There is a growing demand around the world for a new right, the Right to Repair. However, the fight for this right is long and difficult.
Printables new initiative could be a major boost for these demands. But what is this Right to Repair and what is Printables’ new initiative?
Right to Repair
Right to Repair refers the rights of a user to be able to repair or replace a broken part of a product bought by them. This might seem obvious, right? If an individual has bought a product, they must possess the right to repair it? However, it isn’t so.
Big tech manufacturers earn loads from servicing these sold products. Not only do they stop the buyers from getting their products serviced through third party vendors, they add useless hurdles in their way of repairing, for one and only one purpose: increasing profits.
Even if there is a minor problem with a little part, instead of finding the place where the problem has occurred, the entire system is replaced. The poor user is left with no choice as they have no option, but to go to the manufacturer approved service centers only.
These extra hurdles lead to an increased expenditure on the buyers part, both in terms of money and time. An additional emotional stress and frustration should also be counted on the buyer’s part. Hence, there is an increasing demand to allow the Right to Repair to customers.
Printables.com
Printables is a free repository of 3D printable parts. It is an initiative by Prusa Printers. Earlier, the repository was named PrusaPrinters.com. However, the name was changed with a change in company’s branding and hence a new name domain name Printables.com was adopted.
Recently, the company announced a partnership with several different companies that include the likes of Raspberry Pi, World of Warships, Framework Computer, Bohemia Interactive, Adafruit and Prusa Research. The partnership was aimed at making printable parts of some of the products of these companies available to the general public for free.
Raspberry Pi has made the model of an Iron Man’s Arc Reactor model public. World of Warships has made an extensively detailed model of Warship St. Louis available. Bohemia Interactive has released a number of models which includes a soldier, a tank and a Gryphon.
You can check the complete list of brands and their released products here.
Impact
Although, in terms of scale this might seem a very tiny affair, however this is a major symbolic change against the dominance of manufactures and can spiral into an industry of its own.
For a long time, people had been wondering about 3D printing. After the introduction of 3D printers, the reception has been at best lukewarm. Among the primary reasons behind this slow growth is the lack of availability and access of usable models.
Printables’ new initiative, solves two problems at once. Once, it gives 3D printers a much needed reason to multiply in numbers and reach as many homes as possible. Second, it gives a unique solution to the Right to Repair demands.
Anyone can print the damaged part easily, if it is easily available to download and sculpt. On the manufacturer’s part, they won’t have to worry about manufacturing or acquiring each individual part.
Way Forward
Although the new initiative is a welcoming one there is still a long way to go. More companies and more products should be available for printing online. This change would directly hit a firm’s revenue and hence is a tough nut to crack. This definitely would take time.
However, companies like Printables can make the desired change. Printables initially was just a platform for people to post their individual 3-D designs that can be used by anyone. Now, some of the tech firms have hopped in as well.
There is no reason to believe, why it wouldn’t get better from here.
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