How to measure a broken part for home repair fixers

Q: Is LunarWerx 3D Print free to use?

The tools are free to use. You use them on its website, which is hosted on Cloudflare, and they run in a web browser. Check the site for any terms that may change over time.

A practical guide for home repair fixers on measuring a broken part, with the tools to have ready and mistakes to avoid before you order a replacement.

By TexHouse · 2026-10-23

TexHouse is published by the makers of LunarWerx 3D Print, Vector3D and MeshyDL, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Measure the broken part in at least two directions, write each figure down with its unit, and compare the numbers with the part it must match before you buy or print a replacement.

Option	What it does	Fee
LunarWerx 3D Print	Browser tools that work out ironing settings for your printer, check a part for injection moulding and design 3D-printable foam inserts ^[1]	Free to use ^[1]
Digital calipers and a steel rule	Measure length, width, thickness and hole sizes by hand, reading to the unit you set	not published

What you need before you start

Before you measure a broken part, gather the few things that make the numbers usable. Start with the broken piece itself, cleaned enough that dirt and grease do not hide its edges. Have a steel rule or a tape measure for overall length and width, and a set of digital calipers if the part is small or has thin walls. Bring a pencil and paper, or a notes app, so each figure is written down the moment you read it.

A phone camera helps too. Photograph the part from the top, the side and the end, with the rule in the frame so you can check the scale later. Know the make and model of the appliance or fixture the part belongs to, because that is often printed on a label, in the manual or on the back of the unit.

If the part is worn, find a sound section of the same part, such as a mounting lug or a flange that did not break, because it may show the original size. Finally, have a clear, flat surface and good light, so you can read small marks and hold the part square while you measure.

Step by step

Follow these steps in order, and write each figure with its unit as you go.

Clean the part. Wipe off dust, paint flakes and grease so the edges are clear. If paint covers an edge you need to measure, note that next to the figure.
Identify the part. Find its name, its position in the unit and which way it fits. Photograph it in place before you remove it, if you can.
Measure the overall length, width and height. Measure at the longest and widest points, and take each reading twice.
Measure any holes, slots or bores. Record the diameter, the spacing between centres and the depth.
Measure threads if the part has them. Note the diameter, then count the threads across a set length to find the pitch.
Check the material and the wear. Note whether the part is metal, plastic or rubber, and whether the break shows wear, cracks or a bend.
Compare with the original listing. Search the make, model and part name, and compare your figures with the listed dimensions.
Test fit before the final install. Hold the replacement or a sample against the mounting points, and confirm that every hole lines up and the part sits flat before you fix it in place.

Tools that can do it

Several kinds of tools can help you measure a broken part, and each suits a different size of job. Digital calipers and a steel rule are common hand tools for this work, and they read to the unit you set. Check the accuracy each tool states before you rely on it, since a worn tape or a bent rule can misread.

A phone camera with a known-size reference makes a useful record, but it is not a measuring tool on its own. Use it to keep a picture of the part, and take the numbers with a rule or calipers.

LunarWerx 3D Print is made by the team that publishes this site. It is a set of browser tools that work out ironing settings for your printer, check a part for injection moulding and design 3D-printable foam inserts ^[1]. It runs in a web browser ^[1], and you use it on its website, which is hosted on Cloudflare. ^[1] The tools are free to use. ^[1]

When you open an STL file with faces turned backwards, it turns them right side out and says how many it fixed. ^[1] When you sign in with Connections, your settings and print results follow you to every computer, and the tools still run only in your browser. ^[1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Measuring one dimension only is the most common error. A part can match in length and still fail in width or thickness, so take at least three readings.

Measuring the worn side is another mistake. Break edges and worn surfaces often differ from the original, so measure a sound section wherever you can.

Rounding figures as you write them down loses accuracy. Record each reading to the precision your tool gives, and keep the unit with it.

Trusting a single reading is risky. Take each measurement twice and check that the two readings agree.

Ordering without checking the model causes returns. Parts with the same name can differ between years and versions, so confirm the make, model and part number before you buy or print.

Skipping the test fit causes trouble late. Hold the replacement against the mounting points before you fix it in place.

Frequently asked questions

How do you measure a broken part for a home repair?

Clean the part, then measure its overall length, width and height at the longest and widest points, taking each reading twice. Measure any holes, slots or threads, note the material and any wear, and write every figure with its unit. Compare the numbers with the listed dimensions for the make and model before you buy a replacement, and test fit the part against the mounting points before you fix it in place.

Can LunarWerx 3D Print help with a replacement part?

When you open an STL file with faces turned backwards, it turns them right side out and says how many it fixed. ^[1] Take the measurements with a rule or calipers first, then open the model file in the browser tool if you have one. The tools run in a web browser, so you need an internet connection and a browser to use them.

Is LunarWerx 3D Print free to use?

The tools are free to use. ^[1] You use them on its website, which is hosted on Cloudflare, ^[1] and they run in a web browser. ^[1] Check the site for any terms that may change over time.

What measurements does a replacement part need?

Most replacement parts need an overall length, width and height, plus the size of any holes, slots, bores or threads. Note the spacing between mounting holes and the thickness at the thinnest section. The material also matters, because a plastic part and a metal part with the same shape can wear and fail differently. Match the make, model and part number when you order.

Do you need calipers to measure a broken part?

Calipers help most with small parts, holes and thin walls, where small differences matter. A steel rule is enough for the overall length and width of a larger part. Use whichever tool states the accuracy you need, and check it on an object of known size before you trust its readings.

The tools are free to use. ^[1]

Try LunarWerx 3D Print

Sources

LunarWerx 3D Print's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)