Wesco Cosmetic Bin 103 3L - Hinge Replacement

When the hinge of a small wesco-bathroom bin, a seemingly inconspicuous but crucial component, succumbed to wear and tear, I was faced with the challenge of recreating it. I took it upon myself to faithfully reconstruct it according to its initial design. The design process involved meticulous measurement of every dimension of the original part, ensuring that each detail, no matter how minute, was accurately replicated in the replacement. I strived to mimic the original as closely as possible, paying close attention to the specific curves, angles, and dimensions that would ensure functionality and aesthetic consistency with the original piece.

I set the infill to 100%, layer height to 0.2 mm, and positioned the component with its backside on the print bed (I Printed a second Version on ist left side, which also worked pretty good while giving it additional strength). Additionally, I chose to print the part with internal support. Pleasingly, the support structures can remain within the component after the printing process and have no impact on the hinge's functionality. On the contrary, they even bolster the screw entrances, reducing the risk of breakage during screwing. This also eliminates the tiresome task of prying out the support structures after printing.

However, I would like to point out that the plugs on the right and left of the screw holes, in my case, broke off during installation, which could potentially be attributed to the brittle nature of PLA. Repeating the process with PETG or a higher resolution might yield better results.

Even without these two plugs, the newly created hinge holds up remarkably well, closely mimics the original down to the fine details, and has been providing reliable service for several weeks now. It's truly rewarding to see that a meticulously replicated part can be so sturdy and effective.