The type of person to do this most likely already has a 3d printer, and cad software is free for personal use. The electricity and filament cost for this part would be a few cents and it would take minutes to print on modern printers
Even if you didn’t have a 3d printer it would be significantly cheaper to use a 3d printing service to order the part, than to buy OEM replacement knob
It’s true that you should not expect to save money in the short or long run with 3d printing as a hobby, but if it’s your thing then it’s nice to have a hobby that’s occasionally useful. Also, autodesk fusion is free for consumer use.
I wouldn’t say I’ve made back my investment on 3D printing in the past half a decade I’ve done it. But in terms of “prints for friends” like this one above I may be close. Plus there’s just something nice about going “I need a measuring cup for dog food” and printing one to the exact serving size.
I just use PLA. PLA itself is good safe, but occasionally the additives aren’t, so I don’t use any for human related stuff. It’s also worth considering that the layered approach can allow for bacterial growth, so unless you treat it (e.g. epoxy seal it), you’ll need to wash it fairly frequently to curb buildup.
To be fair, that’s the case with pretty much all plastics.
Tupperware shouldn’t be used to reheat food in the microwave for the same reason, yet that’s it’s most common use generally.
Untreated PLA is more brittle than commercial food-safe plastics though, that is true.
Software is free if you aren’t using it for commercial use. Fusion 360, onshape, etc. are all free for personal use. And that’s assuming someone didn’t make it already and share it free.
Filament costs $17 for 1kg of perfectly fine plastic. You’d probably use 100g at most for this, so $1.70.
A Bambu A1 mini is $200, and is a modern, high quality printer that would be fine for this project.
So you only need like a half dozen of these projects to come out ahead.
To be clear, I’m the last one to say one shouldn’t invest in money saving innovation. But the breaking even should be number one priority. I, for instance have all kinds of energy savers in my house that have cost me several hundreds. They’ll only be returned in a few years and I need to manage them properly.
If you do not have a 3D printer and CAD software, you are 100% right.
If you already have those things like OP, then why not just design / print one? I am also a 3D printer / CAD person, and I love designing replacement parts that are wither too expensive, or often impossible to find. Mostly though, I design and print things that make my and my families lives easier / nicer / more convenient. And they are customized to the exact item and function, something that you would most likely never be able to get in a store or online.
One doesn’t buy a 3D printer to make a knob. One is suddenly presented with a need for a knob (or a thingy, or a flangle, or a twizzlet…) and suddenly remembers, “hey - I have a 3D printer.” Followed by “I wonder if there are any matching designs in one of the several massive free databases of models.”
Still cheaper than getting a 3D printer and filament and stuff. And CAD/CAM software.
The type of person to do this most likely already has a 3d printer, and cad software is free for personal use. The electricity and filament cost for this part would be a few cents and it would take minutes to print on modern printers
Even if you didn’t have a 3d printer it would be significantly cheaper to use a 3d printing service to order the part, than to buy OEM replacement knob
Also a high probability they have a 3D printer and are super excited for something useful to do with it.
It’s true that you should not expect to save money in the short or long run with 3d printing as a hobby, but if it’s your thing then it’s nice to have a hobby that’s occasionally useful. Also, autodesk fusion is free for consumer use.
I wouldn’t say I’ve made back my investment on 3D printing in the past half a decade I’ve done it. But in terms of “prints for friends” like this one above I may be close. Plus there’s just something nice about going “I need a measuring cup for dog food” and printing one to the exact serving size.
What food-safe printing materials do you use?
I just use PLA. PLA itself is good safe, but occasionally the additives aren’t, so I don’t use any for human related stuff. It’s also worth considering that the layered approach can allow for bacterial growth, so unless you treat it (e.g. epoxy seal it), you’ll need to wash it fairly frequently to curb buildup.
That frequent washing is what leaks out the nasty chemicals from the plastic fyi. Heat and mechanical stress are the main way plastics leach
To be fair, that’s the case with pretty much all plastics.
Tupperware shouldn’t be used to reheat food in the microwave for the same reason, yet that’s it’s most common use generally.
Untreated PLA is more brittle than commercial food-safe plastics though, that is true.
Software is free if you aren’t using it for commercial use. Fusion 360, onshape, etc. are all free for personal use. And that’s assuming someone didn’t make it already and share it free.
Filament costs $17 for 1kg of perfectly fine plastic. You’d probably use 100g at most for this, so $1.70.
A Bambu A1 mini is $200, and is a modern, high quality printer that would be fine for this project.
So you only need like a half dozen of these projects to come out ahead.
To be clear, I’m the last one to say one shouldn’t invest in money saving innovation. But the breaking even should be number one priority. I, for instance have all kinds of energy savers in my house that have cost me several hundreds. They’ll only be returned in a few years and I need to manage them properly.
If you do not have a 3D printer and CAD software, you are 100% right.
If you already have those things like OP, then why not just design / print one? I am also a 3D printer / CAD person, and I love designing replacement parts that are wither too expensive, or often impossible to find. Mostly though, I design and print things that make my and my families lives easier / nicer / more convenient. And they are customized to the exact item and function, something that you would most likely never be able to get in a store or online.
Stove Knob guards. https://www.printables.com/model/278668-stove-knob-guard
Salt / Pepper Grinder Holder. https://www.printables.com/model/155219-salt-and-pepper-grinder-caddy
Spice Jar Organizer. https://www.printables.com/model/151171-spice-jar-spacer-organizer
Just to name a few things.
One doesn’t buy a 3D printer to make a knob. One is suddenly presented with a need for a knob (or a thingy, or a flangle, or a twizzlet…) and suddenly remembers, “hey - I have a 3D printer.” Followed by “I wonder if there are any matching designs in one of the several massive free databases of models.”
Followed by getting out the calipers and opening OpenSCAD