Best 3d printing gifts

51 3D Printed Gifts for Any Occasion (2023) – Clever Creations

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One of the best things about owning a 3D printer is having the ability to make a seemingly endless supply of unique and personalized items whenever you want. This is especially useful during special occasions when you can skip the stores by making your own 3D printed gifts for your loved ones.

We’re about to take a look at some of the best 3D printed gifts you can make yourself, so if you’re struggling for inspiration for your next anniversary, birthday gift, or Christmas gifts, keep reading!

The Best 3D Printed Gifts in 2023

Gift Boxes

Image: 3DTwinkie via Printables

3D printed gift boxes, jewelry boxes, puzzle boxes, and locking boxes are all great gift ideas on their own, but they can also be used to wrap or package other gifts inside them. A puzzle box with a heartfelt note or piece of jewelry inside is an excellent anniversary or Valentine’s Day gift for a partner.

3D printed jewelry and trinket boxes range from simple to ornate. Some can even be customized by adding names or monograms. Puzzle boxes are one of the most fun 3D printed gift ideas because they not only hold your intended gift, but they also offer the experience of having to solve the puzzle to reach the gift.

Even if you choose to print a simple gift box, it can double as its own 3D printed gift. The present box pictured above is an excellent 3D printed gift idea for any Animal Crossing fan. It’s based on the floating present from the game and makes a great display prop once the holidays are over.

Jewelry

Image: katharos via Thingiverse

Jewelry is a classic gift option for your partner or parent. Birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day are popular and traditional occasions to gift jewelry, though any occasion works when the recipient is fond of it.

3D printing jewelry is a great way to give your loved ones a unique gift. It is also a more affordable option for jewelry since it is generally quite expensive, and the cheaper options are usually made from low-quality or dangerous materials. Making something yourself is a much safer option. However, there are some things to consider before 3D printing any jewelry.

Jewelry requires a lot of fine details. Traditional FDM 3D printing with materials like PLA or ABS is going to look too unrefined for jewelry in most instances.

Using a resin 3D printer is the preferred method thanks to its higher print resolution. Resin is also a common material used in commercial jewelry, so it won’t seem out of place for your 3D printed Christmas gifts.

Recommended:

Resin vs Filament 3D Printers: What’s the Difference?

Kitchen Items

Image: Flowalistik via Printables

3D printing technology is especially popular for making kitchen items like cookie cutters and dough stamps for how easy it is to design and print more interesting offerings than what is usually available commercially.

Recommended:

The 5 Best 3D Printers for Making Cookie Cutters

3D printing also makes it possible to customize cookie cutters and stamps with names or dates, which makes them an excellent choice for a one-of-a-kind gift for birthdays, baby showers, baby’s first Christmas, and anniversaries.

You should always be careful when making (or gifting) anything that will come into contact with food. 3D printed items are usually not food safe, even if they are printed with a food-safe filament.

You can learn more about the potential issues with 3D printed objects and food contact in our article on PLA and food safety. There you can also learn how to seal or treat your prints to combat those issues.

Miniatures & Figurines

Image: dutchmogul via Thingiverse

3D printed miniatures and figurines (especially for tabletop gaming) are extremely popular 3D printing projects, and they make some of the best 3D printed gifts for anyone interested in gaming. Some of these models are incredibly detailed, so while it is possible to use an FDM printer, you’ll get the best results from using an SLA resin printer.

Recommended:

The 7 Best 3D Printers for Miniatures

These figures are meant to be painted (usually with high levels of detail). Depending on the recipients’ interests, these may be something that you can print and gift plain or they may be something you paint and finish yourself before gifting them.

In addition to figurines, terrain tiles and bases are also excellent 3D printed gift ideas for tabletop gamers. Since they can easily print on an FDM 3D printer, they are a great option if you don’t have access to a high-resolution resin printer.

Home Decor

Image: Dr. FemPop via MyMiniFactory

Decorations like planters, vases, lamps, picture frames, and even the aforementioned figurines make excellent 3D printed gifts for almost any occasion. Like with miniatures, you can choose whether or not to finish off these pieces with sanding and painting (and perhaps a plant for the planters) or let them stay unvarnished.

You can also elevate these 3D printed gifts by giving them already filled. Choosing a specific plant for the planter, gifting a 3D printed vase with roses or other flowers already in it, or adding a meaningful picture to a 3D printed picture frame are all ways to make the best 3D printed gifts even better.

Television & Film Props

Image: David Warboss via Printables

For fandom-savvy gift recipients, props or cosplay pieces from their favorite tv show or movie series are the best 3D printed gifts. Star Wars, Harry Potter, and the MCU are some of the most common franchises for props, but you can usually find at least a few 3D printed gift ideas available for the lesser popular shows and movies.

Props require a lot of post-processing since they typically need to be sanded and painted to look as close to the original as possible. This can be extremely time-intensive, so consider that when choosing the best gift ideas for your friends and family members (especially if you need to make multiple gifts for the holiday season).

You can learn more about things like 3D printed helmets and armor in our dedicated guides. And if you aren’t sure whether or not your 3D printer has the right features and capabilities for printing props, you can check out our article on the best 3D printers for cosplay.

RC Models

Image: barspin via Thingiverse

3D printed RC models are some of the best gifts you can give since they offer hours of fun and playtime. Commercial RC vehicles can be pretty limited in design and capability, so 3D printing your own RC model is a great way to add a personal touch to a present for a friend or family member.

3D printed RC vehicles are a unique gift idea because you have so many options available to you. Not only can you choose one of several available 3D model sets already available, but you can also design your own for even more of a personal touch. You can modify existing models by scaling them up and down as well and make extremely large-scale RC vehicles that would otherwise be quite expensive to purchase premade.

RC models will require some knowledge of electronics since you will be adding all the inner components yourself. If you aren’t familiar with those concepts, try to choose a 3D model that has detailed assembly instructions available.

Personalized Items

Image: Dehapro via Printables

When you are looking for the perfect gift idea for friends or family, personalized 3D printed gifts are a great option. You can create all sorts of objects with something personal to them added in by using customizable 3D models or by creating your own. Adding their name, using their photos in a lithophane (as pictured above), or adding some text or design meaningful to them can add just the right amount of personal touch to make it extra meaningful.

Things like a customizable phone case, lithophane lamp, keychain with their name on it, picture frames, or a desk organizer with their name or logo on it are just a few examples of the personal 3D printed gifts you can create for people.

3D Printed Games

Image: Gigbrinus via Thingiverse

Another possibility for a 3D printed gift is making a game. Since you can make the game pieces, board, and case all with your printer, this opens up a lot of possibilities for kids and adults alike. You can make classics like special chess sets, Battleship, Chinese checkers, and more. You can also gift your friend or family member a totally new game that has been designed and posted to one of the sites with free 3D printer files.

If you want to make an already excellent gift even more unique, you can also design your own game, making the gifted person one of the first to get to play it. As long as you keep the idea and game pieces simple, you shouldn’t have too many issues designing it, even if you are a novice at CAD and other 3D modeling software.

Toys

Image: Cisco via Printables

When you need a Christmas or birthday gift for one of the kids (or kids at heart) in your life, a 3D printed toy can be a great present. Articulated print-in-place toys, fidget toys, train sets, toy cars, and hobby accessories for things like their dolls, toy kitchens/workbenches/etc. are all great gift ideas for this category.

3D printed gifts aren’t ideal for very young kids who still like to put random objects in their mouths. This isn’t good for many of the same reasons 3D printed objects aren’t safe for food contact (bacterial growth and potential contaminants like heavy metals), but it can also raise safety concerns due to choking.

If you plan to give 3D printed gifts to kids, it might be a good idea to coat them with some sort of food-safe sealant like a food-grade epoxy resin. This will ensure that bacteria can’t form between the layers and any unsafe additives or contaminants from either the hotend or the filament.

Easter Gifts

Image: tonyyoungblood via Thingiverse

Easter isn’t usually a gift-giving occasion to the same extent Christmas and birthdays are, but there are still ways you can add a personal touch to the holiday with 3D printed gifts like eggs, small containers for storing or hiding candy, or small Easter-themed toys.

Egg containers with an internal screw thread (like the one pictured above) are just one example of the many possibilities for making the small treats associated with the holiday more exciting. These 3D printed eggs in particular are an excellent choice because they are pretty enough to be displayed and generic enough that they can be used year-round.

Video Game Items

Image: 3D Central via MyMiniFactory

When you need gift ideas for a video game enthusiast, you should be able to find plenty of possibilities for the best 3D printed gifts. Props, cosplay accessories, toys, decorations, and housewares are just some of the possible gifts you can create with your 3D printer.

Gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch also have a lot of accessories you can 3D print that are sure to be appreciated by most gamers. Fun storage solutions for cartridges, alternate grips for the joy-cons or controllers, and special docks or stands are some of the more practical gaming gifts you can print.

Making miniature or portable versions of gaming consoles is also a popular project, though that is a little more difficult than printing off a Guardian planter or toy Pokeball. Running an emulator through a Raspberry Pi to make a retro console is one of the more popular Raspberry Pi projects that would undoubtedly delight any gaming nerd you gift it to.

Valentine’s Day Gifts

Image: 3DPrinterSuperstore via Thingiverse

Valentine’s day is a holiday known for short-lived gift ideas like candies and flowers. If you want to give a gift with more longevity, your 3D printer can help you put a timeless spin on several different traditional Valentine’s gifts.

3D printed gifts like roses and other flowers are a unique way to give your loved one a symbol of the holiday in a way that will last for a long time to come. Geared heart toys, jewelry, and personalized objects with your names on them together are other common 3D printed gift ideas for Valentine’s day.

Following the suggestion we made above about gifting a 3D printed planter or vase with a plant or flowers already in it also works well for a Valentine’s Day gift.

Christmas Decorations

Image: Tool Moon via Thingiverse

If you need any help getting into the holiday spirit, you can try your hand at making any of the countless 3D printed Christmas gifts available on any of the 3D model sharing sites like Thingiverse or My Mini Factory. You’ll find models of everything from tree toppers, ornaments, advent calendars, stocking hooks, and more.

Making your own Christmas decorations (or gifting them to someone else) is an easy way to add a personal touch to the holidays. Whether it’s through a personalized ornament or choosing a nerdy tree topper over a traditional option, you can make almost anything you need for the holidays with your 3D printer.

Housewarming Gifts

Image: Jono via Printables

Finding a good housewarming gift can be difficult, especially when you don’t want to use the generic options available in stores. Making a 3D printed gift yourself not only adds a personal touch to the special occasion, it means you can tailor it specifically to the recipient’s tastes and interests.

Decorations like 3D printed lamps, vases, planters, and props all work well as a housewarming gift. You could also 3D print an interesting key ring hanger to put by their door as a thoughtful gift for the occasion. Keys are often used as a representation of someone’s home, so giving them a place to hang up their keys in their new home is a great way to recognize the new phase of their life.

Spooky Halloween Items

Image: F0R63 via Thingiverse

Halloween is a holiday that many people love to go all out for. They turn their homes and yards into spooky (or even downright horrifying) scenes with all sorts of props and decorations, make or buy elaborate costumes to dress up in, and buy plenty of treats and toys for kids to binge on.

You can use your 3D printer to make Halloween even more memorable and unique by 3D printing spooky props, making your own costume with custom accessories and pieces, and making custom treat containers to give out candy and toys.

3D printed props are great for large-scale decorating projects where you need several big decorations like tombstones, realistic skeletons, or hands like the ones pictured above.

Making them yourself as 3D printed gifts is often cheaper and the end results are usually higher quality than Halloween decorations you find in the store, but it is quite time-consuming.

Kit Cards

Image: Nakozen via Printables

Kit cards are a fun and well-loved 3D printing project that started as a way for makers to create their own business cards in a way that shows off the uniqueness of 3D printing. They are thin models that share the dimensions of a business card and easily fit in your wallet.

The kit cards are usually small model kits that need to be carefully removed from the card and assembled. The finished model can be anything from model planes to realistic dinosaur skeletons to fidget toys. Not only are they easy to print, but they also make excellent gifts when you need something small for several people.

Kids in particular love putting them together. This makes them a great stocking stuffer, Halloween or easter treat, or prize for other special occasions. Some of the models even let you customize text on the cards. This means you can add a name or a meaningful message to them, making them one of the best 3D printed gifts that are personalized and easy to make.

Bookends

Image: humberto via Thingiverse

If you need a gift for a book lover, bookends are a great option. Not only do they help keep their bookshelves tidy, but they also serve as another decoration to showcase their style and interests to guests. 3D printing a set and even designing some yourself is fairly easy since most of the models are just flat extrusions.

One thing to keep in mind when choosing the print settings for your bookends is that they are meant to hold up fairly heavy objects. Increasing the infill and even adding weighted objects into the infill holes during printing are just a few ways to make them heavier.

Phone and Tablet Stands

Image: Giovanni1957 via Printables

Another excellent option for 3D printed gifts is stands for tablets and phones. They are an especially good choice if the person in mind uses their phone or tablet a lot. There are numerous different models available on model sharing sites that range from compact and folding to large and decorative.

One thing you need to consider when choosing a model for a tablet or phone stand is whether it is fully 3D printed or if it needs additional hardware and tools. The adjustable models are usually the ones that need outside parts and hardware (though there are fully 3D printed options available) to help them move.

If you’re 3D printing it as a last-minute gift, the fully printed versions are the easiest options.

Like the book ends, they are meant to support an object much heavier than themselves and sometimes need extra stability. Adding more infill to the print or adding weighted objects to the inside of the print are two ways to add more density to the print. This helps ensure it won’t tip over once a tablet or phone is placed on it.

Final Thoughts

Making your own 3D printed gifts for friends and family is an easy way to make your holidays more meaningful. Whether it’s for a birthday or anniversary, or a mainstream holiday like Christmas, Easter, or Mother’s/Father’s Day, DIY gifts give you more flexibility to give everyone something they’ll love than when buying something from the store.

No matter if you are looking for 3D printed Star Wars gifts, jigsaw puzzles, or a customizable phone case, this gift guide should have given you more ideas that are not only fun but also practical.

What did you think of our list of the best 3D printed gift ideas? Let us know in the comments!

15+ Best Gifts for 3D Printers (2023)

by The Engineer's Bible
|
Updated:
04-Feb-2023

Looking for a gift for the 3D printer lover in your life?

Then look no further!

We've listed the best gift ideas for 3D printers.

Let's jump straight in!

UPS System

An Uninterruptable power supply (UPS) allows a 3D printer to continue in the event of a power cut.

Screwdriver Set

A precision screwdriver set is one of the most useful and inexpensive tools a 3D printer can have.

Resin Printer

The Anycubic Photon Mono X 3D resin printer is a high-end 3D printer that produces 3D prints with exceptional quality.

We’re reader-supported – when you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Best Material Gifts for 3D Printers

One of the most important items for a 3D printer owner is the material they choose to print with.

The material used can have a massive impact on the quality, strength, and appearance of the printed model.

It’s also important to find out what type of printer they have so you know what type of material they can use.

If they have a filament printer (that looks something like the Ender 3) then they will be able to print filament material such as PLA or ABS.

Look out for a spool of filament like below:

If they have a resin printer (for example this Anycubic resin printer) then they will need a UV resin.

Resin printers do not have a spool of filament – instead they have a vat of resin.

If you’re not sure then just ask them! They will be flattered if they are asked for a picture of their setup – as self-professed 3D printer nerds we know this is true!

If in doubt just say that you have someone who is interested in learning about 3D printing and wanted to show them.

Wood PLA filament makes a great change from using traditional PLA material.

The filament contains wood fibres to give prints the look and feel of wood – it even smells like it too!

eSun PLA+ filament uses PLA+ which is less prone to warping than ordinary PLA and leads to better quality prints.

This filament is also several times stronger stronger than ordinary PLA.

Silk PLA gives an outstanding finish to 3D prints.

One of the annoying tasks for a 3D printer owner is to polish the model to give a smooth appearance.

Silk PLA gives a metallic finish so there is no need for polishing.

This is one of the coolest 3D printer gifts going.

The filament is made of a special material that makes prints glow in the dark – giving a great spooky glow to models.

Resin is required for owners of a resin 3D printer.

This style of printing uses UV light to harden the resin to create the 3D model.

This ELEGOO is highly rated and gives a stunning appearance.

Best Upgrade Gifts for 3D Printers

A 3D printer owner is constantly looking at ways to improve their prints.

One way to do this is to upgrade their setup for 3D printing.

These gift ideas below will take their printing to the next level.

Octoprint

Octoprint is a way of setting up a camera to watch 3D printer whilst it is printing.

This is great for safety as it allows the 3D printer to check upon their print from anywhere – in another room or away from home.

Having a camera watch the print also allows you to create cool time-lapse videos from the print.

To set up Octoprint you will need a camera and a computer such as the Raspberry Pi, we recommend the following:

Camera

We recommend the Wyze Cam – it has great visual and is perfect for watching models being 3D printed.

To run Octoprint we recommend you use a Raspberry Pi to run the OctoPi software on it.

We strongly recommend getting at least the Raspberry Pi 3B or Raspberry Pi 4B.

A smart plug is great for safety – it allows you to turn off the printer from anywhere.

Imagine if you were watching the print away from home using Octoprint and something goes wrong with the printer. You could easily make the printer safe by turning off the smart plug connected to it.

One of the 3D printer owner’s biggest fears is that the power will cut out in the middle of a print.

It takes a long time to 3D print – many hours or even days – and losing power means this time is wasted and the model is scrapped.

Having an uninterruptable power supply gives backup power in case of a power outage and can save lots of time and frustration.

Sometimes the best upgrade is another printer!

Having another printer allows more prints to be done at the same time.

It could also be an upgrade from a basic printer. The Ender 3 is a highly rated filament printer that produces outstanding results for its price.

A resin printer will take 3D printing to another level.

Resin printers have unparalleled quality compared to filament printers. They are perfect for creating models with lots of fine details such as miniatures and cosplay items.

Best Tool Gifts for 3D Printers

To quote Maslow’s hammer – “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail”.

Tools make using 3D printers much easier and more enjoyable – knowing the correct tools to use can make all the difference.

Here are some of our favourite tool gifts for 3D printers:

A precision screwdriver set such as the ORIA precision screwdriver set is one of the best tools a 3D printer can have.

When tweaking or upgrading the 3D printer this will be their go to tool for the job – and cost per use will be pennies.

A good work light is essential when working up close with 3D prints.

Lots of time is spent looking at the finished model and cleaning up the print – a light with a magnifying glass is perfect for polishing or painting a model.

3D printing can lead to “stringing” which is where the print looks hairy or has whiskers of plastic.

The best way of clearing this up is by using a deburring tool.

Removing a 3D print from a print bed can be very difficult if not using a tool and can lead to damaging the part.

Using a scraper designed for the task can remove the headache of removing the seemingly-superglued model from the bed.

A heat gun is a very versatile tool for 3D printing.

It can lead to better print quality – gently heating up a print can reduce the stringing and give a smoother finish.

A heat gun can also be used to create metal threads in prints. A threaded nut can be heated up and pressed into the 3D print. When it sets the nut will stay in place and screws can not be added.

Other uses include solder reflow, using heat shrink, and print reshaping.

Wrap-Up: Which Gift for a 3D Printer Did You Choose?

All of these gifts for 3D printers listed above are great in their own right.

The gift that you choose will depend upon your budget, the experience level of who you are giving the present to, and what type of 3D printer they have.

So, which gift did you choose for the 3D printer lover in your life?

Let us know by leaving a comment below right now

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50 3D Printing Ideas

It looks like we'll soon be drowning in useless stuff made for 3D printing projects. But you can do something that will really be useful! If you're running out of ideas, here's a list of 50 3D printable items you're unlikely to throw away.

Bag clip with screw cap

Now the bag clip will have a new feature - a hole with a lid for quick access, as in the photo. This clip is easy to print and convenient to use. Strange that no one thought of this before.

Author: Minkix

Download: Thingiverse

Modular Furniture Connector

This connector allows you to quickly assemble modular furniture. The default model is designed for 17×17 mm wood, but the size and material can be changed to suit your needs using a parametric file for customization.

Author: LeFabShop

Where to download: Cults

Sealant cap

No more throwing open sealant tubes away. The screw cap for the nozzle presses the o-ring tightly against the body of the tube and closes the access of air to the solvents inside.

Author: The-Mechanic

Where to download: Thingiverse

Laptop niche

Now the laptop will always be at hand, but hidden from prying eyes in a special niche that is attached to the bottom of any coffee table.

Author: Too Snide

Download: Thingiverse

Phone holder - Candice

Elegant and simple, perhaps the easiest thing you can print on a 3D printer.

Author: Clem.C2

Where to download: Cults

Polypanels

The idea for Polypanels came from Devin Montes. A polypanel is a series of three-dimensional building blocks. The individual elements of a Polypanel look simple, but if you print a lot of them and different types, you can create all sorts of complex designs. Something like LEGO where you can design each brick.

Author: MakeAnything

Where to download: MyMiniFactory

Coat Hook

This coat hook is designed as an E3D attachment and can be printed multiple times to fit all your clothes.

Author: Filar3D

Where to download: Cults

Plant Pot

This anatomical brain flower pot is easier to print than it looks, creator DrFemPop says. For assembly, it is only necessary to glue the parts after printing. It turns out an original house for plants.

Author: DrFemPop

Where to download: Cults

Door Holder

This is a simple solution for holding a door. Double-sided adhesive tape is sufficient for surface mounting.

Author: Akiraraiser

Where to download: Thingiverse

Piggy bank

A simple piggy bank for beginners, no complicated settings.

Author: lecaramel

Where to download: Thingiverse

Cable ties

This tie is perhaps the simplest and most ingenious of all devices. Clips are printed as a whole sheet at once, and then the required amount can be cut off from it.

Author: Sunshine

Where to download: Cults

Roller ruler

An indispensable device if you need to measure the length of something non-linear: a piece of rope, a curved line, a perimeter with bends, etc. The ruler is called Geneva and has step 5 mm.

Author: MechEngineerMike

Where to download: Thingiverse

Pliers

This small, solid piece of plastic can easily replace your pliers / pliers. These forceps take the force to the handles and redistribute it at the end of the grip. It's definitely pliers. Just smarter.

Author: BYU CMR

Where to download: Thingiverse

Cylindrical textured box

Beautiful tube from Syboulette decorated with hexagons. Well suited as a kitchen utensil for storing oatmeal, rice and other crumbly substances.

Author: Syboulette

Where to download: Cults

Door stopper

This stopper is modeled after the Guyer Anderson cat statue in the British Museum. The design is hollow, which allows you to fill the limiter with something for additional weight.

Author: Duaneindeed

Where to download: Cults

Plague Doctor Mask

Not exactly the most useful item on the list since bubonic plague is a thing of the past. But a mask can come in handy, for example, when you need to clean up after your pet. And you can also go to the carnival in it.

Author: Odrivious

Download: Cults

Universal Spool Holder

This adjustable spool holder uses a spring and an adjustable rewind clutch. It's the perfect place to store those pesky wires.

Who made it: Vincent Goenhuis

Where to download: Thingiverse

Sturdy waterproof box

This tight-fitting box will keep things from getting wet. Print it in PLA or PETG, add a flexible TPU seal and M3 screws for the spring hinge, and you're done.

Author: ZX82

Where to download: Cults

Dice

This dice is suitable for flat 3D printing and has a face size of 16mm.

Author: Devin Montes (MakeAnything)

Where to download: MyMiniFactory

Collapsible Coat Rack

Really cool coat rack. That's all there is to say about her.

Author: Komaru

Where to download: Thingiverse

Business Card Holder

Great for showing off your new business cards to your Wall Street friends. What could be more delightful than this Zippo card holder with flip-top lid.

Author: PentlandDesigns

Where to download: Cults

Pencil and pen holder

Iceberg or melting beehive? Be that as it may, this is a handy pen and pencil holder that is cheaper to print than to buy.

Author: BeeVeryCreative

Where to download: Cults

Groovi Monster Audio Amplifier

This is a passive smartphone audio amplifier that looks stylish and does the job well. It's called Groovi Monster for a reason.

Author: 3DShook

Where to download: Cults

Cup holder

Can be used not only as a cup holder, but also as a coaster for hot dishes. The dimensions of the template are easily adjusted to suit any size cookware.

Author: jmdbcool

Where to download: Thingiverse

Clamp

Designed for fixing various materials, including the ends of the wire in the coil. Also great as a clothespin replacement.

Author: Med

Where to download: Cults

Pencil Box

Suitable for storing all your desk trivia and trinkets (memory cards, rubber bands, pencils, paper clips, etc.).

Author: Monkey3D

Where to download: Cults

Headphone holder

This is a duck. Yes, you can hang headphones on it.

Author: Toshi_TNE

Download: Thingiverse

Polyhedral Succulent Pot

Unusual geometric pots for your growing succulent collection. These small pots can be configured to be connected together.

Author: PrintFutura

Download: Cults

Survival Whistle

This is a survival whistle with original design. It is durable, easy to make and very loud (118 dB is more than enough to be heard in an emergency).

Author: Joe Zisa

Where to download: Thingiverse

Measuring Cube

Simple and original measuring cube for the kitchen. On each side there are recesses for measuring the volume of ingredients (in cups - according to the American system, and in metric units for everyone else). It is best to print with PETG material, it is the safest for products.

Author: iomaa

Download: Thingiverse

Hinge

This is a parametric hinge that can be sized to fit your needs.

Written by Rohin Gosling

Download: Thingiverse

Car Eyeglass Holder

Attaches to your car's sun visor. Glasses will always be at hand.

Author: Trevor Long

Download: Thingiverse

Opener

The simplest things are usually the most useful. Convenient and easy to print opener. Covers the sharp edges of the cork as much as possible, protecting you from injury.

Author: Jeremy Peterson

Download: Thingiverse

Superhero Keychains

Sometimes you need to remind yourself of your hidden superpowers. Stylish and cool keyrings are well suited as a small gift.

Yes, your eyes don't deceive you. This is a digital sundial and it really works. They are designed to pass only the right beams at the right time and at the right angle to display the actual time in 20-minute intervals. Only works during daylight hours, of course.

Author: Mojoptix

Where to download: Thingiverse

Keyring

Designed in the shape of a stylish Swiss Army knife, it looks amazing. Printed from two plates and the keys are held in place with standard hex nuts and bolts.

Author: Craig Blanchette

Download: Thingiverse

6 3D printed items that make the best gifts・Cults

When it comes to choosing the right gift the thought itself is important. But it doesn’t hurt to give something that the recipient will really like. Whether you're looking to try your hand at 3D printing or you're a professional looking for new ways to use your skills, 3D printed gifts are worth checking out.

This can offer a wonderful opportunity for personalization, which psychologists say helps us feel in control. So why not choose a gift that expresses your concern and provides emotional security? (1)

So, here are six 3D printed gift ideas you should consider.

If you have a friend or family member who loves playing board games or tabletop role playing games (TTRPG), 3D printing can open up a range of cool and unique gift ideas. You can custom make a set of play pieces for their favorite Euro game - something that is sure to spark conversations in your play group in your next session.

If they like to play Dungeons & Dragons or another TTRPG, you can also print 3D dog tags or miniatures. While some people enjoy spending many hours - and many, many dollars - creating and painting miniatures, a 3D printed miniature can make a great gift. Plus, if they like it, you can add to their collection when it's time for the next gift.

If you want to make something truly personal, then 3D printing is the way to go. Personalized items make great gifts because they show that you have thought carefully about what you want to give the gift recipient. Research has shown a wide range of reasons people give for wanting personalized gifts, including everything from the desire for a unique item to self-expression and a sense of ownership. (2)

Whether you're personalizing a bookend set, pencil holder or cookie cutter, you can include an important date, the recipient's name or any other detail that will make the gift truly special.

Here's a specific example of a personalized gift that can mean the world to someone, even if it seems small: a personalized keychain. If your friend or family member has a unique name, they may never have the opportunity to buy the kind of souvenir that many people take for granted. You can print their own name keychain for them with a license plate or any other pattern you like and let them know you thought of them and they will carry it around with them.

Sometimes you might have a great gift idea, but the price gets in the way. Let's say your partner loves Star Wars and you know they'll love something lightsaber related, like the special lightsaber featured in the first season of The Mandalorian (no spoilers here). While you might not be able to replicate a glowblade, you can easily find a specific lightsaber hilt design and print it without breaking the bank.

If you want to make a gift inspired by Marvel or DC movies, you can choose your friend's favorite character and 3D print it. Whatever the movie or franchise, there's likely to be a model that fits.

Although this may require a little more skill, for the right person this can be a fun choice. The remote control (RC) model is a great application for 3D printing and can bring endless fun to the recipient, whether it's a child or a hobbyist. If you know someone who is into RC planes, maybe you can help them create the next model. Or, if you have the ability, consider printing an RC car for your niece or nephew, or for your own kids.

This is a fun way to add some style to your desk and give someone something they will use all the time. There are a number of phone cases that can be 3D printed. Plus, you can print a stand for their device so you can easily FaceTime or video chat with them. Even if someone has had the same phone or tablet for years, a new case or stand will make them feel new, all at a great price.

3D printing is interesting because it allows for personalization. If you are thinking about 3D printing a gift for someone, think about their hobbies and what they do every day and you are sure to find something they will appreciate. So whether you're printing a gift or a gift box, 3D printing will help you choose something that's right for your friend, partner, or family member.

"Consumer control and personalization in the online environment: an exploration of the psychology of consumer choice and its impact on media enjoyment, attitudes and behavioral intentions", Source: https://repositories.
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Best 3d printing gifts

51 3D Printed Gifts for Any Occasion (2023) – Clever Creations

The Best 3D Printed Gifts in 2023

Gift Boxes

Jewelry

Kitchen Items

Miniatures & Figurines

Home Decor

Television & Film Props

RC Models

Personalized Items

3D Printed Games

Toys

Easter Gifts

Video Game Items

Valentine’s Day Gifts

Christmas Decorations

Housewarming Gifts

Spooky Halloween Items

Kit Cards

Bookends

Phone and Tablet Stands

Final Thoughts

15+ Best Gifts for 3D Printers (2023)

Table of Contents

Best Material Gifts for 3D Printers

Best Upgrade Gifts for 3D Printers

Octoprint

Camera

Best Tool Gifts for 3D Printers

Wrap-Up: Which Gift for a 3D Printer Did You Choose?

Connect

© 2023 The Engineer's Bible

50 3D Printing Ideas

Bag clip with screw cap

Modular Furniture Connector

Sealant cap

Laptop niche

Phone holder - Candice

Polypanels

Coat Hook

Plant Pot

Door Holder

Piggy bank

Cable ties

Roller ruler

Pliers

Cylindrical textured box

Door stopper

Plague Doctor Mask

Universal Spool Holder

Sturdy waterproof box

Dice

Collapsible Coat Rack

Business Card Holder

Pencil and pen holder

Groovi Monster Audio Amplifier

Cup holder

Clamp

Pencil Box

Headphone holder

Polyhedral Succulent Pot

Survival Whistle

Measuring Cube

Hinge

Car Eyeglass Holder

Opener

Superhero Keychains

Headphone stand

Bag Clip

Plastic wrench

Sliding Decal

Collapsible basket

Self-watering plant pot

Maze Gift Box

Wired headphone holder

Tube Squeezer

Webcam Shutter

Hexagonal Prefabricated Drawers

Wall Phone Shelf