Keep fir needles out of the rain gauge…

This “Ambient Weather” weather station is great but fir needles keep clogging the rain gauge. The wire “spring designed to prevent clogging does not work.

Solution: Create a cap that does not reduce water collection area and flow, but keeps the needles out. The profile of the ribs “funnels’ the water into collector. If a needle ends up in between the ribs the water can flow downward to the next rib opening.

-1 Hour design and CAD time

-3 Hours 3D printer time (Due to material and build setup complexities)

Printed “Needle-Proof” cap on left. Stock funnel with spring strainer on right.

The cross-section is equivalent to many smaller funnels through which needles cannot easily pass.

Cap in position on rain gauge.

Weather station in upright position.