Obsolete Potentiometer Controls: 3D Printing to the Rescue!

RE: Obsolete Potentiometer Controls: 3D Printing to the Rescue!

shabaz — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:09:13 GMT

Time for an update.

I had quite a few to assemble up, but once I got into the swing of it, it just took a couple of evenings. It is a lot slower to fully assemble them one at a time, it's quicker to do it production-line-style, and split things up into smaller steps and only move on to the next step when all of the parts are at the same stage.

This was one of the boards, before modification:

After modification:

Another photo of it:

RE: Obsolete Potentiometer Controls: 3D Printing to the Rescue!

DAB — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 18:32:41 GMT

Great solution.

RE: Obsolete Potentiometer Controls: 3D Printing to the Rescue!

genebren — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 16:08:31 GMT

A brilliant approach to component replacement! I am going to have to file this one away for a future day.

I have found so many uses for a 3D printer. Initially, I got one for robotics projects, but I later found it useful for all sorts of projects and repairs. I stated with a cheap one (Monoprice), that fried the controller board, so instead of repairing that, I bought a Prusa MK3S+ which I really like. Now 4 years down the road with my Prusa and I am working on a pretty complete rebuild. New rods and bearings and a complete rebuild of my extruder. This printer worked flawlessly up to a point and then I started have more and more issues. I finally decided that it was time to set it straight. The cost for this repair kept growing as I found more and more issues. If I knew then, what I know now, I might have decided to upgrade to a newer, more capable printer.

RE: Obsolete Potentiometer Controls: 3D Printing to the Rescue!

michaelkellett — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 09:58:55 GMT

Excellent fix !

I get requests to fix things quite often and almost always turn them down (its impossible to make any money from them), but occasionally other things tip the balance.

I just replaced the belts on a Pioneer cassette recorder and was amazed at how easy it is to get belts for 30 year old tape machines.

But there are loads of parts that can't be directly replaced and yours is a great example of using modern technology to replicate old parts.

How much did you have to pay for the 3D prints and the flexi boards ? (Hope you don't mind my asking.)

RE: Obsolete Potentiometer Controls: 3D Printing to the Rescue!

dougw — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 14:44:08 GMT

Pretty slick component adapters...[emoticon:5ced9b85a4a246058e4772ef2b9956f4]

RE: Obsolete Potentiometer Controls: 3D Printing to the Rescue!

dang74 — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 13:29:38 GMT

Nice work.

RE: Obsolete Potentiometer Controls: 3D Printing to the Rescue!

BigG — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 10:52:34 GMT

Wow FreeCAD! Neat.

RE: Obsolete Potentiometer Controls: 3D Printing to the Rescue!

Fred27 — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 08:24:34 GMT

[mention:b0bc65b9ecdc4307bd967592f00e340a:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05] You've helped me so much (both directly and indirectly) on here that Id be happy to churn out a few 3D prints for you.

One of the best things about 3D printing is not creating an object but being able to iterate. For something small I sometimes create V1 as a test fit and almost expect a V2 to follow.

I recently ditched fiddling with Creality printers and grabbed a Bambu P1S with AMS when it was on sale for £699. Night and day difference on the need for fiddling and tweaking. It really is reliable enough to click "go" and just come back later to a finished print. It's since dropped to £549. If you're close to getting on then I'd really recommend it.

RE: Obsolete Potentiometer Controls: 3D Printing to the Rescue!

aswinvenu — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 04:40:08 GMT

Absolutely awesome!
I think you should invest on a 3D printer. You will love it! Get a Bamboo lab or Creality. Bang for the buck!

RE: Obsolete Potentiometer Controls: 3D Printing to the Rescue!

kmikemoo — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 02:28:32 GMT

[mention:b0bc65b9ecdc4307bd967592f00e340a:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05] NICE! That's a brilliant solution. [emoticon:1435ff2429184e17bc948e4f19178e1e]