3D printing: Straight off the printer

Since 3D printers have become more affordable, and as long as you have the skills to input the required data, one can be a worthwhile investment, even if it’s only for occasional use. And farmers are already employing the technology, or at least that was the experience of our German colleagues when they asked readers to send in their creations. There was an enormous variety of submissions, including brackets for milk buckets, repaired joystick buttons and components for drills and fertiliser spreaders. We hope you enjoy the read. Maybe you'll be sufficiently inspired to have a go.

Bracket for feeder bucket

After drinking from the teat bucket, Simon Auclair’s calves would throw their bucket out of the holder. To avoid this happening again, he printed a retainer. This secures the bucket in the holder, and it can only be released