Bored of pointless 3D printer projects? Stuck for ideas? Presenting a list of cool things to 3D print which are genuinely useful.
Like us, you’re tremendously excited by the possibilities of 3D printing. Unfortunately, the landscape is cluttered with trinkets, doodads and ornaments. We’re in danger of drowning in 3D printed objects that nobody wants or needs.
Fight the tide of mediocrity! Let’s make stuff that’s actually useful! Here’s a list of cool things to 3D print, right now, today. Prove to your nearest and dearest that there’s an everyday and practical application of this wonderful technology.
If you don’t have access to a 3D printer, you can still have the 3D models printed by a professional 3D printing service. To find the best price, please use All3DP’s 3D Printing Price Comparison Service.
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This is a survival whistle of completely original design, which is rugged, easy to make and carry, and is very loud. How loud? Try 118 decibels for size! That’s more than enough to get you noticed in an emergency situation.
Who made it: Joe Zisa
Where to download: Thingiverse
This is a fully assembled platform jack, 3D printed as one piece. No messing around with multiple parts. The adjustable height can be used to raise or prop up an object of reasonable weight.
Who made it: Intentional3D
Where to download it: Thingiverse
The feelgood success story of 3D printing in 2018 is already here; a simple but totally ingenious measuring cube for use in the kitchen. Each side of the cube has a slot to measure out a foodstuff in either cups (for American cooking) or metric (for everyone else). Best printed in PETG material to maximize food safety.
Who made it: iomaa
Where to download: Thingiverse
Designed in OpenSCAD, this is a parametric butt hinge that can be fully customized for your specific needs. Moreover, you can print it in one step, as individual leaves, or without a pin at the centre.
Who made it: Rohin Gosling
Where to download: Thingiverse
A useful item to keep you looking cool on sunny days; a car sun visor clip where you can affix you sunglasses when not in use (but still need easy access).
Who made it: Trevor Long
Where to download: Thingiverse
This is a fantastically useful item that, at first glance, might be mistaken for a planter. In actual fact it’s a cutlery drainer in the shape of low-poly elephant, where the trunk is used to drain excess water while your knives and forks are drying.
Who made it: Alejandro Gabriel Iovane
Where to download: Thingiverse
This doorstop that pays tribute to a much-loved character from the Game of Thrones pop culture juggernaut. To explain why a doorstop is named after Hodor would ruin the joke. So this is where we put a SPOILER ALERT for an episode of a TV show that aired several years ago. Wait, did we explain that back-to-front? Oh well…
Who made it: Stereolab
Where to download: Thingiverse
Unlike the vast majority of 3D printed bottle openers out there, this model doesn’t need a coin or other additional elements to provide the necessary leverage. Instead, its ergonomic design uses a curved prying edge that catches on a substantial amount of the sharp cap edge.
Who made it: Jeremy Peterson
Where to download: Thingiverse
A simple but ingenious life-hack for those who like to read good old fashioned books. You know, those stacks of pressed wood fiber, embossed with glyphs that induce shared hallucinations. Keep a book open comfortably using one hand with this page holder.
Who made it: Ales Strucovsky
Where to download: Thingiverse
You love coffee, we love coffee, everybody loves coffee. But you know what no-one likes? Ugly brown rings. Ugh! Banish them from your table with this smart drinks coaster in the shape of the caffeine molecule.
Who made it: Ejo Schrama
Where to download: Thingiverse
For those folks spending any amount of time listening to music at their desk, a decent headphone stand is a crucial accessory. Sure, you could have an ordinary headset stand, or you could make some big audio dynamite with a 3D printed headphone stand. Choose wisely!
Who made it: MakerBot
Where to download: Thingiverse
Sometimes it’s the simplest items which prove to be the most useful. And so it is with this sliding bag clip, which is printed with two parts that can securely hold packets closed. Perfect if you want to keep your herbs and spices fresh but don’t have a jar, or maybe you want to hold off on scarfing a full bag of chips.
Who made it: Walter Hsiao
Where to download: Thingiverse
This is a set of parametric u-hooks, which are suitable for universal use and very strong. How strong? One hook was used to hold a plastic bag full of heavy books weighing 47.4 kg. Use either the four sample hooks supplied, or adapt and modify for your own use with the supplied CAD files.
Who made it: Serge Payen
Where to download: Thingiverse
Fully articulated plastic wrench, for general purpose, er, wrenching around the house.
Who made it: Daniel Noree
Where to download: Thingiverse
Did you know that the only difference between a C battery and an AA battery is the size? Despite offering the same voltage, the bigger batteries are significantly more expensive to buy. This neat little hack allows you to quickly and safely adapt an AA battery into C size for your electrical appliances.
Who made it: Jwags55
Where to download: Thingiverse
We’ve all been there. Trudging back home from the supermarket, laden with shopping bags. The forces of gravity are biting the plastic into your hands, amirite? NO MORE. Print off these shopping bag handles, and sore hands are a thing of the past!
Who made it: Walter Hsiao
Where to download: Thingiverse
Upcycle an empty jam jar with a 3D printed handle. What could be simpler?
Who made it: le FabShop
Where to download: YouMagine
Winter is coming. Or in some cases, it’s already here. Quickly and easily remove the snow and ice from your car windshield with this handy-dandy ice-scraper. It prints without supports, and has a hole for a cord-loop on the end.
Who made it: Tony D.
Where to download: Thingiverse
Houseplants dying from neglect? NEVER AGAIN. Print off this automatic plant waterer, and your conscience will remain clean. Particularly useful for kitchen herbs, where you can make them last up to a week longer by re-potting in this natty device.
Who made it: Parallel Goods
Where to download it: Cults3D
When it comes to giving gifts, cash is not the most imaginative of presents. Wrap up your notes in a more exciting package with this Labyrinth Gift Box. There’s only one correct path, so the lucky recipient will have to work at it a fair bit to unlock the prize tucked inside.
Who made it: Robert
Where to download: Thingiverse
We spend a small fortune on our earphones for music on the move, but not enough to protect them when not in use. Securely stash those buds in this 3D printed earbud holder.
Who made it: Robert
Where to download it: Thingiverse
Squeeze every last drop of toothpaste from the tube with this toothpaste tube squeezer. It prints in three separate parts, and is wide enough to accommodate most tubes on the market. Not only a cool thing to 3D print, but also something to keep your breath minty fresh.
Who made it: Justin Otten
Where to download it: Thingiverse
This is the first in a collection of tactile packaging for the blind and partially sighted. The aim is to help them to enjoy — and assist with differentiating between — different brands of a variety of products. This design features a Braille plaque which reads ‘Glenlivet Archive 21’, sculpted cinnamon sticks and hazelnut (the key palate flavours of this particular scotch) and part of Ballindoch Castle, a notable building from the village in Scotland where Glenlivet originates, and where the distillery is based.
Who made it: Evavooo
Where to download: MyMiniFactory
In an age where online privacy is diminished, fewer people feel comfortable with a front-facing camera on their laptops. Instead of ruining those clean lines with a bit of sticky tape or a post-it note, this 3D printed solution is a sliding door you can afix over the camera, so you can still use it for video-conferencing when you need to.
Who made it: Horizon Lab
Where to download: Thingiverse
Now, these carabiners are not something you would use in a life-or-death scenario like mountain climbing, but they are pretty tough for less essential applications. Plus, the door of the carabiner has an impressive split-hinge design. We tested the model with some scales and it can hold a load up to 77 lbs in weight!
Who made it: Brian Gray
Where to download: Thingiverse
Phone charger cables, USB cables, HDMI cables, Thunderbolt cables, DisplayPort cables… Your office space is covered in a spaghetti of cables, are we right? Banish the mess with this set of hex drawers. The design is stackable too, so you can extend the hive as the need arises.
Who made it: Dan O’Connell
Where to download it: Thingiverse
Put a shelf on your power socket, so you can prop up the phone when charging. This model also has an angled slot that holds your smartphone and tablets in an upright viewing position.
Who made it: Tosh Sayama
Where to download: Thingiverse
This project is a mounting system for phones, tablets and lightweight cameras. The entire set is incredibly versatile; you can clamp your device to a table, use a freestanding mount, or have it hanging overhead.
Who made it: Ryan Huang
Where to download: Thingiverse
A nice and easy system for sorting your battery collection, with clear labeling and sizing. Not only are these boxes stackable, but they’re wall mountable too.
Who made it: Adoniram Sides
Where to download: Thingiverse
This is model is a hand-screw clamp, something that’s commonly used in woodworking. It won’t match the strength of an actual clamp, but for low-intensity jobs here and there it still has practical applications. An extraordinary feat of digital design that’s great fun to fabricate and assemble.
Where to find it: jakejake
Where to download: Thingiverse
Keep your precious documents or currency hidden from view in this secret shelf stash.
Who made it: Tosh
Where to download: Thingiverse
Have you broken the buckle on your favorite rucksack? Not a problem, simply make yourself a new one. Fabricate a sturdy new side release buckle on your 3D printer, and give that backpack a whole new lease of life. This design works especially well printed in PET filament.
Who made it: Russel Singer
Where to download: Thingiverse
Obviously, this sliding door bolt will not protect you against breaking and entering. It’s made of plastic! But if you want to keep a cabinet or shed door securely closed, this quick and easy design will get the job done.
Who made it: Peter Moore
Where to download: Thingiverse
This a 3D printed lacing system, where the two halves of your laces quickly and neatly snap together. But hey, if you’re too busy to even tie your shoelaces, then perhaps a pair of loafers are the better option?
Who made it: Tino Kaartovuori
Where to download: Thingiverse
If you like to use a large pair of headphones at your desk, then this “monster mouth” could be just what you need. It’s got a print-in-place adjustable clamp so it can be securely attached to your desk, plus additional features to keep the cord from getting tangled.
Who made it: Phil Barrenger
Where to download: Thingiverse
Pockets laden with loose change? Impose ORDER on your finances with this coin sorting device. The smart thing is that, with a twist of the hopper, this device can sort the change into the correct denomination based on the size of the coin.
Who made it: Eugene Pentland
Where to download: Thingiverse
If you’re a regular user of digital cameras or 3D printers, then you’ll probably have little stacks of micro SD cards dotted around your workspace. Keep up to 18 of them neatly organized with this micro SD card holder.
Who made it: Bernd Gill
Where to download: Thingiverse
Impress your fellow executives with this stylish and functional business card case. Each case holds around 20 standard American sized business cards, and comes with a printable “spring” to ensure the topmost card glides smoothly out of the slot.
Who made it: Jeff Kerr
Where to download: Thingiverse
Brighten up the bathroom with this functional print of a classic Space Invader. Um, holding your toilet paper.
Who made it: Sebisebman
Where to download: YouMagine
Your eyes do not deceive you. This insanely cool thing to 3D print is a digital sundial. And it really does work. The shape of the sundial has been engineered to only let through the right rays at the right time and angle, so it can display the actual time at 20 minute intervals. Operational only during daylight hours, naturally, between 10:00 and 16:00.
Who made it: Mojoptix
Where to download it: Thingiverse
This is a sophisticated set of customizable sanding sticks, where you can adjust the height, length and width of each stick. You can also tinker with the end styles, so it can be round or wedged depending on the job at hand. Very useful!
Who made it: Dennis H.
Where to download: Thingiverse
With this cool thing to 3D print, you can upcycle a glass jar into a mini greenhouse for your plants. It also features a water reservoir and a lip to collect condensation water and re-inject it in the reservoir. With the hexagonal design, you can pack them in a honeycomb pattern or mix sizes easily.
Who made it: Julien Krivacsy
Where to download: Thingiverse
This is a chair that anyone with access to a 3D printer can make. All you have to do is assemble the printed parts together with sheets of plywood (which you can find at any hardware store). With some CAD skills, you can even customize it to make the chair more ergonomic, or even create a whole new version.
Who made it: ColorFabb
Where to download: YouMagine
This is a variation on the classic Swiss Army Knife design that swaps out the blades and can openers for something infinitely more useful — your house-keys. Prints in two halves, and the keys are held in place using standard hex nuts and bolts.
Who made it: Craig Blanchette
Where to download: Thingiverse
This modular, articulated lamp is composed of 6 basic pieces: bottom, trunk, and a top piece which houses an LED Tap Light. More pieces can be added to make the lamp as long as you like.
Who made it: Luca Parmegiani
Where to download: MyMiniFactory
The solo finger pen is a dramatic flourish on the humble writing instrument, where a mechanical jointed finger and a flexible “BIC” pen transform you into a Steampunk Shakespeare.
Who made it: Bernie Solo
Where to download: Thingiverse
Image credits: All images copyright their respective owners
License: The text of "50 Cool Things to 3D Print Which Are Actually Useful" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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