Judging by the news, the 3D printing revolution is poised to transform the way we make everything from chocolates to cars, from bionic arms to jewellery. 3D printers translate digital design files into physical, three-dimensional objects. In China, 3D printers are building houses in a matter of hours. In Europe, scientists are 3D printing human tissues that could be used for organ transplants.
I had a more modest goal: I wanted a new control knob for my gas cooker.You see, I had broken three of these plastic knobs, leaving me twisting exposed metal shaft pins to turn the gas on and off (see image right). This made me very nervous.
Superglue didn’t work. I couldn’t find replacements online. So I contacted the manufacturer. “The control knob for your appliance is actually obsolete,” customer services said. “We don't make the part anymore.”
Planned obsolescence, I thought, our disposable culture in a nutshell. It dawned on me that I might have to buy a new cooker for want of a plastic knob! Unless I could make it. Could the 3D printing revolution help? Forget upgrading, hang obsolescence, I could take control of the means of production! Let’s put this tech to the test. I got back online.