3D Printing Replacement Parts for Discontinued Products
A broken clip, knob or bracket the maker no longer sells. How to get it reproduced from measurements, a sample or a scan, and which material to choose.
The Short Answer
If the manufacturer no longer sells a plastic part, it can usually be reproduced. The hard part is the file, not the printing. There are three routes: model it from measurements, which is the most accurate; send us the broken part and photos and we model it; or scan it, which suits organic shapes.
Three Ways to Get the File
| Route | You provide | Best for | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model it yourself | Calipers and CAD | Clips, brackets, knobs, covers | As exact as your measurements |
| We model it | The part, or photos and measurements | When you have no CAD | A fixed price and timeline before work starts; you own the file |
| Scan it | The part, scanned by a partner | Organic shapes with no drawing | Typically ±0.1 to 0.5 mm; scan-to-CAD in 3 to 7 business days |
Measuring a Worn or Broken Part
- Measure the features that mate with something else: holes, slots, pins and snap hooks. They decide whether the part fits.
- Measure each dimension more than once, and on an intact twin if one survives.
- Wear changes dimensions. Where you can, measure the part it attaches to rather than the worn original.
- Photograph the part beside a ruler, from several sides.
- Note how it is used: load, heat, sunlight and contact with oils or cleaners.
Choosing a Material
| Where the part lives | A good starting material |
|---|---|
| Indoors: clips, knobs, covers | PETG or ABS |
| Outdoors, in sunlight | ASA, which is UV-stable |
| Near heat or under steady load | PC or a carbon-fiber nylon |
| Seals, feet, bumpers | TPU, which is flexible |
| Small, detailed parts | SLA resin, such as a tough resin |
Before You Reproduce Someone Else's Part
Reproducing a part to repair something you own is common. Copying a part that is still under patent, or adding another company's logo, is a different matter, so check before you sell copies.
Getting It Made
Upload the file for an instant price. Our tolerances are ±0.2 mm on FDM and ±0.1 mm on SLA. For a first fit test, order two: one to try, one to keep if it fits. If you only have the broken part, our modeling service starts from that.
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