Repair instead of throwing away with wear-resistant 3D printing

Local offers of help for repairs

In many towns and municipalities, there are also local repair initiatives that organise regular or occasional repair events. The interactive map* provided by the Association of Open Workshops lists local offers with dates and contacts. Not all repair initiatives have their own 3D printers, but many can refer you to better-equipped partners - it's worth asking. If the repair initiative in your area has a 3D printer but is not equipped with the igus® filament, please forward the link to the form for our filament donation to the local contact person. Non-profit open workshops and repair initiatives can obtain up to 2 rolls of filament per enquiry free of charge.

*If the interactive map is not displayed, it is usually due to AdBlockers or individual browser settings. Click here to go to the map on the website of the association of open workshops.

No repair initiative / open workshop nearby or currently unable to visit one in person? You can use the #3dreparieren network to find volunteer designers who can help you design the spare part you need for production using 3D printing. Here you will also find examples and design instructions for repairs that have already been carried out and further information on the subject of 3D printing and repairs.

Switch to the #3dreparieren network

Useful links for 3D printing repairs

Free CAD configurators

To print a component, a 3D model must be created and converted into a STEP file. With our registration-free CAD configurators, anyone can quickly and easily design components online. You can find instructions on how to do this in our blog.

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3D Printing Design Guide

What needs to be considered for 3D printed parts to be successful? The design influences the quality of the result and the service life of the finished spare part. Our free guide will tell you what you need to pay attention to.

Download design guide here free of charge

Our materials

3D printing materials for replacement parts

igus® materials are ideal for moving components. Our speciality filaments, SLS powders and DLP resin offer solutions for various applications, including food compliance, ESD specification, chemical and heat resistance.

More about wear-resistant 3D printing materials

Customer examples for 3D printing repairs with iglidur® materials

New hammer for an old piano

The strings of a grand piano are struck by hammers and then produce a tone. They are usually made of wood and eventually become less precise and have to be serviced regularly. If the hammer no longer hits the strings precisely, unwanted side tones are produced. The engineer Richard Dain thought it was time to fundamentally improve the grand piano's technology. Together with igus, the "D3D hammer system" was developed, which has all the advantages of the traditional system. The designers at Phoenix even expect the new system to have a longer service life for the grand piano as unwanted side effects are a thing of the past. The simple change from wood to plastic alone significantly reduced sensitivity to moisture and temperature.

More about piano replacement parts made of iglidur materials

3D printed replacement parts for vintage car

3D printed vintage spare parts

Procuring replacement parts for vintage cars can sometimes be very difficult. For rare items in particular, obtaining spare parts can sometimes be very time-consuming or even impossible. This is where 3D printed replacement parts open up new possibilities. The mileage counter on the speedometer of a Stanley 750B from 1924 no longer worked. When the speedometer was taken to pieces, the fault became clear: the gear on the first intermediate shaft which meshes with the worm gear on the input shaft was completely ruined. The pinion trade show was no longer in mesh with the worm gear.
With the FreeCAD programme, the user was able to create the necessary CAD file. Everything else went very quickly: with the igus 3D printing service, the required replacement part was printed in just a few days from the self-lubricating polymer iglidur i6. The result was convincing.

Complete report on the 3D printed part used to repair a vintage car

Fast 3D printing of plain bearings as replacement parts for a camera trolley

3D printed replacement part ready to collect in just a few hours

The Berlin-based company Blackcam develops compact, remote-controlled camera trolleys that drive the camera over narrow rails during live broadcasts of concerts and sporting events. On his way to a trade fair, Blackcam engineer Ferenc Tiefenbach discovered a defective plain bearing on the prototype of a new movement system for football matches. He did not have a spare part with him. Thanks to igus' fast 3D printing service, it was possible to print the part needed using iglidur i180 and deliver it in just a few hours.

More about the express 3D printing service for replacement parts

3D printed lubrication-free replacement parts

Repairing prams with 3D printed replacement parts

Folding bicycles, prams, wheelchairs - for transport purposes, many devices can be folded or partially dismantled and then re-assembled quickly and effortlessly. Unfortunately, there is an unpleasant side to this: lubricating oil on the metal parts. At best, you only get it on your hands, at worst, you get it on your clothes as well. Is that really necessary? Not if replacements for the worn metal parts are printed from self-lubricating iglidur polymers from igus.

More about the self-lubricating spare parts in the video

Cost-effective 3D printing of replacement parts

Copy of expensive special part easily printed

Conti Tech hose GmbH required a cross-threaded spindle for a winding machine that ensures that the thread is laid directly or via a thread guide that is guided through the groove. The solution previously used necessitated the regular replacement of individual components, which were difficult to obtain and were also cost-intensive due to the complicated geometry of the cross-threaded spindle. Now the cross-threaded spindle is produced in the igus® 3D printing service from the laser sintering material iglidur® i3. The company has been able to reduce its costs by around 50 per cent, as the classic method of manufacturing the complex geometry of the cross-threaded spindle was twice as expensive. The sliding properties of the replacement parts were also improved due to the use of iglidur.

More about the application

3D printed gear as replacement part for tractor

3D printed replacement part for an igus tractor

A small defective gear in one of our tractors meant that the engine no longer started and that the tractor would have to be scrapped. The part that had to be replaced was damaged and had to be copied. Our maintenance team took on the job and successfully re-created the structural design of the part. The 3D printing model was then uploaded and ordered internally via the online 3D printing service. Since this is a gear wheel, a special SLS material iglidur® i6 developed for the production of gears used. The printed component was ready in just a few hours and was installed immediately without having to be machined. The tractor is now working perfectly.

More about the application

Further user reports of applications with 3D printed parts made of iglidur polymers

Whether for replacement parts, special parts, prototypes or volumes - the areas of use for wear-resistant 3D printed parts are manifold. Numerous customers profit from the flexibility of the design process for 3D printing and the long service life of iglidur parts.

Find out more about the areas of use of iglidur 3D printing materials

Sustainability at igus

As a plastic manufacturer, we are aware of our special responsibility for the environment. With our products, we want to reduce tech up and costs - but without losing sight of recycling and environmental protection. We are committed to recycling and sustainable production and are involved in numerous projects to conserve resources.

Find out more about the topic of sustainability at igus GmbH