3D printed replacement parts: fix it instead of binning it
A £2 plastic clip fails and suddenly a perfectly good appliance is "broken". The manufacturer doesn't sell the part, or discontinued the model years ago. This is the single best use of 3D printing — and you don't need to own a printer or know CAD.
The short version: have a file? Upload it for an instant price — most parts cost £4–15. No file? Send photos and measurements via the contact form and we'll model it, print it in engineering-grade plastic, and post it — usually tougher than the part that broke.
Things we can reproduce
- Appliance parts — washing machine and dishwasher knobs, fridge shelf brackets, tumble-dryer clips, mixer attachments.
- Household fittings — curtain-rail gliders and brackets, blind mechanisms, cupboard hinges, shower-rail parts, lamp fittings.
- Adapters and connectors — vacuum-hose adapters, hosepipe fittings, tool-to-accessory couplings that were never sold in the first place.
- Clips, latches and catches — glovebox latches, battery-cover clips, toy parts, garden-furniture feet.
- Discontinued anything — if it's plastic, roughly hand-sized and the manufacturer moved on, it can usually be brought back.
Parts printed here recently
Real orders from the last two weeks, with what they cost. Customers are not named.
| Part | Printed as | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Screw-insert fix for a gaming-chair side shield, 18 × 18 × 10 mm, two off, posted to Bristol | PETG, 100% infill | £7.00 for the pair |
| Adapter joining a Shark vacuum to a 34 mm hose, 139 mm tall, posted to Cambridge | PETG, 20% infill | £8.17 |
| Pinion gear for a 1960s Bell & Howell film projector, from a free file, posted to Hertfordshire; the customer came back for two more | PETG, 100% infill, silicone grease advised | £3.50 each |
| Camera bracket for a robot gripper, 34 × 44 × 24 mm, for a London AI lab | PETG, 50% infill, four perimeters, holes kept clear of supports | £4.73 |
| Bracket printed from two files, 63 × 30 × 64 mm, posted to Wolverhampton | PETG, 100% infill | £6.37 for two |
Small functional parts land between £3.50 and £10 before postage, and tracked delivery is £5.45 or free over £40. See how parts are posted across the UK.
How it works when you have no file
Send photos + measurements. A few clear photos from different angles, plus key dimensions. Calipers are ideal; a ruler next to the part in a photo genuinely works for most jobs.
We model it in CAD. The part is rebuilt as a proper solid model — and where the original failed, it gets reinforced: thicker walls, a filleted corner, more material exactly where it snapped. Design work is quoted up front before you commit to anything.
Print, inspect, post. Printed in engineering-grade PETG, hand-inspected, dispatched within 48 hours of your order. You keep the digital file — if it ever breaks again, the next one is a few pounds and a couple of days away.
Already have an STL from a scan or a parts-sharing site? Skip all of the above — upload it and price it instantly.
Will it be as strong as the original?
Often stronger — and that's not marketing. Mass-produced parts are injection-moulded to be as thin and cheap as possible; the part broke because it was designed to a price. A reproduction printed in PETG with sensible wall thickness routinely outlives the original. Two honest caveats:
| Fine for | Not the right tool for |
|---|---|
| Knobs, clips, brackets, gliders, adapters, housings, covers, feet, spacers | Safety-critical parts (brakes, climbing gear, pressure vessels) |
| Parts near warm electronics or in a car cabin (PETG handles ~75°C) | Parts touching ovens, radiator internals or sustained heat above ~75°C |
| Outdoor parts — UV and rain are fine for PETG | Precision gears under heavy sustained load — metal exists for a reason |
If your part is in the right-hand column, we'll say so before taking your money — telling you honestly is cheaper for everyone than printing something that fails.
What does it cost?
Printing starts at £3.50 and most household replacement parts land between £4 and £15 — the maths of weight × £0.18/gram just doesn't add up to much for hand-sized parts (full details in the pricing guide). CAD design from photos is quoted separately and honestly: a simple knob or clip is quick; a complex mechanism is more, and you'll know the number before anything starts. Compare either figure with the price of a new appliance and the decision usually makes itself.
Broken part? Let's bring it back.
Upload a file for an instant price — or send photos of the broken part via the contact form.
Get an instant quote