Enhancing 3D printing for repair

Abstract

This project focuses on enhancing the accessibility of 3D printing for repairers by designing a system in which repairers can collaborate with makers. Repair has become rare in societies with an abundance of cheap goods. However in recent years repair is making a gradual comeback in western culture. Citizen repair initiatives such as Repair Cafés have popped up in cities all over the world. They support people to fix their broken things. The increasing popularity of the ‘Maker Movement’ and 3D printing has allowed skilled individuals to create, share and produce their own spare parts for repair. While most modern makers also repair things, most repairers are not capable of making things using digital fabrication methods like 3D printing. To analyse why most repairers can’t use 3D printing and how the 3D printing process can be changed, the context of repairers, makers, 3D printing and reverse engineering was explored. The main findings were translated into design requirements that were used as guidelines in a conceptualisation process. During this phase multiple ideas were tested and iterated on in three different layers: information for repairers, physical tools for part measurement and communication with makers. After a number of iterations a final concept was proposed that enables repairers to ‘manually’ 3D scan an object, using a caliper, and digitally share it with makers so that they can support them in replicating the object through CAD modelling and 3D printing. The system was tested with a small group of repairers and discussed with experts. After implementing those insights, the final design is proposed. The final design is a product service system that consists of a toolkit for repairers and an online platform through which repairers can collaborate with makers on 3D printing for repair projects. The toolkit contains a CyberCaliper, which is a special caliper that makes it easier for repairers to ‘manually’ 3D scan their desired part and post it on the platform. The platform is designed to become the place to be for requesting 3D printed spare parts online. This graduation project is part of the ShaRepair project funded by the Interreg North-West Europe programme under grant agreement NWE982.