side by side refrigerator air baffle damper diffuser

thingiverse

This replacement part is specifically designed to repair or replace the Air Baffle / Air Damper / Air Diffuser found in Whirlpool Side-by-side Refrigerators. The part has a notorious tendency to break at the point where the motor exerts force, causing it to open. This sudden failure blocks the flow of cold air from the freezer into the refrigerator and prevents effective cooling. Fortunately, detailed replacement/repair instructions can be found online, including a comprehensive guide on https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repairing+Side-by-side+Refrigerator+Diffuser/16423. The suggested repair involves fixing or gluing the broken part in place, but this design takes a different approach by creating a 3D printed replacement instead. The new design closely mimics the original part's dimensions and structure, except for one crucial modification: the intentional widening of the area prone to breakage. This modification aims to strengthen the part and prevent future failures. Using ABS plastic with a high-resolution print setting (0.1mm) and 100% infill, this replacement part is manufactured to last. With installation on January 2nd, 2017, I have yet to experience any issues or problems with this new design.