Latest news with #Fixables
Business Mayor
21-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Philips to Offer Free Downloadable Files to 3D Print Replacement Parts
Though Philips is no longer the consumer electronics giant they once were—they've shifted into health technology—they still manufacture some personal care items, like electric shavers and hair dryers. Now, somewhat bizarrely, they're dipping their foot into the DIY repair movement to support those products. The company has partnered with Prusa, the Czech company that has become one of the world's largest manufacturers of 3D printers, to launch this new Philips Fixables initiative. The idea is that Philips will provide 3D files for replacement parts for their products. Consumers will be able to download these files and print the parts themselves, or through a supplier. For now the selection is quite sparse—the only downloadable file available is for a trimmer comb—but the initiative has only launched this month, and the company says more parts are to come. (And hopefully more languages, too; at present the Fixables website is only presented in Czech.) Enter a caption (optional)
Engadget
12-05-2025
- Business
- Engadget
Philips Fixables will let you 3D print replacement parts for your electric razors and trimmers
To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Philips is launching a new program called Fixables, where it will make plans available so that customers can 3D print replacement parts for the company's personal care products. The video introducing the initiative touts it as a simpler and easier way to extend the lifetimes of functional items rather than throwing them out because a single part or attachment is broken. Philips has partnered with Prusa Research and LePub on this endeavor, and Printables is hosting the plans. There are some caveats and limitations to this concept. The quality of the replacement part will depend on the materials used to create it, and not every customer has a 3D printer at home. (Although some public library systems, universities and local maker communities may have equipment that can be used or rented on site.) It's also still a project in its early stages. Fixables is initially launching in the Czech Republic. On the website for the Fixables program (which is in Czech), Philips explains that it's starting with the home country for Prusa Research and it is reaching out to the 3D printing company's existing maker community for this project. Another sign that the initiative is still in the early stages is that there's only one part plan available: a comb attachment for the OneBlade trimmer. But per Google Translate, two more plans are labeled as "We are working on it" and there are three different icons with no descriptions that point to additional plans. The Fixables website also has an option for customers to submit a request for parts they want to be able to 3D print. So while Fixables is a long way from making a real dent in waste from personal care products, it's exciting to see a major brand making a serious effort to explore the potential of 3D printing for better sustainability.
