At a glance
| Best for | Anyone wondering whether the part they need is something we can make |
|---|---|
| You send | Nothing yet — read this first, then ask if you are unsure |
| Material | PETG — tougher and more heat-tolerant than PLA, which is what most repair parts need |
| Typical price | No charge to ask, and we will not quote for work we would decline |
| Lead time | We answer questions like this the same working day where we can |
| Maximum part size | 256 × 256 × 256 mm in one piece; larger parts split and joined |
What we take on
- Functional replacement parts made to repair something you own
- Parts that are discontinued, unsupported or not available in the UK
- Unbranded fittings, clips, brackets, housings and mounts
- Your own designs, and parts you hold the rights to
- Parts drawn from an original you own or have permission to borrow
How it works when there is no file
Our rule is simple: we make parts to repair things, not copies to replace buying things.
- Is it still sold? If the manufacturer still supplies it, buy theirs. It will fit better and usually cost less than having one drawn.
- Does it carry a name or a logo? If so, we leave that off. We will make the part; we will not reproduce the mark.
- Is it a functional part or a decorative work? A clip, bracket or housing is a functional article. A figurine, a sculpture or an artwork is not, and we do not copy those.
- Is it safety critical? If failure would hurt someone, we decline regardless of who owns the design.
Where this works well
- Repairing something you own that is out of support
- Obsolete fittings with no commercial source left
- Small runs for an owners’ club or a repair business
- Your own product, prototype or design
Where it doesn’t
- Badges, emblems, marque motifs and anything bearing a brand name
- Parts that are readily available new from the manufacturer
- Copies of designed objects sold as products in their own right — figurines, models, artwork, jewellery
- Anything a third party has told you not to reproduce
Why we take this line
Partly because it is the right way to run a repair business, and partly because it keeps both of us out of trouble. Reproducing a functional spare so you can keep using something you already own is ordinary repair work and always has been. Reproducing a branded item so that someone can have one without buying it is a different activity, and not one we are in.
The practical test we apply is whether the part exists to make something else work. A heater knob exists so the heater can be operated. A model car exists to be a model car. The first is repair; the second is not ours to copy.
Trade marks are the clearest line
A manufacturer’s name, logo or emblem is their trade mark, and it stays theirs regardless of who owns the vehicle or appliance it is attached to. So we do not put marks on parts, and we do not make parts whose whole purpose is to carry one. We are happy to say a part fits a particular make and model, because that is a statement of fact about compatibility, not a claim to be that manufacturer.
If you are not sure, just ask
Most enquiries are unambiguous. Where one is not, tell us what the part is and what it goes on, and we will give you a straight answer before you post anything or pay anything. If we think a part is borderline we will say so and explain why, rather than taking the money and hoping.
We are printers, not solicitors, and nothing on this page is legal advice. If a part matters commercially and you are unsure of your position, take proper advice before having it made.
Questions people ask about this
Can you copy a part from a product I own?
If it is a functional part and you are repairing your own item, that is the normal case and yes. If the item is itself a designed product being reproduced whole, no. The question we ask is whether the part exists to make something work or exists to be the thing itself.
Why will you not put the logo back on?
The logo is a trade mark belonging to the manufacturer, and it stays theirs whoever owns the item it was attached to. We will make the part without it. In most cases the part is hidden or the badge is a separate item you can keep from the original.
The original is still sold but costs four times what it should. Will you copy it?
Usually not. Price alone is not the test we apply, and a genuine part that still exists will fit better than a redrawn copy. Where a part is technically available but only as part of a much larger assembly — a whole dashboard for one clip — that is a different situation and worth discussing.
I designed this part myself. Any restrictions?
None from us beyond the safety limits. It is your design. We will print it, and we will not reuse it for anyone else.
Not sure whether yours is something we can make?
Describe the part and what it goes on. We will tell you straight, before you post anything.
Other repairs we take on
Already have a file? Price it instantly →