You know all those accessories that come with your vacuum but you almost never use because you aren’t really sure what they’re for? Well now you can add to your collection of vacuum add-ons: Hoover is letting consumers print out their own accessories for the company’s vacuums.
In partnership with MakerBot, Hoover is releasing several 3D-printable designs on the Thingsverse platform, the world’s largest distributor of 3D design files. The printable accessories are made to expand the functionality of the Hoover Air cordless vacuum.
The designs vary: There’s a flashlight mount that allows users to clip on a light to expose the secret dust bunny organization gathering in the darkest crevices of your living room. Another accessory makes a snap on mount for the vacuum’s extra rechargeable battery.
Hoover
Hoover also uploaded printable instructions for a model of the 1957 Hoover Convertible vacuum and the Hoover Constellation from 1954, because the company knows how much the general public clamours for 1/16th scale models of old vacuums.
The more practical designs make sense for company, allowing consumers to add functionality to their vacuum and, in the future, print out parts that can be used for cleaning specific areas. The vacuum-maker says that it is open for feedback and suggestions for future accessories and is promising more designs to be released in the spring of 2015.
