Printing a replacement part
A snapped clip, a lost knob or a cracked bracket can often be printed for a few pounds, in a material that outlasts the original. Here’s how to get one made, whether or not you have a 3D file for it.
Getting a file
- Search for it first. Plenty of replacement parts are already modelled. Search Printables, MakerWorld or Thingiverse for the make, the model number and the part, such as “Dyson V8 wall clip”, and check its licence allows printing it.
- Draw it yourself. A knob, a spacer or a simple bracket takes minutes in Tinkercad, which is free. Measure the original with a ruler, or better, a pair of digital callipers. The file guide shows how to save it.
- Ask us. No file and no time to make one? Get in touch with what it’s for, its measurements and a photo or two with a ruler beside it, and we’ll tell you whether we can make it and what it would cost.
Got the file? Upload it on the order page and you’ll see the price straight away.
Choosing the material and strength
| Where it goes | Material | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Indoors, light use: a knob, a cover, a spacer | PLA | Standard |
| Takes a load or gets knocked: a bracket, a hinge, a clip | PETG | Strong |
| Outdoors, or in damp or sun: garden fittings, a gutter clip | PETG | Standard or Strong |
| Gets warm: inside a car in summer, near a heater or electronics | ABS | Strong |
Not sure? Say what it’s for in the notes on the order page and we’ll check your choice before it prints. Choosing a material compares the three in more detail.
Getting the fit right
- Leave a little room. Where a part slides, clips or pushes onto another, draw a gap of about 0.2 to 0.3 mm on each side, or it may be too tight.
- Holes come out slightly small. Draw them a touch larger, or open them up with a drill afterwards.
- Big threads print well, small ones less so. For a small screw, a plain hole the screw cuts its own way into usually works better than a printed thread.
- Which way up matters. A print is strongest along its layers and smoothest on its top and sides. If one face has to be smooth, or a part takes a load in one direction, say so in the notes.
- Try one first. For a part you need several of, order one, check the fit, then order the rest.
What it costs
Small parts usually cost the smallest price for a piece, with no setup fee on top, and several parts in one order share one delivery charge. How our prices work has the rates, and the order page prices your file exactly.
When a printed part isn’t right
Anything where a failure could hurt someone, such as brakes, child seats or climbing gear, needs a certified part from its maker, not a 3D print. We don’t recommend prints for food or drink either: the tiny gaps between layers can hold bacteria.