BuyAnyPart in the Farmers Gaurdian

We have been interviewed by the renowned agricultural magazine Farmers Guardian and discussed how farmers can save money by utilising 3D printing technologies. If you have any questions/comments about producing agriculture parts with 3D printing, then contact us and let us know how we can help.

A combination of computer aided design and 3D printing allows BuyAnyPart to supply almost any part for machinery, that is missing or broken. The parts can be made in a many types of plastic and metal, and to the customers exact specification.

David Smith, CEO says “This technology opens a whole range of possibilities for farmers, who up until now have had to rely cannibalising other machines, or CNC manufacture of part to keep their older machinery running. But as machines age and fewer are in operation the spare parts get more and more difficult to source. Farmers can find themselves spending more time looking for a part than fixing the machine, if the part is available at all. We aim to change that by providing them a 3D printing service.”

The type of printing used is additive printing. The process essentially lays down powdered metal, that is then melted using a laser beam, traveling in the shape of the part needed. Mr Smith says “This method may even make the part cheaper, as there is far less wastage in this production method, and we keep the CAD template, so for future repairs the cost will come down.”

At present nearly anything can be printed, from the smallest sprocket to whole engine blocks. If the part is still available a scan can be made of it, to future proof the parts supply for a machine. Another area which the company sees as a major benefit for this technology is printing prototype and guide parts, due to the relatively low cost of printing, before machining the parts if needed.

Prices for this service will vary, depending on the level of design that needs to go into the part as well as the size and complexity. For parts that require a simple scan and then print, Mr Smith says 3D printing will be very cost effective, but the biggest advantage will come in being able to repair machines where the parts supply has run out.

Alex Heath Farmers Gaurdian