I recently tried to fix the display on an otherwise functioning Lenovo Yoga laptop. It was glued together and I accidentally cracked it. Then I discovered that the display was fine and that the root failure was the mainboard letting out some magic smoke. That sucked because I could have sold the display module had I not broke it...
I've repaired various smartphones over the years. I bought an EVO 4G from a sketchy dude on Craigslist, and it turned out the USB connector was broken off, with part of the PCB missing. I managed to track down the relevant signals elsewhere on the PCB and dead-bugged on a new connector.
I've bought various early generation iPhones and repaired cracked solder joints with a heat gun.
I 3D print replacement pieces for random stuff around the house all the time. Table leg end caps, closet guides, curtain rod bracket stiffeners, etc. My most recent home print was a two-piece exterior vent cover to match the style of the other 50+ year old ones.
That's great! (I mean, not the stuff about the laptop display, but the rest of it.)
It really sucks that the things you describe doing are out of reach for most people. The vast majority of smartphone owners wouldn't know where to start repairing a PCB. The stuff around the house is cool too, but how many people have reasonable/affordable access to a 3D printer? Probably not many. I just wish all of this was more accessible. The kinds of people who would benefit most financially from being able to repair their stuff are often the people who won't have access to the tools required to do it.
I've repaired various smartphones over the years. I bought an EVO 4G from a sketchy dude on Craigslist, and it turned out the USB connector was broken off, with part of the PCB missing. I managed to track down the relevant signals elsewhere on the PCB and dead-bugged on a new connector.
I've bought various early generation iPhones and repaired cracked solder joints with a heat gun.
I 3D print replacement pieces for random stuff around the house all the time. Table leg end caps, closet guides, curtain rod bracket stiffeners, etc. My most recent home print was a two-piece exterior vent cover to match the style of the other 50+ year old ones.