The 3D Printed LawnFixer Takes Care of Those Problem Areas in Your Lawn This Summer

3D printing has gone from a technology which has drawn crowds merely for the spectacle itself, to a technology that now garners attention for what it can actually create. No longer is it the “wow” factor of simply watching a 3D printer in action that draws the attention of the typical onlooker, but instead it is the products that have been shown to come off of these machines. These are products that are actually functional, products that have everyday use. 3D printing ultimately brings mass customization to a marketplace traditionally overrun by mass production.

For one man, named Tom De Vrieze, 3D printing actually allowed him to take an idea for a product and bring it into reality.

“It is a small 3D printed tool that is mounted on a broomstick, to repair lawn spots easily,” De Vrieze tells 3DPrint.com. “Aeration, verticutting & overseed in one.”

De Vrieze is the founder of a company called Tovdesign, a multidisciplinary design studio based in Belgium, founded in 2002. Through his studio, De Vrieze designed and 3D printed the LawnFixer, which can be used in more ways then one. Seed and/or feed can be fed into the funnel portion of the device, which is then attached to a broomstick. It is rolled over areas of one’s lawn and the seeds are dispensed proportionally and evenly.

The “easy method” as De Vrieze tells us, allows for the scratch and seed on small areas of one’s lawn. The “hard method”, which is a method of plowing and strewing, involves pushing the device over larger more bare areas of the lawn. Both methods are very efficient and made much easier thanks to this 3D printed LawnFixer.

As for what goes into creating this device, De Vrieze decided to use Shapeways for the 3D printing of his design. The device is printed in White, Strong & Flexible nylon plastic with a matte finish and a slightly grainy feel.

There are two version of the LawnFixer available for purchase. The Model S (not to be confused with the Tesla electric car)is a slightly smaller model with less support for the connection point on which the broomstick is attached. It is available for $54.50. Model M is a slightly larger version with three spikes per row, rather than two. It is available for $81.74.

Both of these devices should go a long way in repairing dead patches in one’s lawn this summer. If it wasn’t for 3D printing technology, De Vrieze’s products probably wouldn’t have ever come to fruition. What do you think about these unique products? Would you consider purchasing one for use on your own lawn?