washer rail endcap

thingiverse

Part of the rail on my Whirlpool dishwasher, WDT710PAYM0, was busted. Since I only needed to replace that one part, I decided to tackle the challenge myself. The entire rail assembly can be purchased online for $30, but I opted to learn and create from scratch. I used free SketchUp to model this complex piece, which was a great learning experience. It took me three attempts to get the design right and five tries to perfect the print. Despite the setbacks, it was a fun project that taught me a lot. To remove the old part, you'll need to drill out the metal rail. A side-by-side photo shows the hole I drilled into the plastic peg on the broken part, which holds it in place. I was concerned that the new part might not secure properly to the metal rail, but it snaps on easily and doesn't move. The gray swivel end allows for easy removal of the rack when needed. Since this part wasn't broken, I didn't model it. After several months of use with hot water and PLA material, my latest revision is working flawlessly, proving that the design has been strengthened in critical areas.