{"id":273574,"date":"2026-07-06T15:16:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T19:16:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/solidxperts.com\/?post_type=techtips&p=273574"},"modified":"2026-07-06T15:18:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T19:18:55","slug":"markforged-3d-printing-repair-cooler","status":"publish","type":"techtips","link":"https:\/\/solidxperts.com\/en\/blog\/markforged-3d-printing-repair-cooler\/","title":{"rendered":"How Additive Manufacturing with Markforged Helped Avoid the Costly Replacement of a Cooler"},"content":{"rendered":"

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How Additive Manufacturing with Markforged Helped Avoid the Costly Replacement of a Cooler<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Can you already smell the BBQ?<\/p>\n

Last summer, I went to a store to buy a cooler. I found one at an unbeatable price, but it was missing two retaining pins for the handle.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s when I had an idea.<\/p>\n

Why not design and 3D print them?<\/p>\n

So, I left the store with the cooler, a big smile on my face, and full confidence that I could find a solution in time for the BBQ.<\/p>\n

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\"BBQ<\/a>
BBQ Solidxperts x Markforged<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Challenge: A Cooler with Missing Parts<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A BBQ was scheduled just a few days later. I wanted to buy a cooler to keep drinks cold throughout the evening, but my budget was limited.<\/p>\n

I came across a brand-new 45.4 L cooler for the modest price of $15 CAD. The only issue was that it was missing the two pins that secured the handle on one side. Despite searching throughout the store, I was unable to find replacement parts that could be purchased with it.<\/p>\n

Without these pins, the cooler was still usable, but moving it around would have been much less convenient since the handle would not function properly. A comparable new cooler would have cost approximately $50 CAD before taxes. Ordering replacement parts was also an option, but not necessarily the most cost-effective one due to potential shipping costs and delivery delays.<\/p>\n

With a BBQ quickly approaching, I needed a solution that was both effective and fast.<\/p>\n

Evaluating the Options<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Let’s take a quick look at the available options:<\/p>\n