It's almost always a small piece of plastic. A dishwasher rack clip. A dryer knob. The battery door on a remote. The bracket that holds a shelf in a fridge. The part costs pennies to make, but the manufacturer stopped selling it years ago, and now a perfectly good machine is one snapped tab away from the curb.
Here's how to track down a replacement, and what to do when there isn't one to buy.
Step 1: Find the exact part number
Before anything else, get the model number of the item. It's usually on a sticker inside the door, on the back, or under the base. Then search for the manufacturer's parts diagram, sometimes called an "exploded view." It shows every part with its own number.
With the part number in hand, search for it directly. You'll often find it from appliance parts suppliers or listed under a newer number that replaced the old one.
Step 2: Check the usual places
- The manufacturer's parts site, even if the product is old. Some parts stay in stock longer than you'd expect.
- Appliance and electronics parts suppliers that stock parts for many brands.
- Online marketplaces like eBay, where people sell parts pulled from broken units.
- Local repair shops and salvage yards, which sometimes keep donor machines.
If you find it at a fair price, buy it. You're done. But if it's "no longer available," used and overpriced, or the wrong revision, it's time to have it made.
Step 3: Get the part remade
This is where 3D printing shines. A replacement part only has to be designed once, and then it can be printed in a material that's often stronger than the original. You don't need the original part in one piece, and you don't need a 3D file.
What to send
- Photos from straight on: top, side and end views. Avoid angled shots, which distort shapes.
- A scale reference: a ruler or caliper in each photo.
- Key measurements: overall length, width and height, wall thickness, and hole sizes.
- The make and model of the item it belongs to.
- Photos of where it mounts. The mating part matters as much as the broken one.
Tip: measure the distance between holes from center to center, not edge to edge. It's the most common measuring mistake, and it's the one that decides whether screws line up.
What if the part is in pieces, or missing?
Broken pieces are still useful. Tape or hold them together for photos, and measure each piece. If the part is gone completely, measure the space it fit into and photograph the mounting points. A matching part on another unit, like the left-side clip when the right one is missing, works great as a reference.
Step 4: Pick the right material
The original was probably molded from a plastic like ABS or polypropylene. For a printed replacement, choose based on where the part lives:
- Indoors, light duty (covers, knobs, trim): PLA or PETG
- Takes loads or flexes (clips, brackets, latches): PETG
- Near heat or sunlight (car interiors, outdoor parts): ASA
- Needs to be rubbery (bumpers, feet, gaskets): TPU
The full materials guide goes deeper on each one.
Step 5: Test the fit, then order spares
A good shop will check the fit before shipping, but small tweaks after the first install are normal for parts made from photos. Once the design is right, extra copies cost much less than the first one. If the part broke once, it may break again, so a spare in the drawer is cheap insurance.
When 3D printing isn't the answer
Printed plastic isn't right for everything. Parts that get very hot (like near a heating element), parts in contact with food for long periods, and safety-critical parts where failure could hurt someone may need the factory part or a different repair. A good shop will tell you that up front instead of taking your money.
The bottom line
Start with the part number and a quick search. If that comes up empty, a remade part is usually faster and cheaper than replacing the whole thing. Send clear photos and measurements, choose a material that fits the job, and keep a spare.
Need one made? See our replacement parts service or get a free quote.