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- Philips Fixables opens the door to Doe -Te -self -repair with a program built around 3D print files
- A small 3D -printed part can mark a large shift in how repairs are carried out
- Does not become too enthusiastic, there is only one part available, and it is not yet accessible on a large scale
Philips has launched an initiative called Philips Fixables, a program with which customers can download and 3D print replacement components for certain products.
According to Tom’s hardwareThis is an early phase effort with a limited rollout so far, but one that indicates broader changes in the way in which technology companies can support the lifetime of the product.
The project is currently being tested in the Czech Republic, where Philips cooperates with Prusa Research and Lepub.
A rare movement in the direction of open-source repair
Currently the program contains only one part – a 3 mm KAM insertion for a Philips Shaver – but the company says that extra components will be added over time.
To print a compatible part, customers download the corresponding file of Printables.comA platform that is used a lot by hobbyists and makers.
While the Best 3D printers Can replicate complicated parts with impressive accuracy, successful results are highly dependent on users who follow the recommended print settings from Philips. The company warns that deviations, such as reducing infill to save time or filament, can lead to weaker or unusable components.
As with every new idea, it is still to be seen whether this will succeed in practice. Users can ultimately print inferior parts that repeatedly fail, which leads to frustration instead of effective repairs.
It is also unclear how quickly Philips will expand the program or which types of components will then be recorded.
With the Philips Fixables website, customers can request specific components. If approved, Philips says it will inform users when those parts will become available to download.
However, there is currently no public timeline for Turnaround, nor are there transparent criteria to determine which parts will be accepted. That can limit the usefulness of the program in its early form.
Yet the movement is remarkable. In an era in which the best 3D printers and laser engines are often limited by their own ecosystems that open-source repair files offer, even in a limited capacity, is rare.
This initiative reflects recent efforts from other companies, such as LogitechThe partnership with iFixit, which also repairs champion about replacement.
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