3D printing workshop · Toulouse
3D print a broken part even without a 3D file
A cracked oven knob, a washing machine clip nobody sells any more, a sun lounger hinge in pieces: send us photos or the part itself. We redraw it in the workshop, you approve the model, and we print it in the plastic that suits the job.
Send photos for a quote — Instant quote for 3D files (French interface)
Examples of our work
Replacement parts we 3D print
More often than not, it's one small plastic part that stops a whole appliance from working.
- Household appliances : Oven or washing machine knobs, door clips, fridge drawer stops, hinge covers. The manufacturer no longer sells the part, or only with the whole panel.
- Cars and motorbikes : Trim clips, vent covers, end caps and brackets for interiors and bodywork, looked at case by case.
- Garden and furniture : Sun lounger hinges, chair feet, table leg caps, awning hooks. The sun lounger parts in the photo were remade in white PETG.
- Toys and robots : A gear from a food processor or a toy, a small car wheel, a lost battery cover, a scale model part.
- Sport : Ski boot heel pads, buckles, pole tips. The heel pad in the photo was copied from the broken original.
- Vintage items : A part from an old radio, lamp or camera, when nobody has made them for years.
Replacement part from a photo: how to do it
No 3D file needed. Good photos and a few measurements are enough in most cases.
- Photograph the part from three angles : One from the front, one from the side and one from above, against a plain, well-lit background. If it's broken, show the break as well.
- Add something for scale : Place a ruler or a coin next to the part, at the same height. That lets us work out the proportions.
- Note the key measurements : If you have callipers, measure hole diameters, wall thicknesses and the spacing between fixing points. A ruler still gives us a good starting point.
- Show us where it goes : A photo of where the part sits on the appliance helps a great deal: which way it fits, what it bears against, the load it takes, any heat or damp around it.
- Approve the model before printing : We model the part and send you the 3D model for approval. Nothing is printed without your go-ahead.
Drop off your broken part in Toulouse or post it to us
If you still have the part, even in several pieces, that's the best place to start. Bring it to the workshop at 64 boulevard Silvio Trentin, in the Minimes district, a 5-minute walk from Barrière de Paris metro station, Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm, or post it to us. We take measurements straight from it, which saves a lot of back and forth.
If you live further away, or the part is still fitted to the appliance, send photos through the contact form, on WhatsApp to +33 7 59 72 51 81 or by email to contact@toulouse3dprint.fr. You can write to us in English. The finished part can be collected in Toulouse or sent anywhere in France by Mondial Relay or Colissimo. For an address in another country, ask us first whether shipping is possible and what it costs.
Already have a 3D file (STL, OBJ, 3MF or STEP)? Our instant quote tool shows a price straight away; note that its interface is in French.
Which plastic for a replacement part
We choose the material according to where the part works: heat, load, sunlight, flexibility.
Not sure which one you need? Describe where the part goes and what it has to put up with, and we'll choose for you.
| What the part does | Recommended material | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Indoors, light duty: cover, trim, decorative knob | PLA | Rigid, crisp detail, easy to sand and paint. Softens at around 55-60 °C. |
| Mechanical: gear, hinge, clip, bracket | PETG | Takes knocks better and bends before it breaks. Holds up to about 80 °C. |
| Outdoors, sun, damp: sun lounger, garden, car | PETG | Copes with UV and water better than PLA. |
| Flexible: seal, foot, cable grommet, heel pad | TPU | Behaves like rubber, absorbs shocks and springs back into shape. |
What we advise against 3D printing
We would rather tell you before quoting. A safety-critical part (brakes, a child seat fixing, a harness, anything holding a load above someone's head) should stay an original part. A part close to a strong heat source, such as inside an oven or near a heating element, will warp.
For a part in contact with food, the layers of an FDM print leave tiny gaps that are hard to clean: we'll talk it through first and tell you whether it's reasonable for your use. And a heavily loaded metal part can't be swapped for plastic.
Frequently asked questions
I don't have a 3D file. Is that a problem?
No, that's the case for almost every request. We model the part in the workshop from your photos, your measurements or the part itself, and you approve the model before printing.
My part is in several pieces. Can you still remake it?
Yes. Gather the pieces, even if one is missing, and photograph them side by side with a ruler. If a section is missing, the shape of the neighbouring part or its housing on the appliance helps us rebuild it.
Do I need to send you the broken part?
Not necessarily. Photos from three angles with a scale are often enough, but having the part in hand is the surest way to get exact measurements. You can drop it off in the Minimes district or post it to us.
Will the copy be as strong as the original?
For most clips, knobs and hinges, yes, provided we pick the right plastic and print orientation. For a heavily loaded part we sometimes add thickness, and we'll tell you plainly when 3D printing isn't the right answer.
How much does it cost to reproduce a part?
The price depends on the modelling time and the size of the part. The quote is free: just send us photos.
Can you make several copies of the same part?
Yes. Once the model is approved, we can print one part or a short run, such as the four feet of a table or every hinge on a garden set.
I live outside France. Can I still use you?
You can post the part to the workshop or send photos. Online orders are delivered within France only, so contact us first and we'll tell you whether we can send the finished part to your country and what it would cost.
How do I get the part back?
In person at the workshop in Toulouse, or delivered anywhere in France by Mondial Relay or Colissimo.