Back to Breaking: 3D Printing Edition - Breaking

permalink

The second printed pedal finally broke (I didn't actually notice when it happened). The two pieces still press fit together nicely, so it wasn't a catastrophic failure by any measure.

Bike pedal made of orange plastic, broken. Two pieces fit close together.

Bike pedal made of orange plastic, broken. Two pieces fit close together side view.

I took some photos of the part after it happened with the intent to try and understand how it broke and how to make it stronger.

Bike pedal made of orange plastic, broken. Side view

Bike pedal made of orange plastic, broken. Top view

Bike pedal made of orange plastic, broken. Close up

2023-05-16 Update (Really 2021-01 Update)ΒΆ

Cracked orange plastic foot pad. Close up of crack with wavy gyrodial infill pattern visible in cracked region

I've been doing some digging to see when I printed the pedals and found some pictures I took of when I broke the other pedal. I did a little writeup based on the photos and what I remember; however, I still haven't found photos from the original print. Even if I can't find the original print date, the post from January 2021 would date the print to late 2020, which means that the pedal has held up for at least two and a half years.