Can You 3D Print Appliance Parts?
Replacing broken dishwasher, washing machine and fridge parts with 3D printing when the manufacturer no longer supplies spares.
Australian appliances love to fail in small, infuriating ways — a snapped dishwasher basket clip, a cracked fridge shelf bracket, a broken washing machine soap drawer tab. The full spare often costs hundreds of dollars or simply isn't made anymore. 3D printing is increasingly the cheapest, fastest fix.
Appliances where 3D printing works well
Dishwashers — basket wheels, basket rail end caps, cutlery tray clips, detergent dispenser flaps, salt cap seals.
Washing machines and dryers — soap drawer handles, dispenser inserts, knob caps, door hinge bushings, lint filter clips.
Fridges — shelf brackets, crisper drawer rails, door bin clips, butter compartment doors, light covers.
Microwaves, ovens, rangehoods — knob caps and decorative bezels (anything inside the cooking cavity needs to be a high-temp material).
Coffee machines — drip tray clips, bean hopper lids, knob inserts, replacement portafilter accessories.
Vacuum cleaners — wand clips, hose connectors, dust container latches.
What you can't print
Anything inside the heat zone of an oven or microwave cavity.
Pressurised water seals or anything carrying hot detergent under load — typically these need OEM parts.
Electrical components: motors, switches, PCBs, heating elements.
Glass, metal frame or load-bearing structural parts.
Material choice
Dry interior or external plastic parts: PETG is the default — tough, cheap and handles warm interiors.
Hot dishwasher interior: PETG (rated to ~80 °C) is usually fine; for very hot cycles, ABS or PC is safer.
Fridge interior: PETG or ABS — both handle cold fine and won't become brittle.
Flexible seals and grommets: TPU.
How to find the part
Identify the appliance make, model and serial number (look on a sticker inside the door, behind a kick-plate, or on the back). Search Printables and MakerWorld for the model — Bosch, Miele, Fisher & Paykel, Westinghouse and LG parts are widely modelled by the community.
If nothing exists, take a clear photo of the broken part with a ruler beside it (or measurements with callipers) and post the job on Printit4Me. An Australian maker will reverse-engineer and print the part, usually for far less than the OEM equivalent.
FAQ
Will a 3D printed dishwasher part survive long-term?
Yes — PETG and ABS dishwasher parts last for years in normal use. Replacing them when they eventually wear is still much cheaper than buying OEM.
What about food contact in a fridge?
PETG is the standard food-rated material for fridge interiors. As with all FDM prints, hand-wash rather than dishwasher-clean to maximise life.
How do I know what material my OEM part was?
You don't need to. Describe the use (hot, cold, wet, dry, load-bearing) to your maker and they'll pick the right material.
Ready to get something printed?
Post a job and Australian makers will quote you within hours.