I frequently need to repair some small plastic thing - the latest being making a new piston for my bike pump.
When it's a matter of 10 mins online and clicking print, it's great. But when I have to spend a few hours 3d modelling the exact shape, and then reprinting it 3 times because it's slightly wrong, the time-money tradeoff of just buying a new fridge isn't so good...
I do, but not every time. I got a DMCA takedown notice on one replacement part I designed. I challenged it and got it reinstated, but it left me a little bitter.
Regarding spending hours on design... yeah, that part is a drag. I've done this enough times now that I'm just a lot faster than I used to be, and I also have a pretty good idea of what tiny portions of a design to print to do fit checks. But getting there certainly took some practice.
I frequently need to repair some small plastic thing - the latest being making a new piston for my bike pump.
When it's a matter of 10 mins online and clicking print, it's great. But when I have to spend a few hours 3d modelling the exact shape, and then reprinting it 3 times because it's slightly wrong, the time-money tradeoff of just buying a new fridge isn't so good...