this post was submitted on 17 Feb 2024
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How stable is a metallic print (feddit.de)
submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
33 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

The bottom hinge of my shower cabinet door is broken. Can’t buy a replacement because it’s too old. I think about design it and print in metal. Or to sawing and filling it out of a metallic block.

I‘m not sure how stable a metallic print is. The glass door is quite heavy either around 15 kilos. Do you guys have recommendations?

And do you know a metallic print service in Germany or Europe? I own just a plastic printer

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Hinges are often made of sheet metal.

This can be cut, drilled and bent to fit. A vice, a drill, a file, a hammer and hacksaw would be enough for most hinges.

If the door remains suspended with just one hinge a plastic one may work for a short while. The hinge only suspended half the load.

You can also print the hinge with a high infill percentage to improve strength and resist deformation.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

I thought this version as well at first. Unfortunately, I found a detail that is sort of cogwheel effect - keeps back the door from swinging and closing. It will be very very hard to get this one drilled with a drill machine.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Hi guys, thx for all your help. My project is finally successful. Shower hinge repaired - entire shower cabinet usable now. Let’s give you a short feedback:

  • I‘ve chosen PCBway as it was the cheapest with 90€ for stainless steel, laser sintering.
  • Other both providers were around 300€ up to 1000€ ( this one in chrome though)
  • The production & delivery time was quite long with 2-3 weeks from China. But I‘m not in a hurry.
  • I did two plastic prototypes first and discovered always a few new details I didn’t recognize first.
  • The metallic print is stainless steel (hope better than Tesla quality) and it‘s fully printed - not the walls only.

At all it costs 130€ for the print, oil, silicone sealant and some other things. Saved me approx 2-4000€ for a new shower cabinet as spare parts were out of production. A picture in comment below.