With the advanced machines in the modern day, finding the correct part for a repair can be a daunting task. Even a dryer has well over 100 parts that make it tick. So when it comes time to start your repairs, how can you go about finding the right part for the job?

The most obvious solution is to draw a part from a supplier, although that introduces a large degree of human error. You could also try to get the physical part or file data from the manufacturer, which ensures accuracy but severely limits what parts you can find. You can also try user-generated parts, which gives plenty of variety, but the unofficial nature can prove to be problematic when repairing brand-name machines.

Fortunately, new digital innovations have provided the best solution yet. Component search engines  offer a large selection of brands, products, and formats with manufacturer-certified product data. You can even search with exact methods like keywords or part numbers, or with sketches, photos, or geometric comparisons. Whether it’s to get ahead in your business repairs or to fix something on your personal time, the quickest and most reliable way to find parts is through this method.

Deconstructing the Things We Use Every Day: How Engineers Find, Source, and Design Components
Source: 3Dfindit.com