The plastic part inside this latch broke, and I wanted to print a replacement. I was genuinely surprised at how straightforward it was!! This is my first draft: it fit and worked fine! I made a second version with a few cutaways around the corners, and that was the final draft. (I forgot to take a picture of that one.)
There are lots of awkward overhangs, and I was having a hard time figuring out how it could be printed (a) in a good orientation for the stresses and (b) without supports. Then I remembered: we can just use supports!! I usually try to design so that they aren't needed, so I almost never use them. But wow they made this easy.
I hope there's a future where providing the blueprints for wear parts is a common thing to do. It could make it easy to extend the life of a great many things, I reckon.
I just read someone’s post yesterday that Phillips are releasing the designs for replacement parts of their electric razors to be printed by consumers. Sounds like your ideal future (and mine) is on the way!
I like the sustainability, but if I'm being honest, what I really enjoy is the pure satisfaction of solving a tiny but annoying problem. This was a lot cheaper than a full replacement, but also a lot easier than tracking down the part and ordering it.
If you can get them at all. Everything seems disposable nowdays.