra boost to company profits, naturally!

My most-used accessory is a simple dusting brush (see pictures). It's dead useful, and I can't imagine cleaning without it any more. In fact, the old one wore out earlier this year and I was happy to purchase another. But now, thanks to the changed design, it doesn't fit the new machine. Well I'm not throwing out a nearly new tool that easily if I can help it!

The easy solution would be to purchase an official Dyson adaptor for a further £12.50. But add that to the £25 the brush already cost me, and it starts looking stupidly expensive for such a simple tool.

Thankfully my 3D printer means I can avoid this trap (I was very tempted to spell that last word with a “c”). There's a whole cornucopia of free designs available on this site (and others), so I spent a while trawling them before picking out several likely contenders. But it turns out Dyson have been busy changing - sorry IMPROVING - the design yet again, and quite recently too.

So the perfect prints I made from the designs I downloaded were all for a smaller diameter fitting, and wouldn't fit my new machine either; I'd have needed an adaptor for the adaptor! There was nothing for it but for me to sit down and design my own.

I could have done it in a couple of hours using my trusty old 2012 copy of SketchUp. But it's been showing its age lately, and I decided it's time to bring myself up to date by downloading and installing FreeCad.

What a culture shock! Being brand new to it, it's been quite a steep learning curve for me. So it's taken me almost a week to get a usable result - and I had to keep resisting the temptation to just open SketchUp to “get it done quickly”.

I've included my FreeCAD file below. It's not perfect, and I'm sure there will be many experienced FreeCAD users who'll dissolve into fits of laughter when they see it. But the main thing is that the design prints OK, and works on my Dyson. That's good enough for me for now; full learning of FreeCAD will come in time, and one day I'll probably look back at the design and laugh too!

PRINTING:

I did mine in a very rough 0.28 Extra Draft setting using BambuLabs PETG HF. It sits on the build plate as is, but I added tree supports in a couple of necessary spots. I've attached a .3mf file to show where these were needed, and a .step file for those who can use it.

ASSEMBLY:

There isn't any! Whip it off the build plate, remove the supports, and you're ready to go!

Just to keep things complete, I've also designed a second adaptor for my Dyson small brush - which uses yet another fitting mechanism! It looks like Dyson seem to change connector systems more often than I realised. I can't imagine why! Anyway, it's available here:: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6831162

Right I shall take my leave now. One parting shot though: After years of avidly supporting Dyson vacuum cleaners, I can honestly say that, these days, they suck!

Happy Printing!