How often do you break things that can only be repaired with 3D-printed parts? I once printed a fridge handle that was a very specific shape. Other than that it’s zip-ties or glue.
Its more often that I get my hands on something in need of minor repair, perhaps a part. Newer devices arent always easy either - I’ve had trouble finding parts for a robo vac thats 5 yrs old, for example.
Smaller electronics that rely on special plastic clasps or hinges, think ITX computer cases or something like a game console or laptop. 3D printers are nice because then you don’t have to play Ebay part roulette or hope someone manufactures the particular part that snapped in half.
I have a semi related question to this: how do you create the CAD files for these things? It seems to me that to build highly accurate replacement parts, you need a highly accurate model of what broke. Do you just take a bunch of measurements, then do your best to guess and check? Is there a process to this, or what does this look like?
I ask because I make stuff with leather and am getting into making my own designs and patterns, but figuring out corners and curves with Fusion 360 is not intuitive for me. I have a project to make a Birkenstock sandal coming up, but the idea of making a piece of leather that will fit a person’s foot seems challenging and will involve lots of measurements, and a bit of guess and check unless a kind stranger on the Fediverse has insights into such things.
I take measurements and guess and check from there. If I’m not sure I usually print just the portions that need to fit together to make adjustments from there. Usually it’s only one or two revisions to get something usable.
There was an obscure YouTube video I saw some months back that had someone doing this for her education. I’ll see if I can find it. She had techniques to deal with these issues, including printing foam soles.
you need a highly accurate model of what broke. Do you just take a bunch of measurements, then do your best to guess and check? Is there a process to this, or what does this look like?
There’s a couple different strategies. Taking measurements is often the most straightforward. And it’s generally not too bad because often times the thing you measure will be in round units, so you can confidently guess the true measurement intended.
For example, if I measure the diameter of a shaft that broke off, and it’s 10.1mm, then I can pretty confidently say I should make the CAD model 10mm.
An alternative method is to take a picture of the object from multiple directions, zoomed in and far away to make the view as orthographic as possible. Include a known distance like a ruler, and then you can past the image in the background of your CAD software and model off of that. Generally I find this more helpful for organic shapes that wouldn’t make much sense to measure.
I fucken repair shit with 3D printed parts so that I don’t need to buy new shit.
How often do you break things that can only be repaired with 3D-printed parts? I once printed a fridge handle that was a very specific shape. Other than that it’s zip-ties or glue.
Its more often that I get my hands on something in need of minor repair, perhaps a part. Newer devices arent always easy either - I’ve had trouble finding parts for a robo vac thats 5 yrs old, for example.
Smaller electronics that rely on special plastic clasps or hinges, think ITX computer cases or something like a game console or laptop. 3D printers are nice because then you don’t have to play Ebay part roulette or hope someone manufactures the particular part that snapped in half.
or small stuff like remote battery covers
I have a semi related question to this: how do you create the CAD files for these things? It seems to me that to build highly accurate replacement parts, you need a highly accurate model of what broke. Do you just take a bunch of measurements, then do your best to guess and check? Is there a process to this, or what does this look like?
I ask because I make stuff with leather and am getting into making my own designs and patterns, but figuring out corners and curves with Fusion 360 is not intuitive for me. I have a project to make a Birkenstock sandal coming up, but the idea of making a piece of leather that will fit a person’s foot seems challenging and will involve lots of measurements, and a bit of guess and check unless a kind stranger on the Fediverse has insights into such things.
I take measurements and guess and check from there. If I’m not sure I usually print just the portions that need to fit together to make adjustments from there. Usually it’s only one or two revisions to get something usable.
There was an obscure YouTube video I saw some months back that had someone doing this for her education. I’ll see if I can find it. She had techniques to deal with these issues, including printing foam soles.
Here it is.
There’s a couple different strategies. Taking measurements is often the most straightforward. And it’s generally not too bad because often times the thing you measure will be in round units, so you can confidently guess the true measurement intended.
For example, if I measure the diameter of a shaft that broke off, and it’s 10.1mm, then I can pretty confidently say I should make the CAD model 10mm.
An alternative method is to take a picture of the object from multiple directions, zoomed in and far away to make the view as orthographic as possible. Include a known distance like a ruler, and then you can past the image in the background of your CAD software and model off of that. Generally I find this more helpful for organic shapes that wouldn’t make much sense to measure.
Makes sense. Thanks for the tips, much appreciated!