Replacement parts, 3D printed
Yannic Fréson 3D, a 3D printing service for the Heist-op-den-Berg area in Belgium, recreates broken or unobtainable plastic parts. You send photos and dimensions, or the part itself; the part is measured, redrawn at €60 per hour and printed in PLA, PETG or ASA. Once you approve the quote, the replacement is ready in 3 to 5 working days.
What you get
A part that fits
The original is measured with callipers and redrawn to size. Where a piece has snapped off, what was supposed to be there is drawn back in.
A material that is up to the job
Indoors, outdoors, warm, damp or under tension: the material follows the use, not the colour of the original.
A straight answer
If the part is still on sale for a few euros, or carries too much load for a print, you are told so. A quote costs nothing.
How to measure a part
For a replacement part Yannic Fréson 3D needs three kinds of dimensions: the outside dimensions, the position and diameter of every hole, and the size of whatever the part fits into or onto. Callipers are more accurate than a ruler. Having the part itself in hand remains the surest route.
Photograph the part from the front, from the side and from above, each time with a ruler or callipers in shot. Lay any broken-off pieces next to it in the right position. Mention the make and model of the appliance too: sometimes that is enough to recognise a second, intact one.
Measure what the part has to do, not only what it looks like. With a clip, what counts is the thickness of the panel it grips. With a knob, it is the shaft it slides onto. The rest can be a millimetre out without anybody ever noticing.
The full method is in the guide on how to replace a broken part with a 3D print. If all you have is a sketch, see 3D design on request.
Which material for which part
Yannic Fréson 3D prints replacement parts in three materials. PLA is enough for dry indoor parts that do not get warm. PETG is tougher and copes with moisture, so it suits clips, knobs and parts in a kitchen or bathroom. ASA withstands sun and rain and is for anything that stays outdoors.
Most broken parts are clips, knobs, caps, hooks and cover pieces. For anything that has to bend without breaking, PETG is the first choice. For garden furniture, a caravan or a bicycle, ASA is the safe bet. PLA goes soft in a car in the sun; you do not want to find that out in July.
All three are set side by side on the materials page. If you are still in doubt, the comparison of PLA, PETG and ABS/ASA works through the trade-offs.
When recreating a part is not worth it
Having a part recreated by Yannic Fréson 3D costs at least €10 for the print, plus design work at €60 per hour if there is no file. If the original is still on sale for less, just order it. Recreating pays off mainly when the part is no longer available, or only comes with a whole appliance attached.
There are also parts an FDM print cannot replace:
- parts in rubber or another flexible material, such as seals and belts
- metal parts, and plastic parts that have to carry the load of metal
- parts right next to a heating element or a motor that runs hot
- anything that touches food or drinking water
- parts that somebody's safety depends on, such as brakes, seat belts or child seats
In those cases you get an honest no instead of a quote. That is cheaper for everybody.
Good to know
Yannic Fréson 3D recreates rigid plastic parts up to 256 × 256 × 256 mm, in PLA, PETG, ABS or ASA. Flexible, metal and safety-critical parts are not possible. There is no 3D scanner: every part is measured by hand. A recreated part has visible layers, so it looks different from an injection-moulded original.
- What you supply
- The part itself, or photos with a ruler in shot and the main dimensions.
- Materials
- PLA in stock; PETG, ABS and ASA are ordered on request.
- Appearance
- Visible 0.2 mm layers. The colour comes close to the original but is rarely identical.
- Strength
- No guaranteed load rating. A print is weaker between the layers than along them.
- Not possible
- Rubber, metal, food contact and safety-critical parts.
- A second one
- Once it is drawn, another copy costs only the print.
What a replacement part costs
A replacement part from Yannic Fréson 3D costs at least €10 for the print. If the part has to be redrawn first, design work comes on top. Two examples in PETG.
Replacement knob for an appliance
- Dimensions
- Ø 40 × 30 mm
- Material
- PETG, 1 colour
- Print time
- approx. 1 h 10 min
from
€10
Indicative price. Final price, VAT not applicable. Your quote is exact.
From your own file. If the knob has to be modelled first, count on half an hour of design on top.
Enclosure with lid for electronics
- Dimensions
- 120 × 80 × 45 mm
- Material
- PETG, 1 colour
- Print time
- approx. 7 h 30 min
from
€29
Indicative price. Final price, VAT not applicable. Your quote is exact.
Guide prices, shipping and design not included. How the amounts are built up is on the page with 3D printing prices.
Parts made to measure
Two parts designed for a motorcycle because they could not be bought in that form. For now the images are 3D renders.
Questions about replacement parts
All frequently asked questionsDo I have to send in the broken part, or is a photo enough?
For a simple part, photos with a ruler in shot and the main dimensions are enough. For parts that have to fit closely, such as a clip or a gear, having the original in hand is far more reliable. You can post it, or in the delivery municipalities have it collected from your door by appointment.
Can you recreate parts in rubber or metal?
No. Only rigid plastics are printed: PLA, PETG, ABS and ASA. A seal, a belt or a metal shaft cannot be replaced. Sometimes a metal piece can be replaced by a thicker plastic design; that is judged case by case.
Is a 3D printed part as strong as the original?
Not automatically. A print is strong in the direction of its layers and weaker between them. That is why a replacement is often drawn slightly thicker and the print orientation chosen to suit the load. No load rating is given for any part.
What if the recreated part doesn't quite fit?
A change to the drawing and a new print are a new job with its own quote. What applies if a part does not match the quote is in the terms and conditions.
Send a photo of your part
Add photos with a ruler in shot and say which appliance the part comes from. You get a fixed price, or an honest no.