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Cited by 17Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing TechnologiesSustainable Supply Chain ManagementManufacturing Process and Optimization

3D Printing for Repair: An Approach for Enhancing Repair

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van Oudheusden, Alma van, Bolaños Arriola, Julieta Bolaños, Faludi, Jeremy, Flipsen, Bas, Balkenende, Ruud·2023·Sustainability
DOI 10.3390/su15065168
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Abstract

The availability and storage of spare parts are the main barriers to product repair. One possibility would be to 3D print spare parts, which would also enable the repair of products not intended to be repaired. Besides manufacturers, 3D printing spare parts is an interesting option for self-repair by consumers. However, the digitisation of spare parts for 3D printing is a challenge. There is little guidance on how to make a 3D-printed version of the original part. This paper establishes a framework through a literature review and experimental study to describe how to use 3D printing to produce spare parts for repair. Additionally, qualitative data coding was used to find the influence of previous experience, process implementation, and part complexity on the overall success of the 3D printing for repair (3DPfR) process. Our study showed that the 3DPfR process can be described as an iterative design for an additive manufacturing process that is integrated into a repair process. Additionally, it was found that the incorrect implementation of process steps was the most important predictor of the repair result. The steps that were performed incorrectly the most were synthesising design concepts (64%) and validating print quality (also 64%).

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  • Producing functional spare parts through 3D printing remains a demanding task that requires specific technical skills and knowledge.

    “Nevertheless, producing functional spare parts through 3D printing remains a demanding task that requires specific technical skills and knowledge [15].”

    From Designing for Repair and Extended Lifespan: Consumer Expectations and Economic Constraints (2026) · cites this paper as [15]

  • Additive manufacturing enables the production of replacement parts for products no longer supported by their manufacturers, extending functional repairability beyond the intended product lifecycle.

    “Additive manufacturing enables the production of replacement parts for products no longer supported by their manufacturers, extending functional repairability beyond the intended product lifecycle [15].”

    From Designing for Repair and Extended Lifespan: Consumer Expectations and Economic Constraints (2026) · cites this paper as [15]

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References 35 · Cited by 17

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Authors
van Oudheusden, A. V., Bolaños Arriola, J. B., Faludi, J., Flipsen, B., & Balkenende, R.
Affiliations
  • Department of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands
  • Delft University of Technology (NL)
ORCID
Venue
Sustainability
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2023-03-14
Volume
15
Issue
6
Pages
5168
ISSN
2071-1050 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/su15065168
OpenAlex
W4324360783
Cited by
17
References
35
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 1
FWCI
1.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Sustainability (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • Research Repository (Delft University of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Interreg (North-West Europe) within the ShaRepair project (NWE982)
  • TU Delft Library (NWE982)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Sustainable Supply Chain Management
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering › Manufacturing Process and Optimization
Keywords
spare parts, product repair, self-healing, additive manufacturing, design for additive manufacturing

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