Spare parts · 2026
Discontinued part? How to get it 3D printed
What can I do if the part I need has been discontinued?
First, search by its part number in spare parts shops, second-hand and among compatible parts. If it doesn't turn up and it's plastic with no safety role, a maker can reproduce it with 3D printing even if there's no file: they model it from the broken part, photos next to a ruler and a few measurements. PETG for almost everything, ASA or ABS if it gets hot or sits in the sun, TPU if it has to give. Printing a small part costs about €10 (€6–€17), excluding VAT and shipping; the modelling is extra. On Fabrishare, a network of makers, you post the part for free and get offers within 24–48 hours.
Before printing: where to look for a discontinued part
Just because the manufacturer no longer sells it doesn't mean it's gone. Before reproducing it, check here:
- 1
The exact part number
Look for it in the exploded diagram in the manual, on the rating plate or moulded into the part itself, which some parts have. A part number finds far more than a description.
- 2
Spare parts shops and distributors
Specialist shops and distributors in other countries sometimes still have stock of parts the manufacturer no longer sells.
- 3
Second-hand and breakers
Identical faulty appliances sold for parts, breaker's yards for cars and motorbikes, and owners' forums and groups for the model.
- 4
Compatible parts
A manufacturer sometimes fits the same part to several models, and there are generic compatible spares: search by part number, not just by model.
- 5
A ready-made file
Printables and Thingiverse have thousands of spare parts other people have already modelled. Check the measurements and the licence. If none of this works, it's time to reproduce it.
Which discontinued parts can be 3D printed?
Being discontinued doesn't matter: what the part does is what decides. The ideal part is plastic, has a defined shape and doesn't protect anyone.
Reproduce well
- Knobs, buttons, covers and trims
- Clips, tabs, hooks and brackets
- Wheels, pulleys and lightly loaded gears
- Guides, stops, spacers and adapters
- Housings and battery covers of older devices
- Parts for toys, models and collectable devices
Better not printed
- Safety parts: brakes, anchor points, child seat buckles, helmets
- Parts carrying gas or mains power, or next to a heating element
- Parts exposed to steam or pressurised water, as in an espresso machine or a pressure cooker
- Seals that have to be watertight
- Parts that touch food, unless the material is food-safe
- Shafts, springs and metal parts under heavy load
Discontinued parts by type
Each type of part has its own materials and pitfalls. The guide for each:
Household appliances
Dishwasher basket wheels, door handles, knobs and fridge door shelves. Heat, water and detergent call the shots.
Appliance spare partsFurniture
Connectors, shelf supports, feet and runners for furniture that's no longer made. The load decides the material.
3D printed furniture partsCar, motorbike and campervan
Clips, covers, trims and brackets for older models. In the sun, a car interior can reach 70 °C or more.
Car, motorbike and campervan partsAny other spare part
What can be printed, how to measure, which material to ask for and the mistakes we've already seen.
3D printed spare partsMusical instruments
Potentiometer knobs, covers, bridge pins and parts for instruments that are no longer made.
Musical instrument parts
How a discontinued part is reproduced without a file
For a discontinued part there's almost never a 3D file. A maker who designs models it from what you send; depending on the part, different things work.
Simple parts: callipers and photos
Covers, clips, brackets and spacers are modelled from measurements: hole diameters, the distances between them, thicknesses and heights, taken with callipers. Add photos from every side with a ruler next to the part.
Flat parts: a straight-on photo or a scanner
For an almost flat part, like a cover, a template or a trim, a photo taken straight on, with the ruler at the same height as the part, gives the outline to scale. If it fits, a document scanner does it even better: it copies the part at actual size.
Gears and toothed wheels
Count the teeth and measure the outside diameter: from those two numbers the maker works out the module, the measurement that sets the tooth size. If it meshes with another gear, send that one's details too.
Curved shapes: 3D scanning
An ergonomic knob or a part full of curves is better scanned than measured. A scan doesn't give exact fitting dimensions, so the maker combines it with calliper measurements where the part fits. Not every maker scans: when you post the project, tick «3D scanning».
Sending the part to the maker
If the part is complex or a tight fit, the safest option is to post it to the maker you choose: they measure it in hand and compare the copy with the original. Agree this first, in the offer.
If only the gap is left
If the part has been lost, the gap it sat in and the part it fits with are often enough. And if the device has an identical one, like the other wheel or the other foot, that serves as the model.
Which material to ask for, by what the part does
The original may have been a plastic that can't be printed. The printing material is chosen by what the part has to withstand:
| What the part does | Material | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday use indoors, with some load | PETG | Strong and slightly flexible: the default for functional parts |
| Near heat or in the sun: car, engine, oven front, outdoors | ASA or ABS | Handle much higher temperatures than PETG; ASA also resists sunlight |
| Has to give or cushion: stops, rubbers, soft wheels | TPU | Flexible filament, like rubber |
| Friction or repeated load: gears, hinges, clips that flex | Nylon | Copes with wear and repeated bending better than PETG |
| Very fine detail: small buttons, parts for models or collectable toys | Resin | Gives the finest detail, but is more brittle under impact |
| Decoration only, no load or heat | PLA | Easy and cheap, but warps with heat |
If you're not sure which material to ask for, say in the project what the part has to withstand (heat, weight, water, knocks) and let the maker suggest one.
What to send so the copy fits first time
- 1
Make, model and year
Of the appliance, furniture or vehicle, plus the part number if you have it. It helps find known dimensions and check whether someone has already modelled it.
- 2
Photos with a ruler
Of the part from every side and of where it's fitted. If it's broken, tape the pieces together for the photo.
- 3
The measurements that fit
With callipers: holes, shafts, distances between screws and thicknesses. These matter most; the rest of the shape allows some leeway.
- 4
What it has to withstand
Heat, weight, water, knocks or movement. That's how the maker picks the material.
- 5
How many you need
If it's discontinued, consider a spare: the second one costs little, because the modelling and set-up are already done.
Ask for the file, so the part doesn't disappear again
When a maker models a discontinued part, that file is all that's left of it. Agree in the offer whether they'll hand it over: with it you can print the part again when it breaks next time.
And test one first: check that it fits and holds before ordering spares or the full set.
Right to repair and 3D printed parts
In the EU, the Right to Repair Directive (2024/1799), which countries had to bring into national law by 31 July 2026, requires manufacturers of certain products, such as washing machines, dishwashers, fridges, displays and mobile phones, to offer repairs and spare parts at a price that doesn't discourage repair.
On top of that, unless there are justified reasons such as intellectual property, they can't stop independent repairers from using second-hand, compatible or 3D printed parts, as long as these comply with the law. Copying logos or protected designs is still not allowed; remaking a functional part to repair something you own is a different matter.
How much does it cost to reproduce a discontinued part?
Printing prices for the complete job, excluding VAT and shipping, worked out with the Fabrishare calculator. A discontinued part almost always has to be modelled: that design is charged separately, varies a lot from part to part and, on a small part, often costs more than the printing.
| Part | Technology | Range | Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small spare part (bracket, clip) | FDM | €6 – €17 | €10 |
| Medium case or cover | FDM | €7 – €19 | €12 |
A small part keeps the printer busy for about 20 minutes. Large FDM parts have no ballpark price: they depend on machine hours and on whether they're printed in one piece or several. Each maker gives you theirs in the offer.
What reaches the network
Of the 110 requests registered on Fabrishare between May and October 2026, 26 were spare and functional parts, the third-largest group. 22 arrived with their file and 3 without one, to be modelled or scanned.
How to order your discontinued part
- 1Post your project for free with photos, measurements, make and model, or with the file if you've found one.
- 2Say what the part has to withstand and whether you'd like the file handed over.
- 3Get offers with the design and printing price, material and lead time within 24–48 hours; compare and choose.
Questions about discontinued parts
Can a discontinued part be 3D printed?
Yes, if it's plastic and has no safety role: knobs, clips, covers, brackets, wheels, guides or lightly loaded gears. You don't need the file: a maker models it from the broken part, photos with a ruler and measurements.
How much does it cost to reproduce a discontinued part?
Printing a small part costs between €6 and €17 (typically about €10), and a medium one about €12, excluding VAT and shipping. As there's almost never a file, the modelling is extra, and each maker shows it in their offer.
I no longer have the part. Can it still be made?
Yes, from the gap it sat in and the part it fits with, using photos and measurements. If the device has an identical one, like the other wheel or the other foot, that serves as the model.
Will it be as strong as the original?
With the right material, often yes. PETG for everyday use, ASA or ABS if it gets hot, nylon for gears and parts that rub, TPU if it has to give. Say what it has to withstand and test one before ordering more.
Can a gear be reproduced?
Yes, if it doesn't carry a heavy load. Count the teeth and measure the outside diameter: from that the maker works out the module. Nylon copes with friction better than PETG. A metal gear that transmits a lot of force is better left alone.
Is it legal to copy a part that's no longer sold?
Remaking a functional part to repair something you own is generally not a problem. What you don't copy are logos, trademarks or protected designs. When you post the project, you confirm you have the right to have it printed.
Do I get to keep the part's file?
It depends on what you agree with the maker: ask for it in the offer. With the file you can print the part again whenever you need to.
How long does it take?
Offers arrive within 24–48 hours. Printing a small part takes about 20 minutes of machine time; modelling adds time, and each maker gives the total lead time, shipping included, in their offer.