The right to repair argument is about to get right up in your face – specifically if you have a beard.
Philips has announced a new strategy to enable its customers to produce spare parts for their trimmers at home using a 3D printer.
At issue are the variety of accessories that come with a personal care product such as a trimming kit – think cutting guides, heads or combs that are small and traditionally made of plastic. When any one of these items gets lost, a replacement must be found that’s specific to the device and, even then, it’s probably a few days away.
Enter Philips Fixables, a collaboration between the personal care company and Czech-based Prusa Research.
Most Read on IEN:
This effort hopes to “make fixing part of everyday life” and offers 3D-printable spare part drawings along with “clever fixes and creative upgrades, designed with sustainability and longevity in mind.”
While Philips says it is seeking inspiration from user feedback, it is using Prusa to help validate the 3D printer designs for quality and safety. It also added that users should stick to its recommendations for materials and other guidelines.
Currently, one replacement part is available via Printables and it’s an adjustable comb for the brand’s OneBlade trimmer. The recommendations listed are for a standard PLA filament. Philips warns users not to try to skimp on the amount of filament - or the print time - to avoid risking the durability of the end part.
And as the Verge points out in a recent report, it’s an exciting first step but one that must scale in order to make a measurable impact: “It’s a welcome initiative,” said the outlet, “but one that’s only going to result in meaningful improvements to sustainability if the company follows through and releases more than just a single accessory.”
Click here to subscribe to our daily newsletter featuring breaking manufacturing industry news.
WEBVTT
X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:0
00:00.140 --> 00:03.539
The right to repair argument is about to get
right up in your face,
00:04.000 --> 00:05.550
specifically, if you have a beard.
00:05.800 --> 00:10.350
Phillips has announced a new strategy to enable
its customers to produce spare parts for their
00:10.350 --> 00:15.279
trimmers at home using a 3D printer.
At issue are the variety of accessories that
00:15.279 --> 00:17.610
come with a personal care product such as a
trimming kit.
00:17.840 --> 00:22.229
Think cutting guides, heads, or combs that are
small and traditionally made of plastic.
00:22.399 --> 00:26.625
When any one of these items gets lost.
A replacement must be found that's specific to
00:26.625 --> 00:29.695
the device, and even then it's probably a few
days away.
00:29.865 --> 00:33.745
Enter Phillips Fixables, a collaboration
between the personal care company and
00:33.745 --> 00:35.416
check-based Prusa Research.
00:35.625 --> 00:40.326
This effort hopes to make fixing part of
everyday life and offers 3D printable spare
00:40.326 --> 00:44.936
part drawings along with clever fixes and
creative upgrades designed with sustainability
00:44.936 --> 00:48.546
and longevity in mind.
While Phillips says it is seeking inspiration
00:48.546 --> 00:51.282
from.
User feedback, it is using Prua to help
00:51.282 --> 00:54.071
validate the 3D printer designs for quality and
safety.
00:54.172 --> 00:58.251
It also added that users should stick to its
recommendations for materials and other
00:58.251 --> 01:00.972
guidelines.
Currently, one replacement part is available
01:00.972 --> 01:04.882
via printables, and it's an adjustable comb for
the brand's one blade trimmer.
01:04.972 --> 01:08.601
The recommendations listed are for a standard
PLA filament.
01:08.931 --> 01:13.171
Phillips warns users not to try to skimp on the
amount of filament or the print time.
01:13.449 --> 01:17.919
To avoid risking the durability of the end part,
and as the verge points out in a recent report,
01:18.040 --> 01:23.449
it's an exciting first step, but one that must
scale in order to make a measurable impact.
01:23.680 --> 01:28.559
It's a welcome initiative, said the outlet, but
one that's only going to result in meaningful
01:28.559 --> 01:33.519
improvements to sustainability if the company
follows through and releases more than just a
01:33.519 --> 01:35.599
single accessory.
I'm Anna Wells.
01:35.639 --> 01:36.769
This is manufacturing now.