3D printing at the service of repairability: how Philips imagines the future of spare parts

What if finding a spare part for its beard mower or its electric toothbrush became simple as hello? Currently, The availability of spare parts remains one of the most important obstacles to the democratization of repair.

Faced with this challenge, the famous manufacturer Philips, which produces as much electric epilators, connected bulbs or smart TVs, wanted to re-present an old promise as the world: to build spare parts at home … or almost.

Small parts finally easy to access

The company has indeed discreetly formalized in the Czech Republic the launch of its program Fixable. Behind this English name hides an initiative which promises to provide 3D models with certain parts of the spare parts necessary for the proper functioning of its devices.

Materially, this simply materializes by providing parts models on a dedicated site where it is possible to view, download and modify 3D parts. Once the file has been repatriated to your hard drive, it is easy to send it to a 3D printer if you have one to call on an online service to print and have the part sent.

At the end of the day, a device returned almost to nine in a few clicks and for nothing other than a handful of euros. A simple way of democratizing and encouraging the repair of our electric and electronic gadgets which are too often abandoned instead of being repaired.

Not so new

For the moment, only a few heels for the Oneblade beard mower are available, but we can imagine that other pieces will be born in the months and years to come, if Philips does not let go. The possibility of directly printing the part from the site thanks to a partnership with the Prusa Connect firm could thus end hunting, often frustrating and time -consuming, with spare parts.

Philips inquire nothing new. Since the popularization of 3D printers in the early 2010s, many communities of maker set out to produce models of spare parts for a whole bunch of device, most often with free access. But except for a few for some 3D printing aficionados, the method remained relatively unknown.

The investment of a company like Philips in this sector could give a greater resonance to this movement, especially since the models of parts which are available for free, under Creative Commons license and is accompanied by detailed instructions to obtain the best possible result in printing. A good start, but the efforts therefore remain to be confirmed.

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