Dish Washer Wheel Plug

Edit 8/13/20: I got a thermal imaging camera recently and I found that the reason these plugs were coming loose was due to the water temperature being nearly 140°F or 60°F, plus whatever the temperature reaches from the heating/drying cycle. If the replacements fail as well, I will look to printing with other high-temperature materials.

Edit 6/30/20: I've caved and purchased the replacement wheels from Amazon. I've left the files up if anyone wants to remix it, but I'm abandoning this project.

Edit 6/23/20: Afer several uses at high temperatures and heat cycles, they have started falling out again. I've changed this to a work-in-progress and I'm currently experimenting with other materials and newer designs.

These little plugs that hold the wheels to the bottom rack of our KitchenAid dishwasher all fell out around the same time within a week of each other. The dishwasher was fairly new, so it makes me suspect that it could have been planned obsolescence on their part.

I hopped onto Solidworks and sketched this real quick and printed a few test prints in PLA for size fitting and modified the model until I got it just right. These new plugs are designed to be slightly oversized at the end to prevent them from coming out easily. It was printed using PETG, meaning it should be able to withstand the high temperatures that should be expected inside the dishwasher during the drying cycle. The ones that are on the rack currently have survived a few rounds in the washer so I am confident that they should last for a while. A full set of these plugs would be 8 pieces.

Thanks, Enjoy!

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

Creality

Printer:

Rafts:

No

Supports:

Resolution:

0.2

Infill:

Filament: OVERTURE PETG Black

Notes:

Category: Kitchen & Dining