I love that having a 3d printer means you can create custom parts when you need them. I wanted a set of leveling brackets for a router table insert. Sketched up something in Solid Edge, sent it to the printer and a few hours later I have what I need. Nothing complex but functional. Used PETG on this set.
Lovely stuff. The democratisation of objects, the very idea that you can conceive and create under your own hand, is the true technical revolution.
Out there, all the chat is about AI. The truth is, 3D printing has done more for technology, and human activity.
Ach, I’ll get off my soapbox. Well done, you’ve made something cool.
I’ve fixed things like a shaft bearing for a grain auger, a new impeller for a water pump, all sorts of project boxes, mounts and handles. My 93 yo uncle will sit there and watch it for the entire print, just shaking his head. And then when the neighbors come by for coffee, he has to show them the new part and the broken part. I think he’s prouder of the machine than I am.
My great-uncle never learned how to use a computer (well, other than the TRS-80 he got before he retired). He was pretty mechanical though. Even if he probably wouldn’t understand much about how it worked, he probably would’ve appreciated 3D printing if used for a car part or something!
Right?
My favorite story about this that you all may have already heard: My washing machine broke while it was still full of water and the first step of fixing it was to drain it first. But since the motor wouldn’t drain it, I couldn’t just get the washing machine to drain.
So I designed an adapter that would let me run the pump from a regular cordless drill. Super simple. I printed it with 100% infill for extra strength. And it still broke while I was using it to drain the washing machine, but I had the foresight to print a few extras ahead of time. It only took 3 to fully drain the washer that way.
Aside from that, I’ve built wall mounts for particular electronic devices, a desk mount for a Raspberry Pi (adapted from a model on Thingiverse), custom yarncraft tools for my mother, custom shelving solutions, and all kinds of other things I’m sure I’m forgetting.
