The Air Force recently certified a 3D-printed toilet seat cover. The new technique could dramatically reduce the time and cost of producing replacement parts. This is good news for the U.S. Air Force, which is faced with an aging fleet of aircraft. Printed spare parts could significantly shorten supply times and allow older aircraft to stay in the air longer.
Before 3-D printing, the cost of a toilet seat cover could be upwards of $10,000. In fact, the Air Force once spent $10,000 per seat to replace the covers of C-5 Galaxy military cargo planes. Today, the C-5 Galaxy remains in service. That's a lot of money, but a profit-minded government contractor can cover the costs by manufacturing thousands of seats for the military.
In addition to printing toilet seats, the Printed Toilet Seat Factory also provides other bathroom fixtures. The company manufactures a variety of other toilet parts and accessories, including 300-series stainless steel toilet seats, two or three-inch lift toilet seats, open or closed-front toilet seats, and textured-plastic hand grips. The company also offers a variety of sinks, faucets, and drain covers.
While the last C-5 Galaxy rolled off the assembly line in 1989, the Air Force and the Air Reserve still operate 52 C-5M Super Galaxies. This is a great example of how 3D printing can make up for lost production capacity. While toilet seat covers are expensive and can take months or even years to produce, 3D printed ones can be produced within 72 hours.
Toilet seats are exposed to a lot of wear and tear. For this reason, they must be comfortable and durable. Premium-grade Polypropylene plastic is used in the manufacture of toilet seats. These seats reduce the risk of defects and ensure that they last for years. In addition, they are durable and have a high degree of chemical resistance.
Toilet seats come in many different styles and can complement the rest of the bathroom. Some are built to fit a particular toilet bowl shape, such as an elongated or regular bowl. Some also feature features such as a slow-closing hinge, which can reduce noise. The slow-closing hinges make it easier to close the seat without making any noise.