A 3D printer at the Repair Café

I spent my Saturday morning at the Repair Café again. Alongside the usual multimeter, screwdrivers, and soldering iron, my 3D printer proved to be a very useful tool.

It was my third time volunteering, and the second time I brought my 3D printer along. Two of today’s repairs only happened because of it.

A toy robot had lost one of its wheels. Someone had already designed a replacement and shared it online, so I just had to print it. A nice reminder of how much the maker community shares.

The highlight was a €200 juicer that had stopped working because of one worn-out cog wheel. No replacement part available. So I measured the old one, modeled a new gear, and printed it. The juicer works again.

The day also included a 40-year-old electric carving knife brought back to life with a new capacitor, and a horse massage blanket where I got one of two dead motors running again. The other one is waiting for a part.

What I take away from days like this: a broken object is often just one small part away from working, and with a 3D printer, that part is often within reach.