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Printables is aiming to build a one-stop site for 3D-printed parts and accessories from brands like Noctua. (credit: Printables.com)
A number of device and accessory brands—including Adafruit, Framework Computer, Noctua, and Raspberry Pi—have
started sharing free official 3D-printable models
of parts, accessories, and mods on Printables, kicking off what the site hopes is a general trend toward repair-friendly parts and community mods.
Prusa Research, which
shifted
its PrusaPrinters site to
Printables.com
in March, writes that it had been "talking with a couple of giants in their respective industries" before launching a new section of the site,
Brands
. Giving customers the option of locally printing certain parts reduces inventory and shipping needs. By doing so, the company writes, that "makes it easier for brands to support the right-to-repair initiative"—and create some cool mods.
"We hope that in a few years, it will be the norm to release 3D-printable models to accompany the brand's products," writes Mikolas Zuza, marketing specialist at Prusa Research.