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.
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 printing. 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