[LINK] 3D Print Toilet Parts to Save the Planet?

[Tom Worthington]

One way the Internet can help the environment, and the community, is by 
providing advice on replacement parts and instructions on how to repair, 
rather than replace products. Often only a small replacement part is 
needed. One example is keeping a flush toilet operating, by replacing a 
seal for less than $5.

Apart from saving some money, replacing a seal or washer, rather than 
the whole unit, results in less material thrown away. However, it can be 
difficult to work out exactly what needs replacing, how to remove it and 
what to get. I found Graeme Hawkins video "How to replace a ballcock 
washer in a toilet cistern" very useful (complete with New Zealand 
accent): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRQfXVQmJJY

But for hardware stores to stock large numbers of seals and replacement 
parts is a problem.  Perhaps a 3D printer could be sued to manufacture 
these parts on demand. University of Washington students are reported to 
have 3D printed a whole toilet: 
http://www.geekwire.com/2012/waste-plastics-composting-toilets-uw-students-win-challenge-giant-3d-printer-concept/

The Canberra "Make, Hack, Void" is holding a free conference to show off 
some of their work (including 3D printing).  MHV MakerConf 2013 is 2 
February 2013 at the Australian National University in Canberra, in 
conjunction with LCA2013: 
http://www.makehackvoid.com/community/mhv-makerconf-2013

More in my blog at: 
http://blog.tomw.net.au/2013/01/3d-printed-parts-for-toilet.html


-- 
Tom Worthington FACS CP, TomW Communications Pty Ltd. t: 0419496150
PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617, Australia  http://www.tomw.net.au
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards
Legislation

Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Research School of Computer Science,
Australian National University http://cs.anu.edu.au/courses/COMP7310/