Dispenser Arm for Frigidaire Dishwasher

The detergent dispenser door on our Frigidaire Dishwasher stopped opening during a wash. I also noticed that there wasn't a decent spring back on the dispenser door lock when you manually cycled it.

It turns out the arm which captures the spring and is activated by the detergent dispenser door solenoid had worn out.

The only replacement part they sell is the entire detergent dispenser door, which is $30 and several days shipping (part # 5304507354). I gave myself 4 hours to design, print, and test a new one before I would let myself order it. :)

Seems to work in static tests, just assembled everything and running a test wash now. This arm also controls the rinse aid dispenser, so hopefully everything still activates as it should.

A full write up is at: https://1projectaweek.com/blog/2017/7/20/practical-3d-printing

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

Prusa

Printer:

Rafts:

No

Supports:

Resolution:

0.02MM

Infill:

Notes:

Printed in Taulman Tech-G (PETG).

Supports can be tough with PETG, maybe using another material like PVA or even PLA could work. I was concerned with using PLA because of the different temperatures, so didn't go that route.

The fit is really tight, but that's on purpose. I only had to file the areas between the claws on the pin retention area. They do flex outward as the peg from the door retention cylinder is pushed in, so it should be fine. Just use even pressure and keep everything lined up.

Post-Printing

Just a little fine sand paper to clean up mess from the supports. If I did it again I'd use some sort of dissolvable support material, PETG sticks so good that it's hard to deal with supports using the same material.

How I Designed This

Fusion 360, a caliper and about 2 hours... Didn't take as long as I thought it would.