Idea Supreme

The Fab Store: Difference between revisions

An idea by Jeff Lawlor
Created on 2025-08-18
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Beginning of Fab Store Network section.
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Added Specialized Parts from High-end 3D Printers subsection.
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{{Infobox What Do I Want|wish1=Own a small percentage of company|wish2=Opportunities for additional, early investment.}}
{{Infobox What Do I Want|wish1=Own a small percentage of company|wish2=Opportunities for additional, early investment.}}


=== Your Neighborhood, Next-Level Repair Cafe ===
===Your Neighborhood, Next-Level Repair Cafe===
How often have you trashed an entire product because of a single broken part? What if you could simply replace the part, at a fraction of the cost and waste? The Fab Store pairs advanced 3D printing with repair experts to fix previously unfixable items. These stores keep more stuff out of our landfills and more money in your pocket!
How often have you trashed an entire product because of a single broken part? What if you could simply replace the part, at a fraction of the cost and waste? The Fab Store pairs advanced 3D printing with repair experts to fix previously unfixable items. These stores keep more stuff out of our landfills and more money in your pocket!


In addition, Fab Stores may finally deliver on the promise of a small-scale manufacturing revolution.
In addition, Fab Stores may finally deliver on the promise of a small-scale manufacturing revolution.


=== To Repair is Rare ===
===To Repair is Rare===
Too often, a single broken part means sending the sum of all its parts to a landfill. For example- A hinge broke on my old electric tea kettle, preventing me from closing the lid properly.
Too often, a single broken part means sending the sum of all its parts to a landfill. For example- A hinge broke on my old electric tea kettle, preventing me from closing the lid properly.


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In cases like this, I can't find a practical solution to repairing my item instead of replacing it.
In cases like this, I can't find a practical solution to repairing my item instead of replacing it.


=== The Fab Store Expertly 3D Prints Parts and Fixes Products ===
===The Fab Store Expertly 3D Prints Parts and Fixes Products===
Imagine a store equipped with 3D printers and CNC machines capable of fabricating parts made of metal, wood, plastic, rubber, ceramic and more. An expert greets you, examines your broken item, prints out the broken pieces and repairs your item for you. We have the technology and talent available today. If only there were someone to make the store a reality.
Imagine a store equipped with 3D printers and CNC machines capable of fabricating parts made of metal, wood, plastic, rubber, ceramic and more. An expert greets you, examines your broken item, prints out the broken pieces and repairs your item for you. We have the technology and talent available today. If only there were someone to make the store a reality.


=== How Do Fab Store Repairs Work? ===
===How Do Fab Store Repairs Work?===
Your friendly neighborhood Fab Store is on a street corner near you. As you enter, a repair expert greets you, examines your broken item and comes up with a plan to fix it.
Your friendly neighborhood Fab Store is on a street corner near you. As you enter, a repair expert greets you, examines your broken item and comes up with a plan to fix it.


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The repair expert extracts the broken axle from the toy and scans it with a 3D scanner. The object appears virtually in CAD software, where the expert "repairs" the broken part in the software. Then the expert 3D prints a new axle and installs it in the truck. Your child gets more milage out of their toy and another item is spared from the landfill.
The repair expert extracts the broken axle from the toy and scans it with a 3D scanner. The object appears virtually in CAD software, where the expert "repairs" the broken part in the software. Then the expert 3D prints a new axle and installs it in the truck. Your child gets more milage out of their toy and another item is spared from the landfill.


=== Beyond Repairs: A Small-scale Manufacturing Revolution ===
===Beyond Repairs: A Small-scale Manufacturing Revolution===
Considering all the equipment and skills that go into the them, Fab Stores can double as small-scale factories. You can manufacture a wide range of products using the wide range of materials and tooling available to you. By producing small batches of a variety of unique products, you may stumble upon a products destined for mass market success.  
Considering all the equipment and skills that go into the them, Fab Stores can double as small-scale factories. You can manufacture a wide range of products using the wide range of materials and tooling available to you. By producing small batches of a variety of unique products, you may stumble upon a products destined for mass market success.  


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*Custom designed products
*Custom designed products


==== Pre-fabricated Products: Discover the Next Rubik's Cube ====
====Pre-fabricated Products: Discover the Next Rubik's Cube====
Places like the Thingaverse are filled with designs for imaginative items you can't buy in stores. Lurking among those designs might be the next best-selling product trend. You manufacture just one of each design and prominently display them in your store windows and on the web site. There's little risk in making products that don't sell and huge rewards when a product proves popular.
Places like the Thingaverse are filled with designs for imaginative items you can't buy in stores. Lurking among those designs might be the next best-selling product trend. You manufacture just one of each design and prominently display them in your store windows and on the web site. There's little risk in making products that don't sell and huge rewards when a product proves popular.


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Who knows which design might turn into a commercial success. Producing a limited quantity of a wide range of products in search of a winner is a low-cost, low-risk way to discover the next hula hoop, hot jewelry trend or must-have phone case. Imagination is about the only limit!
Who knows which design might turn into a commercial success. Producing a limited quantity of a wide range of products in search of a winner is a low-cost, low-risk way to discover the next hula hoop, hot jewelry trend or must-have phone case. Imagination is about the only limit!


==== User-requested Products: Bring Your Own Design ====
====User-requested Products: Bring Your Own Design====
You can also manufacture designs your customers find on the Internet. Not only does this create Fab Store buzz when your customers shows off their cool item, it also offers inspiration into which items to produce for your store window.
You can also manufacture designs your customers find on the Internet. Not only does this create Fab Store buzz when your customers shows off their cool item, it also offers inspiration into which items to produce for your store window.


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You should view customer-supplied designs as an insight into what kinds of products sell. If one customer wants the item, others likely do too. Look at the product space, not just the product, and you may find a profitable niche.
You should view customer-supplied designs as an insight into what kinds of products sell. If one customer wants the item, others likely do too. Look at the product space, not just the product, and you may find a profitable niche.


==== Custom-designed Products: Giving the Customer Exactly What They Want ====
====Custom-designed Products: Giving the Customer Exactly What They Want====
Customizing a user-requested product opens up a consulting revenue stream for the Fab Store. The user brings in a design that they would like to improve in some way. Maybe it's putting their name in the design. Maybe a certain part of the item needs to be larger. Maybe they want to combine two designs. Fab Store experts have the skills to create unique designs for customers who can pay for the expert's time.
Customizing a user-requested product opens up a consulting revenue stream for the Fab Store. The user brings in a design that they would like to improve in some way. Maybe it's putting their name in the design. Maybe a certain part of the item needs to be larger. Maybe they want to combine two designs. Fab Store experts have the skills to create unique designs for customers who can pay for the expert's time.


=== The Fab Store Network ===
===The Fab Store Network===
I envision Fab Stores becoming as ubiquitous as 7-Elevens- on a street corner in every neighborhood in the US. Each Fab Store doesn't live in a vacuum, though. They are plugged into the Fab Store Network. The power of scale and collaboration makes individual Fab Stores even more profitable and capable.
I envision Fab Stores becoming as ubiquitous as 7-Elevens- on a street corner in every neighborhood in the US. Each Fab Store doesn't live in a vacuum, though. They are plugged into the Fab Store Network. The power of scale and collaboration makes individual Fab Stores even more profitable and capable.


The Fab Store Network pools the knowledge of individual stores while supporting their operations. Here's how:
The Fab Store Network pools the knowledge of individual stores while supporting their operations. Here's how:


==== Sharing Designs ====
====Sharing Designs====
Every custom made part, every custom design, every repair technique discovery goes into the design database. If any Fab Store has fixed it before, all Fab Stores know how to fix it in the future.
Every custom made part, every custom design, every repair technique discovery goes into the design database. If any Fab Store has fixed it before, all Fab Stores know how to fix it in the future.


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The Fab Store Network's design database ensures efficient repairs, improving profitability and enhancing the Fab Store's reputation as the master of repairs.
The Fab Store Network's design database ensures efficient repairs, improving profitability and enhancing the Fab Store's reputation as the master of repairs.


==== Part Sourcing ====
====Part Sourcing====
Often, the only practical solution to replacing a broken or missing part is 3D printing a new one. What if the part in question is a small screw, a spring or a latch, though? While you may not be able to find exactly what you're looking for at your local hardware store, parts like these are standard and used across many items and many product categories. It rarely makes sense to go through the time and expense 3D print a part when you can buy it for pennies.
Often, the only practical solution to replacing a broken or missing part is 3D printing a new one. What if the part in question is a small screw, a spring or a latch, though? While you may not be able to find exactly what you're looking for at your local hardware store, parts like these are standard and used across many items and many product categories. It rarely makes sense to go through the time and expense 3D print a part when you can buy it for pennies.


The Fab Store Network sees patterns of frequently used parts, finds distributors for those parts from and then makes them available to individual Fab Stores.
The Fab Store Network sees patterns of frequently used parts, finds distributors for those parts and then makes them available to individual Fab Stores.


Eventually, the Fab Store Network could engage manufacturers who produce custom parts only used in their products. This could be a symbiotic relationship where the Fab Store Network reports parts that frequently break and the manufacturer improves their product while supplying Fab Stores with custom parts to keep their existing customers happy.
Eventually, the Fab Store Network could engage manufacturers who produce custom parts only used in their products. This could be a symbiotic relationship where the Fab Store Network reports parts that frequently break and the manufacturer improves their product while supplying Fab Stores with custom parts to keep their existing customers happy.
==== Specialized Parts from High-end 3D Printers ====
Each Fab Store has the following equipment:
* A professional-grade, FDM 3D printer
* A 3D scanner
* CNC machinery (off-site)
This equipment should cover the majority of needs. However, there will be times when even more expensive, specialized machines are required to create parts and items. In these cases, the Fab Store sends the order to the Fab Store Network to fulfill.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printers are the workhorse of 3D printing. Each Fab Store will have one. They can:
* Print a wide variety of materials (not just plastic)
* Print quickly. Some can print 500 mm/sec
* Print fairly large items. 3' x 3' x3' or larger for higher-end printers
Certain materials and processes require different types of 3D printing technologies, though. Namely, Stereolithography (SLA) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). Here's a chart ChatGPT created showing the materials each printer type can use and the types of items each materials can create.
{| class="wikitable"
|+3D Printing Materials vs. Printer Types & End Products
!Material
!FDM
!SLA
!SLS
!Example End Products
!Notes
|-
|'''PLA'''
|✅
|❌
|❌
|Prototypes, figurines, hobby parts
|Cheap, easy, not heat resistant
|-
|'''ABS'''
|✅
|❌
|❌
|Enclosures, fixtures, automotive prototypes
|Stronger than PLA, needs heated bed
|-
|'''PETG'''
|✅
|❌
|❌
|Mechanical parts, bottles, containers
|Tough, chemical resistant
|-
|'''Nylon (filament)'''
|⚠️
|❌
|✅
|Gears, hinges, wear-resistant parts
|Flexible, durable, hygroscopic. Challenging on FDM
|-
|'''TPU (filament/powder)'''
|⚠️
|❌
|✅
|Phone cases, seals, gaskets
|Flexible, rubber-like. Flexible filaments can jam in FDM
|-
|'''Polycarbonate'''
|✅
|❌
|❌
|High-strength brackets, safety parts
|Strong, heat-resistant
|-
|'''PEEK / ULTEM'''
|✅
|❌
|❌
|Aerospace, medical, high-temp parts
|Industrial-only, costly
|-
|'''Composites (carbon/glass fiber reinforced)'''
|✅
|❌
|✅
|Strong lightweight parts, drone frames
|Enhanced stiffness, lightweight
|-
|'''Metal-filled filaments (bronze, copper, steel PLA blends)'''
|✅
|❌
|❌
|Decorative items, jewelry, “metal-like” parts
|Heavy feel, mostly aesthetic, not true metal strength
|-
|'''Standard Resin'''
|❌
|✅
|❌
|Miniatures, prototypes, molds
|Brittle, fine detail
|-
|'''Engineering Resin'''
|❌
|✅
|❌
|Dental models, mechanical prototypes
|Tougher, heat or impact resistant
|-
|'''Nylon (PA12, PA6 powder)'''
|❌
|❌
|✅
|Clips, hinges, automotive parts
|Industrial SLS staple, strong and flexible
|-
|'''Powdered Thermoplastics (PP, PE, etc.)'''
|❌
|❌
|✅
|Lightweight housings, functional prototypes
|Lower density, specialty powders
|-
|'''Metals (true SLM/DMLS)'''
|❌
|❌
|✅
|Aerospace/medical implants, tooling, high-value components
|Expensive, requires post-processing
|}
Compatible materials aside, other limitations with FDM require other 3D printing technologies for certain items. For example, FDM technology is:
* '''Low-resolution.''' It creates visible lines between each layer laid down. An SLA printer creates items with smooth surfaces and much finer detail
* '''Not very strong.''' Items produced FDM printers tend to have weak adhesion between each layer. SLA have low mechanical strength without post-processing. Only SLS can produce strong parts natively
* '''Single item printing.''' Speed is often measured in hours when it comes to 3D printing. This can be a bottleneck. While SLA and SLS typically print slower, they can print multiple items at the same time. FDM it limited to one item at a time
Having an additional SLA and SLS printer at each store would be cost prohibitive. They are also better suited for a building zoned for light industrial rather than commercial.
Beyond 3D printers, the Fab Store Network could buy other types of expensive, large, specialized machines to offer a wider range of materials and items, such as:
* Woodworking
* Metal 3D printers
* Food-safe materials
* Specialized CNC machinery
When a customer's part or item needs go beyond the capabilities of Fab Store equipment, the Fab Store Network can fulfill the request.




marketing data
marketing data
Custom parts built with equipment that would be prohibitively expensive for an individual store


Support/training
Support/training
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*Are a next-level repair cafe where experts 3D print missing or broken parts
*Are a next-level repair cafe where experts 3D print missing or broken parts
*A retailer selling unique and customizable products manufactured one at a time
*A retailer selling unique and customizable products manufactured one at a time
The Fab Store network maintains relationships with companies suppling standard parts. This means if someone makes a replacement or substitute part, the Fab Store will know about it. With enough demand


Equipment
Equipment
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