Maytag Dryer Knob (MK4S to the rescue!)
So this is a prosaic print for a Hall of Fame, but bear with me...
About two years ago, I bought a new Maytag clothes dryer and its extended warrantee. We have a big family, and the machine runs probably 3-4 times per week. As with many post-pandemic consumer goods, I noticed early issues with quality and reliability - including the need for a full belt swap within 6 months of purchase.
Fast forward to last week, when the dryer appeared to be unresponsive - set timer, push start, nothing happens. Is it an electrical issue, or what ? I can file a warrantee claim, but this will take a half an hour on the phone, a week to get an appointment, and then a week after that to get a technician. 2 weeks of line dry in the humid, rainy summertime ? Disaster!
So I pop off the knob itself in the hope that the issue is mechanical. And what do I see ? What looks on the outside like burnished aluminum ...
... is actually injection moulded ABS plastic!
Not that there's anything wrong with ABS, but the main, load bearing part of the knob - the piece that connects to the nylon control shaft on the dryer - is less than 1.5mm thick. The surprise is not that it cracked, but that it lasted as long as it did.
No lie, I have seen children's toys more robustly designed than this.
This part isn't that complex. With some quick Fusion magic, and my trusty MK4S, I was able to design, print, and post ( https://www.printables.com/model/1347673-maytag-whirlpool-washer-dryer-knobs ) a full replacement set for the whole dryer - one that will last longer than the original - in under three hours.
I'm prepared to be sympathetic to pressures on manufacturers with supply chain disruptions and increased input costs, but honestly. 1.5 MM of ABS plastic for a load bearing shaft is just obscene. The difference between that 1.5MM and a 3MM shaft would have prevented the problem entirely, and with a material cost of less than a penny.
Suffice it to say, I'm really glad that my 3D printer was there. It's not the first time I've had to resort to home manufacturing to cover the weaknesses of every day consumer products, and I suspect that it won't be the last. I can see a future where a 3D printer will be a necessary tool in every home!
Prusa Core One, MK4S w/ MMU3 (formerly MK4 / MMU3, MK3S+/MMU2), 2 Prusa MINI+, Octoprint. PETG, PVB, (some) PLA.
RE: Maytag Dryer Knob (MK4S to the rescue!)
I'm prepared to be sympathetic to pressures on manufacturers with supply chain disruptions and increased input costs, but honestly. 1.5 MM of ABS plastic for a load bearing shaft is just obscene. The difference between that 1.5MM and a 3MM shaft would have prevented the problem entirely, and with a material cost of less than a penny.
Suffice it to say, I'm really glad that my 3D printer was there. It's not the first time I've had to resort to home manufacturing to cover the weaknesses of every day consumer products, and I suspect that it won't be the last. I can see a future where a 3D printer will be a necessary tool in every home!
Your part looks better than the original. Nice work.
I remember when knobs on devices like amplifiers were all machined steel. They had such a premium feel to them.