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51 Cool Things to 3D Print (2022) – Clever Creations

Image: Marvin via PrusaPrinters

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One of the struggles of owning a 3D printer is deciding what cool prints to make next. With so many 3D model sharing websites, there are endless 3D print ideas to try.

In this article, we’ll give you our top picks for the coolest 3D printer projects and show you where you can find the models you need.

Top 3D Printing Projects and Ideas in 2022

Elastic Football

This two-player elastic football game uses rubber bands to make the player pieces flexible in order to manipulate the small ball across the printed field. The sides of the playing field have an abacus-style point counter for both players and a lever to control the goalie piece on the back.

  • Designed by: Wilko_SLO
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Mechanical Wall Clock

Clocks are fairly complex and cool in general, but 3D printed clocks like this one by Hairald are especially interesting to look at. This design is fully printed and does not use any electronics or batteries.

The mechanism uses a wind-up method with a hand crank and a hanging weight to move the gears using the force of the falling weight. You can watch a video of this particular clock in action here.

  • Designed by: Hairald
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Squid Game - Front Man Mask

Can’t get enough of Netflix’s Squid Game? Neither could the designer of this front man mask. Print this model for an interesting decor piece to hang on the wall or use it to finish off your best cosplay outfit.

  • Designed by: r1nce
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Articulating Raspberry Pi Camera Mount

While the best 3D printers come with a built-in camera option for creating time lapse videos and remotely monitoring prints, you can also add this functionality to any 3D printer that does not natively have it.

This articulated camera mount uses a Raspberry Pi controller to bring a fully flexible camera option for remote viewing, time lapse recording, or taking stills of your prints as they are in progress.

  • Designed by: Sneaks
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Original Simpsons TV

Keep a little ode to the Simpson’s on your shelf or desk with this miniature recreation of the original TV set from the show.

This design uses a Raspberry Pi and other inexpensive components to create a working miniature television screen that plays videos on loop.

  • Designed by: buba447
  • Where to get: Thingiverse

Charger Cable Organizer

The only thing more annoying than an unorganized wad of chargers and cables is a tangled unorganized wad of chargers and cables. These printable organizers store your chargers when not in use, keeping them tidy and protected from other cords.

They work like small spools, letting you unwind the charger only as far as you need. When you’re done using the cable, you just twist the lid to wind the cord back up.

  • Designed by: DFV Tech
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Screw Measuring Tool

Nothing slows you down more than a container full of mixed-together mystery screws and bolts. This screw measure tool is easy to print and has all the most common bolt and screw sizes to help you quickly identify the size and type of errant bolts, screws, or nuts.

  • Designed by: MattG
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Rugged Desktop Organizer

Keep your desk tidy and your office supplies close at hand with this multipurpose desktop organizer. It has built-in slots for your USB sticks, SD and micro SD cards, and compartments for your pens, scissors, and any other tools you use on the regular.

  • Designed by: Byzantium3D
  • Where to get: Cults

Giroid Vase

Both functional and beautiful, this giroid vase is a fast and easy print project that doesn’t require any supports or serious post-processing work.

If you don’t intend to use it with water (such as when using silk flowers), it’s ready to use right off the build plate. However, if you plan to use it as a traditional vase, it is best to spray it with some sort of sealant to keep the water from leaking through the print layers.

  • Designed by: Area3D
  • Where to get: Thingiverse

Marble Maze

You’ll need to move the zen garden on your office desk, because this printed marble maze is the clear cure for office boredom. Fully printable (aside from the marble, of course) and easy to assemble, this design uses snap-together ball and socket joints on the parts to avoid glue or other adhesives.

  • Designed by: ericman314
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Cute Caravan Birdhouse

Camping enthusiasts rejoice: now the wildlife can also enjoy the charm of a vintage camper with these cute caravan birdhouses. You’ll need to 3D print the two colors separately before gluing the 3D prints together for a cute two-toned effect. This build fits on most print bed sizes.

  • Designed by: PA1
  • Where to get: Cults

Drippy Bucket

Add a little pop art to your work or living space with the drippy bucket. Printed as three separate pieces, the handle and paint drips both snap onto the main bucket without glue or screws required. It’s the perfect container for pens, dice, or even loose change.

  • Designed by: davemoneysign
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Fractal Vise

Not only is this fractal vise model extremely cool-looking, it is also an incredibly useful tool once fully assembled.

This project requires quite a bit of hardware, including multiple sizes of bolts and screws, as well as lengths of both smooth and threaded rods. Assembling the vise is also quite time-consuming, but the designer thankfully has a video tutorial outlining the whole process.

  • Designed by: TeachingTech
  • Where to get: Thingiverse

Squeeze Fan

This hand-powered squeeze fan is as useful as it is fun. Using the handle pushes the inner gears and turns the propellers. This design is perfect for camping trips, emergency kits, and other scenarios where power or batteries might be hard to come by.

  • Designed by: GeorgeZSL
  • Where to get: Thingiverse

Face Shield

With the pandemic still in full swing, personal protection equipment is as important as ever. This basic face shield was designed by the Prusa research team and gained EU certification as a viable personal protection tool.

Whether you are still looking for protective methods from COVID-19 or work in an industry that requires face shields, this model is fast and easy to print.

  • Designed by: Prusa Research
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Lithophane Moon Lamp

This project uses a lithophane model that maps the actual surface topography of the moon to make a realistic miniature rendering of it. This version adds tripod legs and a hole on the bottom for a light to make it a functional, beautiful lamp.

  • Designed by: Frank Deschner
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Landy Mini

If you think this is a basic miniature car model, think again. Assembled with only a handful of screws, the Landy Mini has a fully functioning suspension system.

Though it’s a bit time-consuming to print and assemble, the Landy Mini is a fun and well-designed project that would look great on a desk or shelf in your home or office.

  • Designed by: 3D Sets
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Self-Watering Planter

Love plants but have a brown thumb? This self-watering planter slowly feeds in water from a reservoir as the soil dries. So even if you forget to water them for a few days (or weeks, let’s be honest), they’ll still get the care they need.

  • Designed by: Mikolas Zuza
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Split-Flap Display

Based on the split-flap displays of the past, this model uses a handful of components and a wireless adapter to make a DIY digital split-flap display that connects to your network. You can program it to work as a clock, calendar, message board, or whatever else you can think of.

  • Designed by: David Kingsman
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Cryptex

Inspired by the Da Vinci Code, this cryptex has a small compartment to hide things like candies, jewelry, or notes inside. You can program the cryptex to open for a specific series of letters, much like a combination lock.

While this is in no way a secure place to store anything valuable (it is printed from plastic, after all), it’s a funny way to keep coworkers out of your sweets, to give someone a gift, or to play a game with your kids.

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  • Designed by: Cees
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Bag Clip

A stark improvement on the chip clips of old, this clip prints in place with minimal supports. It uses a three-hinge system, so it stays on the bag more securely without slipping off. If you want something that will be quick and easy to print, this is a great option.

  • Designed by: Andrei
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Rotating Rings Toy

The mini gyroscope has remained one of the most popular fidget toys in the 3D printing community for several years, most likely due to its unique design. It prints in place and can be used right off the build plate.

  • Designed by: Marvin
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Mantis Clamp

The mantis clamp is an interesting take on a vise design, using a hand crank and gears to tighten and loosen the clamp. As illustrated in the photo below, that makes it a handy device for holding up small things like electronics components, painting miniatures, and so on.

  • Designed by: zuberio
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Deadpool Bust

This fine-detailed Deadpool bust is a great novelty item for any Marvel fan. Printing this model in 3D printer resin on a resin 3D printer maintains the model’s high level of detail, whereas using a metallic filament like CopperFill or BronzeFill on a fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer will give it the appearance of a metal cast statue.

  • Designed by: Eastman
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Avocado Seed Floater

Sprouting avocado seeds is a little more delicate than just dropping them in some potting soil and hoping for the best. They need to be partially submerged in water for several days for the pits to start growing a sprout. Luckily, this is easy to control with this 3D printed seed floater.

  • Designed by: Mikolas Zuza
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Drill Depth Stop

When you need a specific stopping point for your drill bit, these printable drill depth stops are an easy and economical way to keep your drill from going too deeply into your material.

The model offers a variety of sizes that correspond with popular drill bit dimensions, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs regardless of which drill bit size you use.

  • Designed by: Highrise Workshop
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Sunflower Clock

Unlike the other clock we shared in this list, this beautiful design is a fully functional wall clock with added electronic components. This clock has a lot of different pieces to print, thanks to the thin bands of PETG used for the petals. It takes some time to assemble, but the final look is worth the effort.

  • Designed by: Romano Rugeri
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Cute Skull Lamp

We’d say these skull lamps are a perfect addition to your Halloween decor, but they’re so adorable that you’ll probably want to keep them up year-round. They are easy to print and only take an inexpensive strand of LED lights and a few batteries to assemble them.

  • Designed by: rayjizza
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Ancient Guardian from Zelda BOTW

Any Nintendo gamers reading this will automatically know what these deceptively innocent-looking articulated robots are, and probably started sweating and hearing dramatic piano music the moment they spotted them.

But if you haven’t been totally traumatized yet by the ancient guardians during your BOTW playthrough, these models are a must-print item. The legs are fully articulated and print in place, so you can just pop the entire figure off the build plate and immediately start your campaign to bring down Hyrule.

  • Designed by: Crafty Sven
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Ornamental Bulbasaur

If you haven’t gotten enough Bulbasaur from Bulbasaur planters, low-poly figurines, or Pokemon chess sets, you’re in luck. This ornamental Bulbasaur model is one in a set of three decorative Pokemon models that you can print for free.

Since the model uses a lot of Victorian filigree elements, it looks fantastic with a metallic finish, especially with a patina. They acquired that look in the photo below using paint, but metal-filled filaments or cold casting the model in resin are two other possibilities for making this model look its best.

  • Designed by: Psdwizzard
  • Where to get: Thingiverse

3D Printable Drone

For a functional mini-drone, this design works well and is a lot of fun to use. Designed around a battery case for a single lithium battery, it is not going to be very powerful. However, it does work and it is a good beginner project for those wanting to learn how to 3D print and build more capable drones.

  • Designed by: David Cledon
  • Where to get: Thingiverse

Back Loaded Horn Speaker

This little printed speaker transforms into a powerful Bluetooth speaker with a little assembly and about $20 in components. Even better, the designer includes a wiring diagram and full assembly instructions along with the free STL, so even if you are new to this type of project, you can easily follow along.

  • Designed by: guppyk
  • Where to get: Thingiverse

Among Us Crew/Body/Ghost/Imposter

This five-piece set of Among Us models is a fun project for fans of the game. With all of the character types in the game available, you can vary the colors of each model to account for any possible in-game combination.

  • Designed by: WalRit
  • Where to get: Thingiverse

Print-in-Place Bearings

If you need bearings for one of your projects or you just want to give your printer a nice torture test to check its calibration, these print-in-place bearings are the answer. Designed in five common sizes, these models should have all the options you need for most projects.

  • Designed by: guppyk
  • Where to get: Thingiverse

Helmet Hanger

Both functional and decorative, this 3D printing project is the perfect solution for storing your helmet while also showing it off. The model is easy to print and allows for printing the sphere whole with supports or in two pieces without supports (to glue together after).

  • Designed by: Sergi Lorenzo
  • Where to get: Thingiverse

Tensegrity Table

When regular furniture gets too boring, choose some that appears to defy physics instead. This small table ties the bottom and top parts together with string, and the tension keeps the table parts upright. While the designer used blue string, a clear string is ideal because it’s harder to see and makes the table really look like it’s floating.

  • Designed by: Austin Steingrube
  • Where to get: Thingiverse

Hydroponic Self-Watering Seeds Starter

Another model for the gardening-challenged, these cute self-watering planters will keep your plants watered and nourished even if you don’t. The planter comes in five different poses, with some sitting flat and others dangling their legs over a ledge, you can get really creative in staging your planter people on your desk, table, or shelf.

  • Designed by: Studio Aditivo
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinter

Print-in-Place Briefcase

Need a place to store your miniature work documents? What about your doll-sized stacks of money? This print-in-place briefcase does exactly what it says: it prints a miniature briefcase in one piece with fully functioning hinges and latches straight off the build plate.

This model (and other print-in-place projects) are a good way to test your printer’s calibration and to see where it’s having issues.

  • Designed by: Dehapro
  • Where to get: Cults

Bone Fingers

These articulated bone fingers bend with your fingers, making their movements look incredibly realistic. The project requires quite a bit of gluing and assembly after printing, but they are a stunning addition to cosplay outfits and Halloween costumes.

  • Designed by: Littletup
  • Where to get: Cults

Lazy Dogs

Yet another print-in-place project on the list. These adorable canines have articulated hinges in their body that gives them a wider range of flexibility. While they are mainly for decorative (or playful) purposes, these little dogs are quite popular with kids.

  • Designed by: Mcgybeer
  • Where to get: Cults

Hexagonal LED Panels

DIY printed light fixtures are one of the easiest ways to customize your decor, and these hexagonal LED panels are one of the best options we’ve seen.

Each hexagon light is printed and assembled separately before being fit together, which leaves plenty of room for creativity. Each light panel could have a different LED color, or work through a controller to loop through certain behaviors like blinking, twinkling, or transitioning through the RGB spectrum.

  • Designed by: Jim Misel
  • Where to get: Thingiverse

Mechanical Quick Grab/Release Phone Stand

This phone stand tightens around the phone when it’s placed in the cradle and loosens when the phone is lifted off. It also rotates the phone up, down, and side to side while it is in the holder for optimal viewing at any angle.

  • Designed by: Arron Mollet
  • Where to get: Thingiverse

Slim Credit Card Wallet

When you want the bare essentials to keep your pockets from being weighed down, a card wallet is an essential accessory. This particular one is fully printed and comes with the added bonus of an ejector button to help you easily remove your cards when you need them.

  • Designed by: Aljaz Titoric
  • Where to get: Thingiverse

Measuring Cube

A modern take on the old concept of measuring cups, these cubes are a fun way to incorporate the different measurement sizes into one piece. However, we don’t recommend using them for liquids in the kitchen since the small gaps between layers in 3D prints are not watertight.

  • Designed by: Matt Stengler
  • Where to get: Thingiverse

Thor Hammer

One of the more iconic Marvel props in the 3D printing community, Thor’s hammer is easy to print and looks great on display. While it has a lot of fine details that would be best captured with a resin 3D printer, it will be challenging to print it at full scale on most consumer resin printers.

  • Designed by: Rob Pauza
  • Where to get: MyMiniFactory

CNC Machine

One of the best things about having a 3D printer is the ability to use it to produce additional printers or machines. This CNC machine is a perfect example of that. It uses 3D printed joints to assemble the rails, motors, and carving tool into a fully functional CNC.

  • Designed by: Creative Think
  • Where to get: Thingiverse

Raspberry Pi 4 Case

In case you missed it, this list is full of projects and ideas that use Raspberry Pi boards as the controller. Being small, cheap, and surprisingly flexible in its capabilities, the Pi lends itself extremely well to 3D printing.

With that in mind, it’s no surprise that you can find dozens of models for Raspberry Pi cases on most of the project sharing websites. This one has one of the more attractive and functional designs available.

  • Designed by: Carter
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Prusa Enclosure

Enclosures are often a necessity for printing ABS and other high-temperature filaments successfully, but DIY and budget printers rarely have them incorporated into their design. Fully enclosed 3D printers do exist, but they come at a price. Thankfully, enclosures are not overly difficult to make yourself, especially when upcycling existing furniture like this build.

This project gives you all the pieces needed to turn an IKEA Lack table into a functional 3D printing enclosure and filament station. While it is specifically designed for Prusa 3D printers, any printer that fits on a Lack table should work with this project.

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  • Designed by: Ondřej Stříteský
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Fidget Infinity Cube

While fidget toys are always a popular category for 3D printing, these fidget cubes are especially interesting. Using a hinge design, you can fold and unfold the cubes in multiple directions.

This model prints flat and requires no assembly after printing. Since the hinges print in place, this project may take some experimentation with printer settings and calibration before it is printed successfully. The designer includes a test print with the model files so you can quickly try out different print settings without printing the full model.

  • Designed by: Austin Vojta
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Addams Family Thing

Yet another spooky prop on the list, the Thing from the Addams Family is a great item to add to your Halloween decor. This is a model with a high level of detail (especially around the knuckles and nail beds) that would do well with resin printing.

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  • Designed by: Js-studio
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Collapsible Basket

Our final pick for print-in-place designs, the collapsible basket is fun to print, cool to use, and easy to put in storage when you don’t need it.

  • Designed by: 3D Printing World
  • Where to get: PrusaPrinters

Conclusion

Those were 51 of the coolest free 3D printing models! Did you like our picks? Have you printed any of these models before? Let us know in the comment section down below!

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67 Cool Things to 3D Print

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3D printing has taken the world by storm—and it’s time for you to get on the trend. Stumped for 3D printing ideas? We have 67 3D printer designs for you to try!

Format Team August 08, 2020

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3D printing is such a fun way to produce creative work—and it has totally taken off. Now, creators are using this amazing new technology to create all kinds of wild and wonderful 3D printer projects that were previously all but impossible to make at home.

These 3D printer projects are a great addition to your online design portfolio. This is such a hot space that shows your mastery of this chic craft could win you some big new clients. You can showcase a collection of cool things to 3D print and some of your best 3D printings too.

Want to get in on this cool 3D prints trend? We’ve compiled a list of 67 inspiring 3D printing ideas to fuel your next 3D printer design. So, what can you make with a 3D printer? Well, there’s something cool for everyone!

The 3DBenchy appears to be nothing more than an adorable plastic boat, but it’s more than that. This little guy was designed specifically to test the limits of your machine and calibrate it to operate optimally. It’s one of the simplest—and most useful—3D printer projects you can start with.

Next in our list of cool things to 3D print is a simple project that can be completed in approximately one hour and will produce a whistle. It can produce an eye-popping 118db sound, perfect for camping or sporting events.

A handy and practical creation—and one of the simplest 3d printer designs on the list—this quick-to-create project allows you to affix your sunglasses to the visor of your car.

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that earbud cords are a pain in the butt to keep organized. They constantly get tangled and eventually produce the dreaded earphone-crackle, rendering your treasured music-makers useless. This is a great example of what you can make with a 3D printer that can improve your everyday life.

This carabiner is surprisingly durable, with a strong frame and a flexible hinge. It can withstand up to 30kg of weight, which is pretty substantial for rendered plastic! Don’t, however, be tempted to use this to support your own weight, as they are not designed to support that much strain.

A simple toy originally created for Settlers of Catan, this project is durable and (in our opinion) cute. This is one of those 3D printer projects you could use in a few ways: gaming, office desk decoration, children’s toy, you name it! Plus, T-Rexes are (always!) cool.

Inspired by Swiss Army Knives, the Proteus Key Holder is a wonderful pocket device that will keep your keys all organized in a logical fashion. Hands-down one of the best things to 3D print, thanks to all the time you’ll save fishing through your pockets.

Organize your desk, and add a little flair at the same time! With these simple 3D printer designs, you’ll have all you need to generate truly unique desktop organizers that not only keep your stuff where it needs to be but look cool as well. You can 3D print a pencil holder that is unique to your own personality and have others mistaking your pencil holders again.

Get your headphones off your desk and onto a specially crafted hanger of your own design. Great for home and the office, these are the kinds of simple and effective 3D printer ideas that can make a big impact with very little effort.

With a 3D printer you’ll be able to replace your dinnerware with new and original 3D printer designs in no time at all. Take this blueberry-themed bowl, for example. Why stop there? There are numerous other designs for plates and bowls out there to make eating at home a unique experience.

One of the cool things to 3D print is an abstract planter for your succulents and cacti. Why use traditional planters to hold your plants? There are cool 3D prints out there that don’t allow you to skip the traditional clay pots. These modular little guys are modern and fresh and guaranteed to make your mini-garden more attractive.

While it won’t be holding up a car in a garage any time soon, this platform jack can still withstand a fairly reasonable amount of weight, allowing you access to pesky undersides. 3D print your own platform jack at home for an easy tool that’s great for painting models and other hobbyist tasks.

Get rid of those 72 measuring spoons from your utensil drawer and replace them all with a single implement! One of the most immediately useful and cool 3D prints in this list, it’ll make for an interesting tool that others will want when they see it.

Mitre boxes are extremely useful when it comes to crafting. In just a few minutes, your 3D printer can spit one out and have you making exact cuts in your crafting projects in no time at all. Just add a blade, and you’re golden.

USB keys are useful devices—until you misplace them and lose all your precious data. Help prevent this by manufacturing your own desktop device to hold all your various keys! You can 3D print one of the most useful 3D printed objects available for your office.

We all need to do our part in cutting down on our water usage, right? Well, this water-saving attachment for your faucet is super quick to 3D print, a breeze to install, and uses very little material to create!

Stop the tyranny of cords taking over your desk and entertainment unit and 3D print some space-saving cable management devices. You’ll cut back on desk clutter and all that cord-related aggravation. These are the blessed 3D printed objects that make life a little less annoying!

Sometimes the office gets boring. Pass the time by constructing these cool things to 3d print: little catapults! Work on your (probably) lacking marksperson skills with these adorable wee “weapons” that can fire small projectiles up to two meters away (perfect for mastering your paper-in-wastebasket game).

One of the cool things to 3D print is your own set of cutlery. If you dig camping or just want a convenient set of small cutlery for use at the office or in the cafeteria, you can’t go wrong with this 3D printer design. They’re functional, portable, and take only a short time to create! The best part about this 3D is that they’re completely reusable.

Nearly everyone these days has a smartphone, and we’ve likely all had moments where we wanted to prop up our phones for viewing video or photos and had to resort to piled books or whatever else is on hand. And it rarely works out as well as we hope! That makes this tiny project one of the coolest 3D printed objects on the list. Plus, they look like cats. Cats are good.

Small projects like this are what really make 3D printer designs a delight. Nearly all of us need some form of brush or comb to keep our untamed locks from becoming a tangled mess, and when it’s this simple to create, why not give this 3D print a shot?

A perennial childhood favorite, kids love them just as much today. Of course, adults can enjoy these toys, too. They could be just the ticket to break through some creative block!

Remember that Malcolm in the Middle scene where the family resorted to driving over the toothpaste to get the last little drops out of the tube? Now you can 3D print a device that will make squeezing out every bit of Colgate much easier.

This one gets our vote for one of the best 3D printer designs in this list. Bookworms! Want a nice, easy way to keep your pages propped open? Designed with larger books in mind, this tool is delightfully useful.

Another one of the cool things to 3D print is this awesome tool. With this device, you can open bottles—using only one hand! Keep one or two in your drawer at home, or make a few and keep them on hand as great host gifts.

Stop dog-earing those pristine pages! These cool 3D prints allow you to remember exactly where you left off in your mystery novel or adventure yarn. Added bonus: Hedwig greets you every time you come back to reading!

Today in you can do that?!: wallets made in a 3D printer. Why pay $50 a pop for a leather one when you can create one in your house in an hour, complete with card slots? This is one of those cool things to 3D print that we all could use. In addition, you can 3D print a design that is completely unique to you.

A truly inspiring 3D printing idea, these pop-out business cards allow you to speak to clients in a way they won’t have experienced many times (if ever) before! Rather than a drab piece of cardboard, hand them a toy they can assemble that speaks much louder than a traditional printed card.

Can’t sit still? Searching for a 3D printer project to help you focus? Look no further. Fidget spinners are an excellent way to occupy your mind, and this 3D printed object will definitely do the trick.

We’re all trying to squeeze in any little bit of exercise we can into our busy days. This is another project in our list of cool things to 3D print for folks looking for office or hotel fitness hacks. The tin-can dumbbell provides a super-budget means to pump some iron by affixing two cans of food to a plastic handle. Now, you can work out anywhere! All you need are some cans.

This is probably one of the most fun and cool things to 3D print, these gimmicky little toys are quite literally affixed to food items found in your house. A lemon helicopter? A banana-car? Why not! Easy to print and awesome for providing hours of enjoyment to restless rainy-day kiddos.

Now, this is neat! With a 3D printer and just a small amount of time, you can 3D print an actual musical instrument. Savor the wayback-playback of rocking out on a whistle, just like your grade school days.

Definitely among the most interesting and cool things to 3D print in this list (and showcasing a bit more complexity than other entries), the dragonfly is a tiny little flying machine you can whip up in a short time. It’s perfect for providing a little entertainment for your kids on a rainy day.

Why settle for boring cutlery in your drawer? With minimal effort, you can produce some decorative handles for your eating utensils and wow visitors to your humble abode. When they inevitably ask “so, what can you print with a 3D printer?”, you can tell them they’re eating with it!

Drop your phone into these useful little devices to amplify the sound from its speakers. They offer surprisingly high-quality sound—and now you don’t need to lug portable speakers around on picnics or at the beach.

If you’re looking for some more simple and cool 3D printing ideas, consider 3D printing a set of drink coasters. Thanks to simple 3D printer designs like this, we won’t need to spend our hard-earned cash on flimsy little discs anymore. Make your own coasters with whatever designs you want, and say goodbye to tacky freebies and over-priced novelty ones. This idea makes for one of the cool things to 3D print as gifts!

A fun toy and a great example of what you can print with a 3D printer that goes outside the norm, these little chassis are fun to play with and uber-simple to make. Toss a few together for a birthday party and the kids will be kept busy for quite a while.

Whether you are a leatherworker or just want to make your guitar strap look more interesting, these tiny little devices will make your plain leather goods look much cooler. (Bonus: they can also be used as ink stamps!)

3D printing isn’t all gimmicks and fun toys: there are very real applications for this technology in the health industry, and they are swiftly becoming the best things to 3D print. For those of us suffering from flat feet or other foot-related ailments, orthotics can be prohibitively expensive. With a few bucks, you can engineer your own and improve your well-being. (Just be sure to consult a doctor before using them.)

Definitely one of the most original ideas in this list, the Post-Box Popsicle is designed to help you send freezable liquids in a mould, ready to freeze, to friends and family. Just fill the mould with liquid, seal it, and send it off!

While we’re talking about moulds, why not engineer some cool forms for chocolate, ice, baking, or other delicious things? These are killer for parties, thanks to your treats shaped like superheroes or cute animals.

This one is seriously impressive: a fully functional camera made almost entirely out of 3D printed objects! It’s an interesting project well worth your time just to see what these fantastic machines can really do.

You can also create mini topographies in your 3D printer, and then turn them into cute objects for home or office! Want a Mt.Fuji paperweight? How about a New York skyline bookend? Or even a 3D map for tabletop strategy gaming! Worth exploring, this is one of the most interesting 3D printer designs.

A truly original idea, these sculpts are a clever mix of art and engineering that are totally wind-powered. Set it down and watch it walk around!

If you’re an audiophile, you’ll truly appreciate this entry as one of the best things to 3d print. By converting audio files, you can create your own records that will play on turntables. Why limit it to music? Record your own special messages to loved ones and send out the love!

Now things are getting complicated! With a 3D printer, you’re able to produce lab-ready tools that are complex enough to extract DNA at home. Whoa!

Did your frames break again? That’s never a pleasant experience, but with a 3D printer handy, you won’t ever need to worry about it again. This is for certain one of the most useful 3d printing ideas on our list.

Simple 3D printer designs like this are great to have on hand. Hinges are always useful, and come in handy all over the house. These particular designs are super-simple, even by 3D printing standards, requiring just a single step!

With a sliding clasp, these unique chip clip designs work quite well and are fantastically simple things to 3D print.

Lightweight and surprisingly sturdy, this 3D printer design functions on-par with its more common metal counterparts.

Another musical instrument, the electric violin is more complicated than the penny whistle was, but well worth the extra effort. Violin music can be truly beautiful, and the sounds produced by this cheap project rival professional violins at a fraction of the cost. If you are looking to explore cool things to 3D print and want to learn the instrument, then this is a no-brainer!

A larger-scale project than other 3D printing ideas, the Drawing Machine is quite unique: attach a pen and create works of art from files on your computer. This 3D printer project can help you produce invitations, cards or any other manner of drawings.

Topping our list of cool things to 3D print, an old-style orrery not only looks awesome but gives accurate representations of the current positions of planets and moons in our solar system. Note that this is a complicated task involving more than simple plastics, and will take more than basic understanding of your 3D printer to produce.

Coffee makes life worth living. Without it, office life would be all but intolerable! But what if your coffee machine is on the fritz and you don’t have a replacement handy? Print one! Who would have guessed it could be one of the things to 3D print? This project is one of those fun things to 3D print that makes a great conversation-starter, or gift for the java-obsessed friend in your life.

Some nostalgic old-timey engineering comes into play with these uber-neat 3D printing ideas. Relive the past and have your desk decorated with a sign that uses something other than LED or LCD displays!

If you’re a photographer, you know how much a camera slider can cost you (i. e. an arm and a leg), so why pay out of pocket when you can manufacture your own with a little bit of time and dedication? They’re fully motorized and work like a charm.

If you’re wondering what you can make with a 3D printer that is truly amazing, would you believe you can manufacture your own telescope? Link it up with the power of a microcomputer to perform marvelous feats of stargazing.

A real robot made in your house with only a few wires and some 3D printed materials? Yes, please. While you won’t be taking over earth with a robotic army any time soon, it’s a start! Begin assembling your robotic horde today! This is definitely one of the coolest 3d printed objects on our list.

You want cool things to 3D print? How about a remote-controlled hovercraft that you can zoom around on land and water? It’ll need some extra parts to properly function, but is well worth the time and effort to get them and take your vessel out on her maiden voyage.

Thanks to this DIY project, you can produce your own functioning drone for a small fraction of the cost of those available on the market. You can even toss a camera in there! Hands down, this is one of the coolest 3D printed projects on our list.

This is perhaps one of the most advanced projects here: a fully-functioning robot arm. It can be programmed and used for a variety of purposes—but most important of all, it’ll sharpen your skills and really show the world what you can do with 3D printer designs.

With a bit of technology, effort, and time, you can even design a fully-functioning electric unicycle to help you get around. It’s a complicated but amazing 3D printing project to explore due to the various techniques involved; it will really hone your ability to work with your device.

This hobby has really boomed in the last several years, and 3D printers are part of the reason why. Thanks to them, some truly awe-inspiring costumes can be produced for a relatively affordable price. It’s hard not to be inspired by such creations. Some cool things to 3D print for your cosplay includes armor shields and fake weapons that go great with your character.

One of the coolest 3D printing ideas is for musicians or the casual guitar player is to 3D print your own guitar at home. This project allows you to 3D print a guitar with a super slick and unique design. All you have to do is assemble the 3D printed pieces together using super glue! If you’re looking for ideas on cool things to 3D print, try 3D printing a guitar for yourself or for a guitarist you know. One of the cool things about this 3D printed guitar is that it’s smaller than usual guitar, which is perfect for those who have limited space in their home.

When setting up a home office, most people like to connect their laptops to multiple screens for easier viewing. This project allows you to 3D print a laptop stand so that you can easily mount your laptop higher for easier use. The design of this 3D printed laptop stand is perfect for those who want the ability to change the height and adjust the height of your laptop. Simply 3D print 4 parts and assemble them together for a cool 3D printed laptop stand.

There are a lot of cool things to 3D print, but this one is more on the practical side. For photographers looking for 3D printing ideas, this project allows you to organize your SD cards all in one place. Try and 3D print your own SD card storage box and keep all your cards in one place. With this 3D printed storage box, you won’t risk losing them again!

More Cool Things About 3D Printing

From pencil holders to robotic arms, 3D printing can do a whole lot. What might have taken hours, days, and even months to build can now be 3D printed using this technology to create your unique designs quickly. Even though there are a lot of 3d printing ideas for you to start getting things printed, 3D printing technology is still incredibly new to many. So we’re going to answer some of the most common questions about 3D printing and turning things to 3D.

Can 3D Printers Print Metal?

Generally speaking, yes they can! However, the process and the materials used to print metal is slightly different. In fact, not all printers can print metal. In 3D printing, there are different manufacturing processes. For 3D printing metal, there are three top ways to 3D print—metal-binding jetter, powder bed fusion, and directed energy deposition. These methods use metal powder or metal wires to layer the materials and print the design in 3D. However, 3D printing metal can’t be done at home because of how expensive the machine to support this type of 3D printing is.

When it comes to 3D printing metal, there are people who may choose to use a laser cutter instead. The reason is that 3D printed projects using metal can be costly and time-consuming. However, the two are quite different. 3D printing is an additive process, while laser cutting is a subtractive process. Depending on your needs, those that are looking to create multiple pieces at a quicker pace may choose the laser cutter as it can conveniently cut multiple materials and larger size.

With digital trends of raw and rustic design, you might be considering 3D printing cool things at home with metal. However, printing metal is extremely costly due to its process and the machinery required. If you’re looking for cool things to 3D print at home with a metal-looking finish, we recommend using materials on the market that can create metal-like 3D printed objects instead. These materials give the illusion that your 3D printed pencil holder or camera mount is made out of metal but without the actual cost.

What Are Some Cool Things 3d Printers Can Do?

One of the cool things 3D printing can do is be used in the field of science for research. Scientists have successfully 3D printed bespoke equipment and even body parts in the laboratory. Using 3D printed human organs, surgeons are able to use this life-like organ to perform practice surgeries. With today’s advanced technology, 3D printed organs also allow surgeons to work on difficult procedures and rare scenarios without real-world consequences, such as bleeding.

Thanks to 3D printing, it has also made highly-customizable prosthesis possible. One of the coolest things about 3D printed prosthesis is that they can create custom fits for the patient and also a much lower cost. Instead of creating static designs that are “one size fits all”, 3D print gives companies the opportunity to create products that are affordable and personalized. What would have cost lots of money to create is now more accessible thanks to 3D printed prostheses.

Beyond science, 3D printed homes and shelters have also become one of the cool things to 3D print across the world. To address the housing issue around the world, companies have been using this technology to print emergency shelters and 3D printed homes. With this technology, companies and cities can build a community in a much shorter amount of time and for a cost cheaper than traditional home building methods. Each home inside the community can then be purchased at a more affordable cost.

What Would Be Something Cool to Make With a 3D Pen?

If you’re looking for a smaller and more affordable option, 3D pens are a great choice to get your creativity flowing too. 3D pens are affordable, easy to manage, smaller in size, and more practical. Using a 3D pen you can easily turn things to 3D. Design and personalize cool things to 3D using your imagination and 3D pen. From making repairs by using 3D pen as an adhesive to creating pieces of artwork, 3D pens give you the flexibility to draw your ideas immediately.

If you love architecture and buildings, companies have created kits that allow people to replicate architectural structures and other cool things with a 3D pen. For boardgame lovers, you 3D print your own figurines by drawing it with your 3D pen. You can also turn your favorite cartoon show characters or movie heroes into 3D. While a 3D pen allows you to draw 2D things to 3D, their limitation tends to be the size of the project you can make. If you’re looking to 3D print a life-size chair, it may be easier to use a printer because 3D pens may not be able to create something as durable.

What Are Some Cool Things That Take Less Than an Hour to 3d Print?

If you’re short on time and looking for some quick projects, there are lots of cool things to 3D print in less than an hour! In our 3D print list above, projects like the keychain, hinge, handles, bookmarks, smartphone stand, and whistles are some of the cool things to 3D print in less than an hour. Aside from those things to 3D print, you can also try some of these awesome projects:

  • Tangram: A super easy and fun game to play with your kids or friends. If you’re going on a road trip or simply trying to pass time, this 3D printed tangram makes for portable entertainment.
  • Klöts (Quick shoe ties): Some cool things to 3D print for your kids are these quick shoe ties. With this project, you’ll spend less time worrying about their shoelaces being undone and risking a fall.
  • Puzzle Keychain: This heart puzzle is perfect as a gift or personal use. If you’re tight on schedule for an anniversary or valentine’s day gift, this heart puzzle is one of the quickest things to 3D print.
  • Door Stop: Some things to 3D print for practical uses are these door stops. Whether you’re using it at home or for your office, printing them is super easy and fast.
  • Light Switch Locks: This definitely tops for cool things to 3D print, especially for parents. This awesome tool can prevent your kids from turning the lights on and off at home. Keep certain lights off to save energy.

Share Your 3D Printer Projects With the World

Now that you’ve got a bunch of really amazing 3D printed projects completed, why not showcase your best 3D prints? We’d recommend an online portfolio website that has a variety of stylish templates to choose from (so you can find one that fits with your brand identity) and offers a free trial (that way, you can make sure it has all the features you need). With all the cool things to 3D print, you’ll be able to update your portfolio with a wide variety of products. Once clients see all your 3D printer designs, they’ll be clamoring to have you print something magical just for them.

Ready to build a design portfolio website that captures clients’ attention? From gorgeous themes to a built-in proofing tool, we’ve got designers covered. Start your free trial with Format today!

Now get out there, get creative, and start turning heads with amazing 3D creations!

Need some more design project inspiration?
How to Start a Creative Project by ADAMJK
5 Ways to Fund Your Personal Project
10 Steps to Building Your Perfect Online Portfolio

⚙️ Best Mechanical STL Files for 3D Printing・Cults

⚙️ Best Mechanical STL Files for 3D Printing

Download 3D Mechanical Creations

prints, but real projects. Each design consists of several mechanical parts that fit together to form a functional whole. These gears will let you bring toys, machines or even watches to life!

SPRING BOX FOR FIELD PRINTING

Free

Mechanical quick release phone stand

Free

PRINT-IN-PLACE PHONE HOLDER - FOR SPACE?!

Free

TT Furious

Free

Print-in-Site - Distance Measuring Roll Tool

Free

Predator Action Pliers

Free

Multicolored toy "Flying helicopter"

Free

Flying sea turtle

Free

Flying helicopter toy

Free

Triple Gear

Free

Cool Squeeze - fan grip

Free

Fidget Gears Revolving V2 (printed in place!)

Free

Smartphone Stabilizer

Free

Watch one

Free

Predator Action Pliers Mk2

Free

Differential Gears

Free

Mechanical Planetarium

Free

Triple Axis Tourbillon

Free

Platform Jack with some modifications

Free

planetary gear

Free

Save the Whales (Kinetic Whales)

Free

Keychain with fidget toy

0,59 €

Gyro Motor Factory / Clock Factory

€2. 50

Gyro Tourbillon - Jaeger-LeCoutre Model

Free

Turboprop Engine

Free

Gyrotourbillon

Free

Industrial Bevel Gearbox / Gear Reducer (Cutaway version)

Free

Elevated Print in Place Phone Holder!

Free

Bevel Gear Toy Set 17/51T or 3:1 Ratio

Free

Eolienne Wind Turbine

5 €

775 motor gear

free

Planetary Gear Module Part 1

Free

Mechanical Gripper May 2019

Free

Christian Huygens 3D printed clock

Free

Industrial Spur Gearbox / Gear Reducer (Cutaway version)

Free

Jet Engine

Free

The Humble Velocipede

Free

Deadbolt Combination Lock

Free

SAKURA Gear ring

Free

Hummingbird

Free

Shredder V8 Gears

Free

Jet Engine, 2-Spool, Current

Free

Gear Keychain

Free

Crazy Cogs - Gear Play Set

Free

A Motorized Shark

Free

7 segments

€7. 89

Jet Engine, Geared Turbofan (GTF)

Free

Customizable Simple Pulley/Gear

Free

SPRING BOX FOR FIELD PRINTING

Mechanical quick release phone stand

7 Cylinder Radial Engine Model

Print-in-place - distance measuring roll

Here is our selection of best mechanical STL files , all these beautiful creations are taken from Cults 3D file library and easily 3D printable . All you need to do is print out the various STL parts of these designs, assemble them and enjoy the super satisfying result of a perfectly working machine!

For a long time 3D printing was limited to very simple objects, but 3D designers are increasingly offering complex creations - which, of course, require some work after printing - but which allow very successful projects to be realized. Most often, these mechanisms are presented in the form of simple gears, but in some cases the addition of several gears and especially their special shape allow you to create real small dioramas.

3D printing is certainly 's incredible technical achievement, but gear projects add an extra layer: assembly. In this way, you will really have a hand in the project and experience a real sense of satisfaction when the assembly is completed. Then just turn on the engine and enjoy rendering!

20 amazing things made with a 3D printer

If you can print in 2D, can you print in 3D? Well, the technology is already here. You can print 3D objects based on a working template, and they are not only meant to be looked at. They actually work! Manufacturers can provide you with a template from which you can print a broken machine part, say a screw, rather than placing an order and then waiting for a replacement.

In addition, you can make an exact copy of an expensive car, for example, 1960 Aston Martin DB5 in 1:3 scale, and then, for example, knock it down or burn it for fun, as the creators of the James Bond movie Skyfall did.

3D printing is made possible by fusing layer by layer of durable plastics and metals based on a pattern designed with ARPA (Computer Aided Design). Each layer, about 0.1 mm thick, consists of liquid, powder or whole sheets of material.

With this technology and a 3D printer, you can design, construct, or 3D print almost everything around you, as long as you have the templates. Just to give you an idea of ​​what you can do with 3D printing, check out these 20 amazing printed masterpieces.

Firearms

In the past, printed firearms broke easily after a few shots. Today, however, the non-profit corporation Defense Distributed is offering users to download the necessary files to print your own firearms if you have a 3D printer at home.

Here is one of the videos of the semi-automatic weapons they have created:

Acoustic guitar

Scott Summi printed the world's first 3D acoustic guitar, which means that now everyone else knows it's possible.

3D printed guitars can be made from plastic complete with a metal sound hole cap and heel. In addition to creating working musical instruments, guitarists can also make exact 3D copies of the guitars of their favorite musicians or idols.

Homemade camera lens

A camera lens is quite tricky to make, but with 3D printing you can make your own lens and even get some creative and unique results with it.

The creator of this lens (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:37147) used acrylic to replace glass in the lens, as well as some other parts and mechanisms to bring them together. And, most importantly, the lens works! Check out some pictures taken with this lens: http://suzuki11.tumblr.com/

Shakuhachi Flute

This beautiful Japanese flute is 3D printed stainless steel. It comes in a variety of finishes such as gold plated matte or glossy and antique bronze matte (pictured below). The flute is 9.4 inches long and if you look closely you can see a small dragon on it.

You can buy this beautiful musical instrument for $239.95. Just imagine what this technology means for fantasy lovers.

Simple Loom

If you are going to weave a small amount of fabric, you can create this simple loom with a 3D printer and some plastic. All parts were fastened with bolts. To model this loom, the author used a 3D modeling program called openSCAD.

The lessons of history would be much more interesting if you could see real goods that were sold during a certain period of time.

Machine model: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:11374

3D kids drawing figures maybe a sculpture? Well, now you can do it for 99 euros. Thanks to 3D printing, your child's colorful drawing can be turned into a work of art.

Approximately 4" long object can be used to decorate your desktop or home, or as a trophy for your child's artistic talents. http://www.crayoncreatures.com/

3 D- embryo

“3D scanning” of your unborn child takes on a whole new meaning. Instead of a picture of your ultrasound, a Japanese company is offering you the so-called Angel Shape, a 3D print of your embryo for $1,275. A 3D model is created based on the processed image data using BioTexture.

Medical models

When it comes to technology, science has to be involved. Thanks to 3D printing, doctors will have a cheaper alternative to study human anatomy, as well as the ability to introduce more realistic models into surgical practice without the use of cadavers.

The printing of these medical models is so accurate that surgeons can use them to plan operations before operating on the real patient.

Illuminated shoes

This sneaker has a lot of intricate details and 1 meter of wires to light it up, so this is not a shoe you could wear. It was 3D printed and used for a commercial advertisement for the Onitsuka Tiger. The link says you can buy it for 5879.83 euros and use as a modern sculpture in your home.

In this video you can see how this amazing shoe was made:

Case for your iPhone with card slot

This Janne Kyttanen creation might look like a good iPhone 5 case design, but it's more functional than a normal case. It can also store any two cards.

It is called the "Mondriaan" case, after the artist Piet Mondriaan, who liked the design of horizontal and vertical lines. This case costs 34.9$9 and available in 3 colors.

Wire Storage

If you bring your USB cables or other wires with you and want them to be neatly folded and tangle free, you can buy this wire storage to help you get rid of from the hassle and save your time.

It can be printed in a wide range of colors and its price ranges from 10 to 20 euros depending on the color and size you choose.

https://www. shapeways.com/product/E6PH6YKMC/gear-wrap

Infinite Sisu iPad Stand

This stand is inspired by the Finnish concept of determination; The little muscular "man" holding your iPad is pretty hard to ignore. This is definitely a work of art that you can purchase for $161.

You may find it expensive compared to the standard more well-known smartphone and tablet stands, but this is the price you have to pay for any work of art.

Bugdroid customized to your design

Fans of the Android operating system and especially its splash logo figurines will also love these 3D crafted figurines, where the most amazing thing is that you can customize and choose different themes that suit you best.

There are 25 standard themes to choose from, priced at $21.99; If you don't find one that's right for you, then there's the option to customize your own Bugdroid for a starting price of $29$.99

Lamp

Your attention is the so-called palm lamp or lamp (Palm Lamp) from the same designer who made the iPhone case in the 10th item of our list. Janne Kyttanen has designed this rather eye-catching piece of art that comes in a wide variety of sizes. This lamp can be used as part of the decor, as a floor or table lamp or even a chandelier.

Kaleidoscope watch

This is a 3D printed watch that consists of two parts: part "A" and part "B". The first part is the purple dial itself, the second is the design part behind the dial.

With the instructions, you can quickly and easily assemble and set them up. Two versions of the watch are available for order: the kaleidoscope watch in white design will cost a total of $51, while the black one will cost $61.

Revolution in 3 D anatomical sculpture prints

This piece of art is the creation of one of the most famous 3D designers Joshua Harker. This sculpture is printed in polyamide, obtained by laser sintering nylon and glass. Follow the link to see more photos of this intricate creation: https://www. kickstarter.com/projects/joshharker/anatomica-di-revolutis

Coffee cups

ceramics. The printing process takes almost a full day, and the One Cup a Day project aims to design and create 30 unique cups in 30 days. You can purchase their creations from this site where prices range from $36 to $77: https://www.cunicode.com/works/one-coffee-cup-a-day/

High heel shoes

This pair of 3D high heel shoes called "Morphogenesis" was designed by Pauline Van Dongen and made from laser sintered nylon. She collaborated with Freedom Of Creation on the design, which in turn won the Most Creative Collection award at Mittelmoda 2010.

These shoes come in a variety of colors and truly define the future of 3D printed accessories. .

https://www.3dsystems.com/blog/foc/high-heel-shoes-by-pauline-van-dongen

Fabrics printed with 3 D

Designer Jiri Evenhuise together Janne Kyttanen has worked hard to make needle and thread a thing of the past.

Learn more