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Things to build with a 3d printer
3D Printer Projects and Fun 3D Prints for Completing in 2022
When you have a 3D printer at home, you love releasing your creative genie and searching for incredible 3D printing ideas. And how good it is when, in addition to your endless inspiration, you have a list of the 100 useful, cute, fantastic, outstanding and must-have 3D printer projects to make.
Gambody knows where to draw inspiration for fun 3D prints. We have compiled a selection of the models you can bring to life in resin, PLA or different materials, use as 3D printed home decor, valuable items or figurines to display on your shelf.
Ideas of fun projects you can make with a 3D printer never end. So, follow the trend and be inspired by cool 3D printing objects you will love to try!
In our ultimate selection, you will find many amazing 3D printer projects to make and use at the home, office and even for business. The innovative technology helps build creative work and authentic pieces of art. Don’t be afraid to free your dreams; get wild and inventive. Your useful 3D prints could be planters, home decor, phone cases, orthotics, door handles, cute toys, gadgets and collectable figurines.
Jump to a section:
- Useful 3D Prints
- 3D Printed Gadgets
- 3D Printed Products
- Things to 3D Print and Sell
- 3D Print Ideas for Home
- Fun 3D Prints
Useful 3D Prints
The most stunning 3D printer projects are often valuable for you. It could be something you can use at home or work. Or it could be anything that lets you learn new skills and put them into practice.
1. #3DBenchy
Every 3D printer enthusiast who tests a new machine starts with #3DBenchy. It is #1 on the list of useful things to 3D print because this free 3D printing model helps test your 3D printer and calibrate it.
#3DBenchy is a simple boat, a fun 3D print built by nearly everyone. The popular design requires no support. But it is a powerful tool in testing the limits of every desktop printer meant for home use.
2. Shoe Insole
Creative and fun 3D prints can be very comfortable and ease your everyday adventures. One of the easy ideas you can make yourself using your 3D printer and flexible material is a shoe insole.
Image: ThingiverseGensole is a genius invention that will make you 100% comfortable with your footwear. You have to adjust the project to your needs before building it and insert your 3D printed insoles into your shoes. But such cool 3D printable objects are well worth the time!
3. Egg White and Yolk Separator
Bakers and chefs often need to separate an egg yolk from the white carefully. Some baking masterpieces can fail if you cannot make this right. But the list of household items to 3D print now includes a straightforward invention, an egg separator.
Images: ThingiverseYou can make a special spoon or cute egg form to separate the white and yolk within seconds. It is a beneficial creation everyone needs in the kitchen! And it is stunning that you can make such fun 3D prints for all your relatives!
4.
Wheelchair Ramp When you or your relatives are in a wheelchair, having a small ramp in your bag is a must anywhere you go. This way, you can quickly get past a step in front of shops, cafes, buildings.
Photo: ThingiverseThanks to talented wheelchair users, you can now download STL files of a simple ramp that is an easy 3D printer project to fulfil. The ideas of useful 3D prints never end!
5. Whistles
Useful 3D printer projects can even save lives. For example, a survival whistle is a nice thing to have in your bag. This easy object is quick to make, and it produces a tremendous 118db sound, which works well for PE classes, camping and various sport events.
Pictures: Thingiverse and instructables.comAlso, you can turn a whistle into fun 3D prints by making a simple musical instrument. You can rock out with your kids and friends and recollect your high school days.
6. Glasses Frame
When you wear glasses, you always know what 3D printer projects to look for if they break.
Your 3D printing machine and useful STL files of glasses frame make it easy to repair your accessory at home.
You can save money since you don’t need to purchase a new frame every time your old one breaks.
7. Book Accessories
Bookworms will find bookmarks and bookholders the most useful 3D prints. If you prefer reading paper books over electronic documents, you might love having a one-finger bookholder. Such fun projects are quick to make and will serve you for a long time.
Photos: Thingiverse and youmagine.comFans of owls could enjoy getting an owl-style bookmark for regular books, textbooks, magazines and other paper products.
8. Business Cards and Wallets
Some 3D printer ideas impress and sound unbelievable. For instance, it is quick to make a genuine wallet and business cards yourself. You can be inspired by these bike business card 3D printing projects and design yours.
3D printed products: ThingiverseHaving a plastic wallet for all your credit cards is also great.
It could be even better than owning an expensive leather wallet, so simple 3D printed products can be rather useful.
9. Exercise Dumbbell
The most beneficial projects for 3D printing take care of your comfort and health. If you love to exercise, you can search for something like a tin can dumbbell to work out whenever you have a spare minute.
Image: instructables.comDownload the dumbbell 3D printer project’s STL files and quickly build the base to which you can attach cans of food. Build your muscles and stay strong.
10. Buckles
Many non 3D printed products we have at home come with buckles, and when a clip breaks, some of us choose to buy a new product instead of replacing the broken piece. However, you make buckles yourself. It is, in fact, an easy thing to 3D print.
Image: MyMiniFactoryGet the buckle STL files and create as many pieces as you need. Such fun 3D prints will help you fix a dog collar, your backpack, belt, lanyard and other things.
The quick 3D printer projects such as a two-piece buckle can easily clip and unclip without any glue and bolts.
3D Printed Gadgets
What can I make with a 3D printer? 3D printed gadgets can inspire enthusiasts who love innovation and modern technologies. Some of the projects below are cool 3D printable objects that can simplify your life. Many of them are easy to make; others have complex designs.
1. 3D Printed Tripod
Nowadays, many of us wish to take excellent photos and record stable videos. And having a camera tripod is a must to do this trick. Of course, you can visit the nearest shop searching for this gadget. Or you can turn on your 3D printer and make 3D printed parts to build a tripod.
Picture: MyMiniFactoryDownload tripod STL files and work on one of the most useful 3D prints for camera people. The project consists of nine parts. Look for some non-printable screws, including a 4mm screw, and nuts and mount your 3D printed gadget to use with your camera, GoPro, smartphone and other devices.
2. Electric Coffee Maker with 3D Printed Parts
Having some engineering skills is fantastic when you can combine your knowledge with 3D printing experience. Some of the most brilliant 3D printer projects include creating real-working gadgets such as a coffee maker.
Cool things to build: instructables.comExplore the ten steps to make a stunning 3D printed top gadget. This project’s creator used Makerbot Replicator 2X printer and many assembly parts, connectors and other pieces. But the result amazes us!
3. 3D Printed Telescope
This stunning gadget continues our list of trendy 3D printer projects you will love making in your spare time. It also requires some additional skills and knowledge, Astro-cam, mirror and other details, but the stunning telescope you can make yourself is worth all your time and effort.
Functional 3D prints: instructables.comIf you have them, your kids will say that telescopes are some of the coolest 3D prints ever designed!
4.
Functioning Drone A selection of 3D printed top ideas must include modern trends, a drone. Did you know that you can work on such 3D printing projects at home?
Image: instructables.comSometimes, it is fun to have a small drone to fly around your house or territory. Using your 3D printer and additional parts, you can build a micro FPV quadcopter. It is among useful things to 3D print with kids to share some STEM experience.
5. Loudspeaker iPhone Extension
iPhone users who like to listen to music without headphones and earbuds might love this cool 3D printed gadget. It is a loudspeaker extension designed for iPhone 6 and 6S. However, you can download the loudspeaker STL files and modify them to suit your newer Apple model or a different handset.
Photograph: CultsThe speaker enhancer is one of the greatest 3D printer projects for users who know some basics of 3D design. Special chambers on both sides of the smartphone help echo the sound, which increases its level and helps you enjoy the louder tunes.
6. Faucet Water Saver
In addition to 3D printed parts, this project will require a rubber seal. Once you download the faucet water saver STL files, you can build this simple yet helpful attachment for a faucet that helps save water.
Useful 3D prints: ThingiverseAmong 3D printed gadgets, this one is probably the best for every family. It is cheap to make because it does not need much filament, and it is quick to install on your faucet in the kitchen or bathroom.
7. Smart Bottle Opener
The list of useful 3D printed stuff in the kitchen includes a bottle opener. Being extremely straightforward, a one-handed bottle opener 3D model is everything you need to cope with any bottle quickly.
Photo: youmagine.comIt might be one of the greatest 3D printer projects you can make and share with all your friends.
8. 3D Printed Pinhole Camera
What else can you make with a 3D printer? Think of owning a cool pinhole camera. If this sounds interesting enough, you can download camera STL files and find a pinhole to assemble the gadget and bring more 3D printing projects to life.
The best part about these functional 3D prints is the ability to assemble your projects without glue and fasteners. You can slide the pieces and get a working thing.
9. DNA Extractor
Some of the cool projects to 3D print impress with the possibilities you get. For example, you can get centrifuge STL files to build a beneficial thing for a home-built laboratory.
Image: makezine.comOf course, you need to know biology and have programming skills to turn this assembly object into a home-based laboratory. But if you succeed, you can extract DNA without leaving your home. Aren’t such things to make with a 3D printer worth the investment into a machine?
10. Motorized Camera Slider
Buying a camera slider to take stunning photos and videos could be more expensive than 3D printing and assembling one yourself. You should learn how to add a motor to make this project work, but as a result, everyone will love this stunning 3D printed gadget.
Such useful 3D prints could turn into your business or let you make unique gifts for your friends.
3D Printed Products
More and more companies are using 3D printers to make their products. For example, you can now use mascara with 3D printed brushes, shave using disposable razors with 3D printed handles, even wear 3D printable shoes.
But when it comes to your homemade 3D printed products, the list of possible things to build also looks fantastic.
1. A Case for Earbud Cords
Many 3D printing projects look simple, yet they are genius. For example, earbud users know how painful it is to keep their cords organized and protected from tangles.
Image: ThingiverseStop worrying about cracks and breaks. Get earbud case STL files and make this product for home use. Enjoy music every day and organize your earbud cors in a cute 3D printed case.
2. USB Guard
It is easy to misplace USB, SD, micro SD, and other cards when you have too many of them at home.
And since we love to store various information on such little gadgets, it is a great idea to keep them organized.
Some 3D printed products look adorable and are helpful. Download the free FlashHog STL files and build a friendly hedgehog that will guard all your USB keys.
3. Pocket-Size Cutlery Set
Be ready for a relaxing lunch anywhere you go. Use these cutlery set STL files to 3D print a nice extra for your pocket. With a size of a regular credit card, these 3D printer projects can save you numerous times when lunch or dinner outside your home.
Most useful 3D prints: ThingiverseYou can choose different sets and have a fold, spoon, toothpick, knife with you wherever you go.
4. Cable Savers 3D Print
Other great 3D printed products include cable ties and guards. A growing number of devices leads to a grown number of cables that can easily break if not taken care of.
Images: Thingiverse and MyMiniFactoryUse TPU or another flexible filament for 3D printing projects such as cable ties, plug savers, or iPhone lightning cable guards.
These items are convenient and can save you some money because the life of your cables will be longer.
5. 3D Printed Toothpaste Squeezer
Brushing teeth every day is more fun when you can easily squeeze the toothpaste, even with some leftovers in the tube. A remarkable yet simple squeezer can simplify your fight for the last bits of the paste. All you need are squeezer STL files and some of your time to devote to this useful 3D printer project.
Image: CultsThese functional 3D prints come with a lock that secures the tube, preventing it from unwanted unrolling.
6. 3D Print Measuring Cups
Families that love delicious homemade food are always in search of useful 3D printed products for their kitchen. Meal preparation is based on product measurements. Thus, you will love to discover handy baker’s cubes, measuring cups and spoons among our 3D printing project ideas.
Images: ThingiverseAll these 3D printer projects are cool things to make for bakers and chefs.
Measure ingredients, use healthy products and cook fantastic meals to impress your relatives and family. Ensure to use food-safe filament while making these amazing 3D prints.
7. Repair Tools
3D printer projects needed at home include a wrench, pliers, screwdriver, scissors. These simple tools come in handy for numerous things. You might need to assemble furniture, fix various products, repair tubes, do some crafts, etc.
A 3D printed wrench, pliers, screwdriver are simple stuff to add to your home collection of must-have things at home. These free 3D print ideas do not take long to build, which is superb.
Pictures: Thingiverse, Cults and MyMiniFactoryYou can even make a pair of 3D printed scissors if yours suddenly broke at night and you must work on a substantial project.
8. Bag Clip
Bag clips that come with a screw cap are superb 3D printer ideas for every household. You can find such bag clip STL files for free on Thingiverse, download them and bring these cool 3D projects to life.
Use such clips on your milk packages and other bags whose contents you wish to keep fresh and pour easily by unscrewing the cap. For such 3D printer projects, it is best to use food-safe 3D printing materials.
9. Food Mould 3D Printing Ideas
Food moulds are among easy and useful things to 3D print. You can search different marketplaces and find STL files to make popsicle moulds, Star Wars food moulds and other fantastic forms for baking and freezing your delicious masterpieces.
Image: instructables.comBe creative and design your 3D models to turn into holiday shapes, animals, cartoon characters to freeze and bake tasty meals.
10. Matching Pepper, Salt Shakers
If you are looking for fun 3D printed products, you might like making cute matching salt and pepper shakers for your kitchen. Such things to make with a 3D printer can surprise your wife or mom, make them happy.
3D model: ThingiverseSuch a set will look lovely in any home.
It is useful, easy to make and simple to replace.
Things to 3D Print and Sell
Your 3D printer projects can become your primary source of income. There are many items to 3D print and sell. So, get inspired by some ideas below and think of your business plan.
1. Phone Cases
Millions of smartphone users like to get new phone cases once in a while. So, such cases can be great 3D printing business ideas. Of course, you will need to design something unique to attract attention.
3D printing business ideas: ThingiverseAlso, you can follow the ideas shared by Gyrobot and offer your customers phone case customization. Add people’s names, create fantastic shapes and be creative if you want to make money with a 3D printer.
2. Coasters
You can also choose coasters as business 3D printer projects to sell. Many families use coasters to protect the tables from hot cups. Thus, drink coasters are always popular products.
3D printer projects: ThingiverseIf you have a creative mind and can design amazing 3D models, think of making coasters of various shapes for all possible holidays and occasions.
Ensure that your 3D printer projects are unique and offer them to people who love amazing accessories and cool items.
3. RC Cars
The list of 3D printing business ideas includes RC cars, actual vehicles and car parts. You can read Gambody’s post about the best 3D printed cars for inspiration.
3D printed RC car by Markus SiegmethKids and grown-ups love to control an RC car. And using a 3D printer and special software, you can design 3D models, print and sell them to customers. You can come up with stunning designs, offer customization and make it your business if you like this idea and have time to educate yourself about the RC models.
4. Orthotics
Many patients would be happy to find comfortable and fully customized orthotics shoes, inserts and soles. Such 3D printing ideas to sell will always find their customers because people with foot-related ailments constantly search for affordable orthopaedic products.
3D printing ideas to sell: instructables.
comEngineering your own orthotics products can be fun and undoubtedly useful for the health industry. It can be your small family business. Get inspired by the DIY orthopaedic 3D model, and design a cool project to 3D print and sell.
5. Retro Records
Some 3D printer projects are related to the music industry. Looking for more business 3D printing ideas to sell, you might come across retro-style records. Such pieces can become amazing gifts to parties and holidays because it is possible to convert audio files and make actual records that play on turntables.
Picture: instructables.comIt might sound too retro, but many people still have an old or modern turntable at home. Surprise them and give them new ideas on how to deliver a special message to someone they love.
6. Musical Instruments
The coolest 3D prints amaze with complex shapes and accurate functions. When you look for fantastic things to make with a 3D printer, think of musical instruments.
Here and here, you can see STL files of unusual 3D prints, fiddle and guitar. Both instruments are playable, so you can be inspired by these 3D printing projects and design your shapes for different musical instruments to print and sell yourself.
Only imagine all the coolest shapes you can design! Musicians will be happy if a new manufacturer joins the market and offers something fantastic and one-of-a-kind.
7. Fidget Spinners
Some creative 3D prints can become a great business idea. A fidget spinner is among trendy things you can 3D print and sell if you love toys that occupy the human mind.
Project: ThingiverseLook at the example of 3D printing things to sell and design your fidget spinners to attract potential customers. Your business can grow from small 3D printer projects like this one into something big and related to developing toys.
8. Cosplay
Fans of cosplay know that costumes and masks are the coolest projects to 3D print.
They can be customized and resized to fit well. Also, cosplay items are perfect 3D printing business ideas that can make you successful.
Look at the 50 fantastic 3D printed costumes to be motivated and think of what you can offer as a business person. It is fun to 3D print masks, armour, weapons of various characters, knowing that cosplayers will wear your creations with love and care.
9. Lamps and Vases
Home decor is among fun 3D projects to 3D print and sell. It can grow into a successful business plan. You can design amazing cellular lamps with LED lights, cute vases, home lights and other 3D printed decoration pieces that will sell.
Photograph: ThingiverseWith some additional electrical knowledge, you can create the coolest 3D prints ever!
10. Drawing Tool
Crafters who love working on unique invitations, paper cards, pieces of art will be happy to get an affordable drawing machine. So why not add it to the list of your fun 3D printer projects and make great business ideas?
Image: ThingiverseSome drawing machines with 3D printed parts can really draw artworks from digital files stored on your computer.
Such products can be the best 3D prints for people who love to colour pages and paint over pencil lines.
3D Print Ideas for Home
Home, sweet home! It is such a pleasure to keep it comfortable and cute. And various 3D print project ideas for home make it simple to build decorations for all tastes using your 3D printer and cool objects.
Below, we’ll share some trendy 3D printed stuff to decorate your house.
1. Planter
Fans of bonsai trees and Lord of the Rings movies will love to 3D print a beautiful planter. It resembles a Hobbiton house and boasts many lovely details. Such a 3D printed home decor will look fresh and festive on your window sill.
Here is one of the many fun 3D prints of this Hobbiton bonsai pot made by a Gambody enthusiast.
Maker: Annie MobergNow, you can download Hobbiton bonsai pot STL files to implement these 3D printing project ideas to life.
2. Pencil Holder
A variety of pencil holder designs help us 3D print decorations that suit all interiors.
You can paint such 3D printed home decor into any colour of your choice.
Organizing your desk is fast with cute little extras that hold all your belongings. And simple stuff to print can add comfort to your beloved place.
3. Dinner Bowls
Making your home a comfortable place to live, you might want to add unique bowls to enjoy the dinner. With great 3D printing projects, you will never run out of ideas about what to make today.
Photo: ThingiverseHere is a cute dinner bowl you can create using your 3D printer and some painting skills. Let this 3D printed decoration inspire your next home decor piece.
4. Headphone Stand
If you love minimalistic interior design, you can keep 3D printing minimalistic decorations for your home. For example, look at the elegant yet straightforward headphone stand 3D model STL files.
Image: ThingiverseSuch little creative things can have a significant impact on your comfort. Yet, some of the best 3D prints are often made with minor effort.
5. Key Organizer
A simple keyholder is always among fun 3D prints for your home. Such a project will protect all your keys and organize them in one place.
Fun 3D prints: ThingiverseYou can carry such a key organizer in your pocket once you get the Proteus Key Holder STL files and print this useful accessory. As you can see in the pictures, the design resembles the Swiss Army Knives organizer. Everything is strict, simple and trendy.
6. Paper Organizer
Your functional 3D prints can include a nice tray to organize your papers and other office supplies. Of course, you can visit a shop and purchase a ready-to-buy product. But these are some of the most useful 3D printed objects to build yourself.
Picture: ThingiverseFirstly, you can select colourful filament to make a cute thing that fits your interior. Secondly, you can build as many layers as needed. And at last, if one tray breaks, you can replace it within a day! Just turn on your 3D printer and work on this cute idea!
7.
Laptop and Smartphone Stand Some people are fans of desktop computers, and others love laptops. Everyone also uses smartphones. Thus, a comfortable phone or laptop stand is among the cool projects to make with a 3D printer.
Get STL files of the laptop stand, quickly assemble the four parts, and your project is ready to help you mount your device at different heights. It is a convenient way to watch movies, play video games and work on your laptop.
Images: ThingiverseAs you can see in the smartphone stand STL files, this project is every easier. It is a solid object you can 3D print in one go and start using right away.
8. Secret Storage
Your 3D printed home decor can be invisible to others but valuable to you. For example, you can build a secret storage shelf to hide your documents and other essential belongings.
Image: CultsThe STL files of a unique shelf reveal stunning 3D printing project ideas for every home. As you can see, the rack comes with a hidden storage space that is perfect for money, keys and documents.
The minimalistic design makes it a great addition to many interiors.
9. Storage for SD Cards
Other cool things to make with a 3D printer are cute storage boxes for your SD cards. This home decoration is useful and can fit any interior if you have some 3D modelling skills.
Image: ThingiverseBut even if you can’t model yourself, you can download SD card storage box 3D printer projects and build as many as you need for everyone you love. You will never lose the small cards again.
10. Outlet Shelf
Users who love to charge their devices using the wall outlet often put them on the floor. But the distance between your outlets and tables is no longer a problem if you explore this or that outlet shelf 3D printing project ideas.
Outlet shelves: Thingiverse and MyMiniFactoryBoth 3D prints are fun to make. You can now place the charging device on the shelf and stop worrying about stepping on it or your pets playing with it.
Fun 3D Prints
We are grateful to hobbyists from Gambody 3D Printing Community on Facebook who share photos of their amazing 3D prints and inspire newcomers and advanced users to new achievements.
The list of the cool 3D printer projects is not limited to heroes and villains. It also contains cute cartoon characters, iconic spaceships, fun robots and other figurines.
1. Obelix vs Roman Legionary
An iconic cartoon character from the popular French comic books is a funny 3D print idea for anyone who loves Obelix and Asterix adventures.
The Obelix vs Roman Legionary figurines look impressive in a 3D printed diorama made by Laurent Guglielmetti. The scene was painted with aero paint, and final touches were added with brushes.
Obelix diorama by Laurent Guglielmetti2. Varian Wrynn WoW
When you wish to 3D print a WoW character, there are so many ideas of fun 3D prints that choice is often difficult. The legendary Varian Wrynn is a perfect example of heroism and courage complemented with a fantastic appearance and massive armour.
Hobbyist Ferdinando Augelli worked hard on bringing to life the King of Stormwind. And this figurine can motivate you to also select Varian Wrynn STL files as one of the coolest 3D printer projects in 2022.
3. Jake Sully Avatar
Fans of miniatures and the fantastic Avatar film can choose Jake Sully 3D printing figurine as one of the coolest 3D printed objects to make. You can even recreate some of the fairy-like scenes taking place on Pandora.
Get inspired by the resin version of Jake Sully made by Ficsor Tamás. The maker used Vallejo flat blue with glaze medium paint for making the figurine body and sky blue paints for adding the highlights to the model. All the details are super impressive.
Jake Sully figurine by Ficsor Tamás4. Groot Figure
Planet X is home to some very unusual characters, the most famous of which is Groot. This tree-like creature is one of the most amazing 3D printer projects. Not only it boasts many fine details, but this friendly and silent figurine can accompany you on your adventures across the galaxy.
Matthias Stolz created the Adult Groot figure on his Anycubic MonoX 3D printer and used moss to refine it.
These fantastic Baby Groot 3D printing projects by talented Gambody hobbyists are also among the fun 3D prints:
Groot 3D print by Thomas Cate, Onur Şimşek and Robert SalvadorNo doubt, such cool Groot figurines might inspire your future 3D print projects. So download Groot figure STL files to work on your tree-like creature.
5. Mandalorian
With The Mandalorian TV series’s release, the hero Din Djarin has become an icon of courage and determination. His desire to save Baby Yoda won the hearts of millions of Grogu fans. Of course, this Mandalorian character tops the list of cool stuff to 3D print today.
Many enthusiasts, including Juan Eduardo, David Pacheco Ruiz, Christian Canivet and Ruben Vasconcelos, have already delighted Gambody with bright and highly detailed versions of Din Djarin.
Mandalorian figurines by Juan Eduardo and David Pacheco RuizDin Djarin figurines by Christian Canivet and Ruben VasconcelosOthers went further and completed the adventurous scene with the cool Speeder Bike:
Mandalorian Speeder Bike model by Syl VainYou can also download the Mandalorian STL files to bring these fun 3D printing projects to life.
6. Johnny 5
If you enjoyed the ’80s Short Circuit sci-fi films, you would love to recreate a charming Johnny 5 3D printing character. This robot is among the cool things to make because it is an articulated action model with special mechanisms and many impressive details.
Guido Kehder made the Johnny 5 on three DLP 3D printers, Photon, Photon S and Mono X, and successfully airbrushed the robot. And Donald Price also worked hard on making an impressive DLP/SLA version of the S.A.I.N.T. robot.
Johnny 5 model by Guido Kehder and Donald Price7. Lord of Darkness
The list of amazing 3D prints includes villains and demons, with Lord of Darkness standing out among the cool evil beings with absolute charisma. The master of the “Legend” underworld’s facial expression makes it must-add 3D printed things to your collection.
Injall Rok chose to 3D print the head of the impressive Lord of Darkness bust on the Sidewinder X1 3D printer. The result is stunning.
8. Flash DC Comics
Fans of DC Comics looking for some cool 3D prints can choose the Flash figurine. This superhero captured while trying to save the world will look astonishing among other figures on your shelf.
Enthusiast Karyn Cini brought to life an impressively detailed Flash 3D printing figurine, and you can do the same by getting Flash STL files on Gambody – Premium 3D printing marketplace.
Flash figurine by Karyn Cini9. Sauron LOTR
The fallen Maia becomes a fantastic figurine to add to your collection of Lord of the Rings 3D printed models. Sauron, with his One Ring, has a dark story to tell. He is a deadly legend of the Middle earth, one of the coolest 3D printer ideas at any time.
Hobbyists Berat Hakan Sağlam and Robert Allison touched the legend and recreated the impressive Dark Lord figurines on their 3D printers. Berat even added lights to the One Ring and the eyes hidden under the horned helmet.
10. Predator Figurine
Yautja representatives are also among the best 3D printer projects if you love the Predator movies. Just think of all the dangerous hunters’ jewellery and weapons you can paint in bright colours to breathe life into the model.
Marco Schmidt made the Predator figurine on his Anycubic Photon Mono X 3D printer. This cool stuff to 3D print desires your attention. And if you wish to make it as well, download Predator STL files now.
Elder Predator figurine by Marco Schmidt11. Maximus Gladiator
A legend will rise through the arena’s ranks and change the future. The Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius is a real hero who deserves a spot on your shelf with other 3D printed items.
Enthusiasts Chad Skinner and Luis Miguel paid tribute to Maximus, immortalizing his image in their heroes’ collections. Get Maximus Gladiator figurine STL files to build this cool character as well.
12. AT-M6, AT-AT from Star Wars
The legendary four-legged transport from the Star Wars universe becomes an impressive vehicle, not for combat but shelf display. And these 3D printer projects will never bore any сonnoisseur of lumbering armoured beasts.
Let these Star Wars machines made by Jairo Matton and Anawin Leardprasopsuk impress you. Download All Terrain Transport models STL files to make these trendy things.
All Terrain Transport models by Anawin Leardprasopsuk and Jairo Matton13. Viserion Ice Dragon
A beautiful dragon with huge wings and a terrifying gaze can guard your models and figurines if you add one of the best 3D prints to your collection. Fans of Games of Throne can download the Viserion Ice Dragon figurine STL files and do stunning 3D printing projects.
Giovanni Rizzo with Sara Fattori and Marco De Feo shared beautiful photos of their Viserion dragon figurines.
Viserion dragon made by Marco De Feo and Giovanni Rizzo with Sara Fattori14.
Serenity Ship Model One cannot resist the majesty of this spaceship from the Firefly TV series. It is fun to work on the cool Serenity 3D model using your 3D printer and scrupulously paint every detail, breathing love and adoration into your work.
Makers Luis M. Rosales and Gary Hendricks added the Firefly-class ship to their collection of fun 3D prints. And their masterpieces can definitely be on your list of the most creative 3D printer projects to make this year.
Serenity 3D print by Luis M. RosalesSerenity built by Gary Hendricks15. Martian Mars Attacks
It is fun to make both serious and complex 3D printing projects alongside hilarious models. For example, you can create a silly Martian alien armed to take over our planet with the sole intention of having fun.
Piotr Apanowicz seemed to like this idea. He decided to take a little break from the complex Tiger tank 3D print and got the Martian STL files. The large blaster rifle and toothy jaws of this funny alien will never harm your collection with other funny 3D prints.
16. Tifa Lockhart
One of the prettiest girls in the Final Fantasy, Tifa Lockhart, boasts an amazing appearance and impressive martial arts skills. The half-turn posture of the Tifa Lockhart 3D printing figurine will make you fall in love with every detail, and the stunning resemblance to the hero from the Final Fantasy VII Remake version will make you go wow.
Hobbyists Louison Bossard and Nathaniel Turner worked hard on their beautiful Tifa figurines. The super nice result can motivate you to also choose Tifa as one of the most fantastic 3D printer creations.
Tifa Lockhart figurine 3D printed by Louison Bossard and Nathaniel Turner17. Xenomorph
Alien 3D printing models are definitely on the list of the best 3D printer projects you can add to your collection. Xenomorph extraterrestrial creatures inspire fear and horror only when you meet them face to face. But if you 3D print an alien, then you will not be afraid of its poisonous blood, huge claws, sharp teeth and deadly tail.
Many Gambody enthusiasts praise the cool Xenomorph 3D printing figurines. And once you look at the realistic works of Alex Simard, Ondra Wajčkō, Scott Estes and Jake B. Bleecker, you will understand why.
Alien Queen diorama by Alex SimardXenomorph 3D prints by Scott Estes, Ondra Wajčkō and Jake B. Bleecker18. Milano Starship Model
A striking starship from the Guardians of the Galaxy won the hearts of many viewers. And it is so great that everyone can now craft the bird-inspired spacecraft with a 3D printer and Milano STL files from Gambody.
Mario Haase made the beautiful Milano model in a 1:50 scale. He painted the ship with a brush and added LED lights to breathe life into this one of the most beautiful 3D printer projects.
Milano starship model by Mario Haase19. Baby Yoda
The 2019 sensation is still stirring the hearts of millions. After the release of The Mandalorian TV series, many fans dream of an unusual creature Baby Yoda. And you don’t have to be Din Djarin to get what you want.
It is enough to own a 3D printer and have a list of cute projects to 3D print along with Baby Yoda STL files.
Look at these cutest Baby Yoda figurines shared by Ashley Young and Roger Lopez II. Both Grogu creations are super adorable and a must-have in your collection.
Baby Yoda figurines by Ashley Young and Roger Lopez II20. Yaiba Kusanagi CT-3X Bike
Are you ready to burn the city? Do you love furious speed and futuristic design? Get Yaiba Kusanagi CT-3X Bike STL files to prepare your Samurai for new adventures in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe.
Hobbyist Dieter Verscheure already has a 3D printed bike, which elegant body and decorative elements truly impress. Such creative 3D print projects are hard to resist!
Yaiba Kusanagi CT-3X model by Dieter Verscheure21. Hunter Bloodborne Figure
The 3D printer uses are endless when it comes to movie and video game characters. If you like playing Bloodborne, you can now recreate the protagonist in his common Hunter Set.
The Hunter figurine STL files for 3D printing can be your base for building a gloomy scene with Gatekeeper Messengers.
The Hunter figurines made by Péter Szakács, Tammy Orn and Dominic Morissette amaze with details and look ready to battle against monsters.
Hunter Bloodborne figurines by Péter Szakács, Dominic Morissette and Tammy Orn22. Deathwing WoW Dragon
When you decide to craft a WoW character, it could be a great idea to complete your collection by adding the Deathwing figurine. Towering over the Stormwind City castle’s ruins, the Destroyer dragon demonstrates with all his appearance that he is not joking.
Enthusiasts Fabian Espinosa Ramirez and Julien Vaudry Argyris made every effort to bring to life a terrible and, at the same time, bewitching scene.
Deathwing dragon 3D print by Julien Vaudry ArgyrisDeathwing figurine by Fabian Espinosa Ramirez23. The Last of Us Diorama
Following Ellie and Joel‘s adventures in the original The Last of Us video game, you can feel their story even deeper by 3D printing The Last of Us diorama.
Both Joseph Riordan Shootiak and Tammy Orn have finished working on their post-apocalyptic scene with Ellie and Joel captured in the middle of their hunt for food. What fantastic 3D printer creations these dioramas are!
The Last of Us diorama by Tammy Orn and Joseph Riordan Shootiak24. Battlestar Galactica Spaceship
The iconic Battlestar Galactica spaceship is one of the best projects for 3D printing to any fan of the sci-fi TV series. Its sleek design and numerous details all across the body make this model an outstanding piece of art.
Hobbyist Adrien Auzanneau loves to craft miniatures a lot as his cool version of the manoeuvrable Battlestar Galactica battleship impresses with great details and smooth texture.
Battlestar Galactica spaceship by Adrien Auzanneau25. Jack Sparrow Figurine
The most adventurous and extravagant pirate in the Caribbean Sea history can decorate any collection of fun 3D prints. Jack Sparrow figurine for 3D printing is a cool character with many distinguishing features, outstanding features and accessories.
Get inspired by Damien Faguier and Injall Rok’s models and add the biggest troublemaker on your shelf.
Jack Sparrow figurine by Injall Rok and Damien Faguier26. Razor Crest Spaceship
Dreaming of resurrecting Din Djarin’s spaceship? Please turn on your 3D printer and recreate the famous Razor Crest 3D printing model in all its beauty.
Hobbyist Syl Vain brought to life the iconic Mandalorian spacecraft using approximately 2 kg (4.4 lbs) of filament and introduced LED wiring to light up the cool bounty hunter vessel. Who wouldn’t dream to add one of these 3D printer projects to their collection?
Razor Crest by Syl Vain27. Johnny Silverhand
Do you miss the band Samurai? You can prevent its breakup by crafting the iconic rockerboy Johnny Silverhand. You can find the highly-detailed 3D print files of Johnny Silverhand on Gambody – Premium 3D printing marketplace and recreate this charismatic man who is always on edge.
Enthusiasts Orwin SantaCruz and Vinicius Galo accomplished their goals and made the iconic rebel ready to burn the whole city.
28. Paladin Judgement Armour
Make your World of Warcraft more impressive by collecting the most excellent warriors from the WoW universe. The list of things you can make with a 3D printer includes the Paladin 3D printing figurine.
Hobbyists Ferdinando Augelli and Ana Maria Figueiredo presented their incredible versions of the Paladin wearing the glorious Judgement Armour.
Paladin figurine by Ana Maria Figueiredo and Ferdinando Augelli29. Merkava MK2 Tank Model
Fans of battle tanks can build an impressive collection of their favourite models using their 3D printer and premium-quality 3D print projects, such as the Merkava MK2 Tank STL files from Gambody.
Maker Federico Schulze recreated an impressive reproduction of the tank inspired by the Israeli main battle tank of 1978-1996. You can see how impressive are the guns and turret, and how detailed is the model.
Merkava mk2 tank 3D printed by Federico Schulze30.
Ant-Man and the Wasp Diorama The fantastic story about Ant-Man is full of superhero adventures within the Marvel Comics universe. And you can get into these adventures yourself, using a 3D printer, your fantasy, some patience and amazing 3D printing project ideas. Use the Ant-Man and the Wasp STL files to recreate the scene from an impressive movie.
Hobbyist Joseph John Borg is working hard on his cool diorama. Even in the middle of the work, his versions of Ant-Man and Wasp look incredible.
Ant-Man and the Wasp diorama by Joseph John Borg31. Iron Giant
Meeting visitors from a distant cosmic galaxy is a lot of fun. Seeing your favourite characters coming to life in your hands is also outstanding. So you can welcome the friendly Giant alien in your collection of coolest 3D printer projects using the Iron Giant STL files.
Jason Ashby and Thorsten Lauterbach built their monuments to the Giant to immortalise this iconic character.
The Iron Giant model by Thorsten Lauterbach and Jason Ashby32.
Gul’dan WoW Character The list of fun 3D prints in 2022 includes the Horde founder, whose talent was developed thanks to shamanism’s elemental forces. Gul’dan 3D printing figurine is a cool warlock character with many fantastic accessories, necklaces, fangs and other stunning details you will love to craft and paint.
Be inspired by the Gul’dan figurine printed by Ferdinando Augelli on his Anycubic Photon Mono X resin 3D printer.
Gul’dan figurine by Ferdinando Augelli33. Treebeard
The Forest of Fangorn found in the heart of Middle-earth is full of fantasy creatures. Even trees here are the giant walking Ents. If you also love the Lord of the Rings universe, choose the fun 3D prints ideas from this world. Recreate the ancient Lord of the Ents with hobbits using the detailed Treebeard 3D project’s STL files.
Let the stunning Treebeard made by Jhonatan Arteaga inspire your projects. And enjoy the adventures of Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took immortalised in the diorama by Tomáš Procházka.
34. Slave I Star Wars
If you love The Mandalorian and Star Wars universe, you will never get bored. There are so many fantastic Star Wars 3D print ideas and things to craft that you will have lots of happy hours working on your favourite characters and spaceships. The Slave I 3D printing model is one of the coolest items to bring to life.
Kristopher Larson is currently working on his Slave I starship model. He printed most parts with filament and used resin for the smaller details, impressing everyone with his future masterpiece.
Slave I starship by Kristopher Larson35. Spider-Man Figurine
A famous comic books’ superhero, Spider-Man, is always one of the top 3D printer projects for your shelf display or gift to someone. The variety of Spider-Man figurine STL files can impress every fan of this character.
Adore Mario Capone and Bill Mattes’s 3D printer creations and choose your coolest 3D version of the iconic superhero.
36. Aerith Final Fantasy
This gentle young lady is undoubtfully one of the most remarkable female characters in video games. And you do not have to be a fan of Final Fantasy to appreciate Aerith’ femininity, beauty and inner freedom.
Wee Liam Tai enjoyed painting his lovely Aerith 3D print. And enthusiast Wayne Wong shared his tips on making Aerith Gainsborough 3D printed figurine with our readers.
Aerith figurine by Wayne Wong and Wee Liam Tai37. Assassin Figurine
Create your adventures inspired by the game “Assassin’s Creed” and raise your Assassin figurine on your 3D printer. This faithful and dedicated warrior demonstrates his glorious disposition in a confident pose designed by one of Gambody’s contributing 3D artists.
Michael Thackray airbrushed his Assassin 3D printed figurine and made sure every accessory and clothes fold looked fantastic.
Assassin figurine by Michael Thackray38.
TIE Interceptor Star Wars In the Star Wars universe, many beautiful spaceships are pleasant 3D printer projects to craft and paint. Then you can display your fun 3D prints on the shelf to admire. Only imagine seeing a TIE Interceptor model under your ceiling or somewhere else in your room.
Allan F. Camaja recreated an amazing 3D printed version of the fighter paying much attention to the iconic dagger-shaped wings, ball-shaped cockpit and other features of this menacing spacecraft.
TIE Interceptor model by Allan F. Camaja39. Droideka Droid
You can quickly turn the dangerous and deadly droids into a friendly and safe piece of art. All you need is a 3D printer and cool 3D printable objects such as Droideka model STL files which you can find on Gambody – Premium 3D printing marketplace.
Mario Haase’s Droideka is printed and beautifully painted. The model is ready to curl into a ball when its mission is complete.
Droideka model by Mario Haase40.
Mad Max Fury Road War Rig Model Among the coolest complex 3D print ideas is the War Rig truck model with its tanker and fuel pod from Mad Max. This road monster impresses with many astonishing details and power that comes from its metal body.
Maker Nick Hogg mainly recreated the legendary truck in resin. The final model looks like an accurate movie replica.
War Rig model by Nick Hogg41. Dovahkiin
The last Dragonborn is among the fantastic 3D print ideas you can implement in 2022. This warrior was blessed with the Blood of the Dragon. And now, Dovahkiin is destined to become a part of your 3D printer projects.
Christopher Edwards made the cool Dovahkiin figurine on his Creality Ender-3. With his sword raised high, this model is ready to prevent the Devouring of the World.
Dovahkiin figurine by Christopher Edwards42. Rocket Raccoon
One doesn’t need to be an alien scientist to modify a combat creature resembling a raccoon. Instead, you can turn the Rocket Raccoon figurine STL files into the cool stuff to 3D print and display on your shelf.
Such a sarcastic companion to your other 3D projects can attract much attention.
Hobbyist Onur Şimşek, for example, decided to recreate Rocket Raccoon as a life-size statue. You can also start building your Guardians of the Galaxy team with this iconic character.
Rocket Raccoon figurine by Onur Şimşek43. Aragorn Lord of the Rings
The heir of Isildur is always willing to pledge his loyalty to the Fellowship of the Ring. Aragorn 3D printing figurine is among cool items to turn into fun 3D prints any fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy would be happy to possess.
Hobbyist Sunggon Park finished his beautiful Aragorn figure and placed the model facing the Eye of Sauron. The scene is mesmerising and seems to take you into the Middle-earth era.
Aragorn 3D printed by Sunggon Park44. Voltron Robot
It is cool to build your super robot by joining Black, Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow robot lions. After getting Voltron model STL files, you can build the model and equip your robot with armour details.
Enthusiast Jaime Duran seems to be a fan of anime and trendy things to craft. His impressive Voltron 3D printed robot fits in the palm of Jaime’s hand.
Voltron model by Jaime Duran45. Godzilla
Technologies change the world and simplify the processes. Today, you can bring the iconic Godzilla monster to life without great effort. Your 3D printer and Gambody’s Godzilla figurine STL files will help you do the miracle.
Enjoy the monstrous creature printed by Kenny Kurtz on the Anycubic Photon S and Creality Ender-3 Pro 3D printers. The figure is equipped with LED lights and stands 24 inches (61 cm) tall.
Godzilla figurine by Kenny Kurtz46. Freddy Krueger
Monsters that can kill a victim in his or her dream are fictional characters. But in reality, you can get your own “safe” monster, Freddy Krueger.
Do not limit your creativity and paint your 3D printer projects with bright colours. With every touch of the brush, breathe life into the iconic villain, as Ender Extender and Charbel Dagher did.
47. Master Chief Figure
Fans of Halo video games can resurrect the super soldier in reality. Master Chief 3D printing figure is one of the coolest 3D prints to build. While he will not win any battles on your shelf, this model can brighten your day.
Makers Darren Mitchell and Travis Oakes worked hard on their versions of the brave commando. And their Master Chief figures look incredible.
Master Chief 3D printed by Travis Oakes and Darren Mitchell48. Mad Cat Mech Model
MechWarriors are always among cool 3D printed things. These mech models have an extensive selection of characters, and Mad Cat is one of the most famous and popular mechs. His other name is Timber Wolf.
Hobbyist Brian Freeman created a stunning version of Mad Cat mech on Elegoo Mars. It can inspire you to new 3D printing projects.
Mad Cat mech by Brian Freeman49. Illidan Stormrage Figure
He is neither night elf nor demon.
He is something way more to every fan of World of Warcraft. If you wish to 3D print an amazing WoW character but have not decided which one, look at the Illidan Stormrage 3D printing figurine.
The stunning works by Pong Donato and Yağız Denizci will delight every 3D printing connoisseur.
Illidan Stormrage 3D printed by Pong Donato and Yağız Denizci50. Diablo
The Lord of Terror from the popular Diablo video games can come in all its awesome grandeur on your 3D printer bed. Download the Diablo figurine STL files to work on this notorious project.
Enthusiast Zouheir Ibn Abdeljalil presented to our attention a 3D printed version of Diablo in all of its terrifying glory.
Diablo made by Zouheir Ibn AbdeljalilChoosing the best model from our list of the 100 3D printer projects in 2022 can be a snap. Turn on your printer and follow your heart. Also, join Gambody 3D printing Community on Facebook and share photos of your cool 3D prints and fantastic objects with other hobbyists.
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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
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17 real buildings printed on a 3D printer - The Future on vc.
ru 3D printing technologies are developing extremely fast and are used in various areas of human life.
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Recently, much attention has been paid to the printing of buildings, and printed houses are increasingly appearing in recent years in different countries of the world - in the USA, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, France, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and others. I have prepared a list of existing 3D printed buildings for 2020.
What is a 3D printer for construction.
Today's 3D construction printers differ in designs and wall construction methods. The most common printers are portal construction, two- and four-support construction, based on a manipulator arm or a circular design. The equipment allows you to create small architectural forms and elements of structures for their subsequent assembly on site, or allow you to print the entire building on the construction site. The height and dimensions of the printed building depend on the specifications of the printer being used.
How the printing process works.
The extruder extrudes a fast-hardening concrete mixture with various additives. Each subsequent layer is applied on top of the previous one, due to which a vertical structure is formed. The concrete layers below are thus compacted, thereby increasing their ability to withstand the next layers, and hence the entire weight of the structure. To strengthen the structure, it is reinforced, which can be both vertical and horizontal. The laying of the horizontal armored belt is carried out between the layers, the vertical reinforcement is installed after the composition has hardened, and then it is poured with concrete.
Advantages of 3D printing over other construction methods.
3D printer fabrication opens up great opportunities for construction and related industries. Practical application has revealed the following advantages of additive manufacturing:
- It removes the limits from the imagination of designers and architects who design buildings, as it provides opportunities that are not available with the construction methods we are used to.
- High speed of construction of buildings and structures.
- Complete process automation.
- Low power equipment.
- Significant savings compared to conventional construction methods by reducing labor and energy costs and accelerating construction time.
- The formation of waste building materials is completely eliminated.
- Minimization of human intervention in the construction process not only allows building in places inaccessible to people, but also eliminates the human factor in ordinary territories and reduces the likelihood of error.
1. June 2014. China. China's Shanghai WinSun Decoration Design Engineering Co has unveiled 3D printed houses at an industrial park in China's Jiangsu province. A total of ten houses were created, each of which cost a little more than three thousand pounds sterling.
Over the next ten months, the technology improved and the company produced several different types of buildings for the exhibition, the tallest of which has five floors.
2. August 2014. USA. Andrey Rudenko's company Totalkustom printed the lock. The printing took a total of 2 months. The machine's printing speed was 50 cm in 8 hours. The main part of the castle, measuring 3m x 5m and 3.5m high, was printed as a single unit, and the towers were then printed separately.
3. July 2015. China. Chinese company Zhuoda assembled a two-story house in record time. The modular home, made up of six 3D printed modules, was assembled on site in less than 3 hours. Of course actually about 90% of the work was carried out in the company's workshops, and on the site they were only assembled into a single building.
4. September 2015. Philippines. Andrey Rudenko's Totalkustom company built apartments on the territory of a hotel in the Philippines, 10.
5 mx 12.5 m in size and 3 meters high. The building was built using local materials - sand and volcanic ash.
5. May 2016. UAE. Chinese company Shanghai WinSun Decoration Design Engineering Co printed prefabricated structures for the subsequent assembly of an office building in Dubai. The area of a one-story building is about 250 square meters. m.
6. March 2017. Russia. Apis Cor introduced the first 37 sq. m.. The printed house has an interesting shape, but as the participants themselves say: this is just to show the flexibility of printing technology, the shape of the buildings can also be the usual square. Compared to other construction 3D printers, this printer is very compact (4×1.6×1.5 m), weighs 2 tons, and can be easily transported to the construction site.
7. October 2017. Russia. In Yaroslavl, the company Spetsavia presented the first residential building in Europe and the CIS, built using construction 3D printing technology.
Construction of the house began in 2015. The box of the building was printed by a portal printer piece by piece and then assembled on the foundation in one month in December 2015. In the summer of 2017, the roof was completed and the bulk of the interior finishing work was carried out.
8. March 2018. France. Yhnova presented a five-room one-story house with an area of 95 square meters. For its construction, the engineers used a large manipulator, at the end of which an extruder for polyurethane foam is fixed. While working, he applied the foam in accordance with the 3D model of the building loaded into it. After applying the foam, the builders periodically filled the erected part with concrete, and also inserted the frames of doors and windows.
9. March 2018. USA. American Company Icon built a prototype home in Texas to prove the technology's performance. The area of the building was 32 sq.m., printing was performed by a portal type 3D printer moving along rails installed on the site.
10. July 2018. Spain. Be More 3D printed a 24 m2 concrete building. For the construction, a two-support 3D printer was used, the width of which is 7 meters and the height is 5 meters.
11. September 2018. Denmark. 3D Printhuset printed a 50 square meter office in Nordhavn. The 3D printer used for printing is of the portal type and has a size of 8 x 8 x 6 meters. Print speed 2.5 meters / min. Each layer is 50-70 mm. The print material is concrete made largely from recycled tiles and sand.
12. October 2018. Italy. Company Crane Wasp using a three-bearing construction 3D printer erected a building in ten days. The house uses passive solar heating technology and natural ventilation. The composition for printing was created on the basis of waste from rice cultivation (it was 25% local soil (clay and sand), 40% straw, another 25% - from rice husks and 10% - from hydraulic lime).
November 13, 2018.
Italy. Arup in collaboration with the architectural bureau CLS Architetti erected a building in 1 week with an area of 100 sq.m. The building was printed in segments with subsequent assembly at the construction site.
November 14, 2018. Saudi Arabia. The Dutch company CyBe Construction has completed the construction of a building with an area of 80 sq.m. It took about a week to 3D print the necessary elements, and a little more than a day to assemble. The walls are made up of 27 printed blocks, and the parapets needed another 21 blocks to make.
15. August 2019. USA. S-Squared 3D Printers (SQ3D) showed a prototype residential building that can be built from floor to roof in just twelve hours. The house has an area of 46 m2. During the printing process, a 3D printer of a two-support design was used.
16. October 2019. UAE. Apis Cor has announced the completion of the world's largest 3D printed building.
Located in Dubai, the 650 sq. meters has a building height of 95 meters and entered the Guinness Book of Records as the largest building printed directly on the construction site.
17. December 2019. Mexico. American company Icon erected two residential buildings for the non-profit organization New Story, in southeastern Mexico. The imprinted buildings have a flat roof, curved walls and an area of 46.5 square meters
As can be seen from the impressive list of completed projects, progress in the field of construction 3D printing clearly does not stand still, new techniques are constantly being introduced, various materials are being created, including from recycled raw materials, and high-tech equipment is being developed. In a short period of time, the technology has attracted the interest of a large number of enterprises that are engaged in the development of equipment, special building mixtures, libraries of structural solutions for designing buildings for 3D printing, as well as the preparation of a legislative, regulatory and regulatory framework.
I am sure that in the future the entire construction process will be able to become fully automated, without human intervention, not only when printing foundations and walls, but also when printing ceilings and roofs, automatically install utilities, doors and windows. Also, perhaps in the future we will not be limited to printing houses of 2-3 floors, but will be able to move on to multi-storey construction. All this is no longer something impossible and has ceased to sound like fantastic dreams of a high-tech future. It is only necessary to give time for the natural evolution of 3D construction technology.
Construction 3D printing is waiting for a breakthrough / Sudo Null IT News
3D printing technology originated in the 80s of the 20th century, but construction 3D printing appeared much later. The first construction projects using this technology appeared only in 2014. We are talking, first of all, about the so-called small architectural forms (benches, flower beds, fences).
They never even dreamed about building houses. But already in 2015, the Russian startup Apis Cor made a splash - it printed a whole house in the Moscow region. Since then, news about new 3D printed houses has periodically appeared. However, despite the fact that the technology proved to be very promising in terms of the speed of construction of housing and the reduction in the cost of construction, no mass implementation followed.
Construction is the world's number one market. And, if many technological innovations are being introduced in the field of high-rise construction, then little has changed in the field of low-rise construction over the past decades. The last 30 years have seen the availability of the Internet, mobile phones, mobile internet, robotics taken to a new level, etc., but when you get to a house construction site, you are unlikely to find many technological innovations. Automation is practically non-existent, and manual labor prevails. 2020 was a test of strength for the whole world, and also led to the highest level of inflation, which, first of all, hit the construction market, there was a dramatic change in prices for metals, cement, wood and much more.
This Internet meme shows what happened to the cost of building materials in just a year. And the process is still going on. At the same time, there is a serious rise in the cost of labor, and there is an acute shortage of it. All this leads to a sharp rise in the cost of building houses. No matter how strange it may sound, statistics show that the growth of automation does not occur when everything is fine, but precisely in crisis situations, during increased competition, reduced demand and the need to urgently look for new technologies to increase production efficiency. So it happened this time, and after some stagnation, construction 3D printing received a new impetus for development.
Preparing to write an article, I turned to the founder of Arkon - Boris Kozlov y. Arkon was established in 2020 and is engaged in the production of construction 3D printers, both a workshop type for creating prefabs (prefabricated houses) and a portal one capable of printing a two-story house.
I asked Boris the key, in my opinion, question:
- Construction 3D printing appeared in 2014, but no mass introduction of this technology followed in 7-8 years. Why do you think this happened, and why is there a surge of new projects right now?
- It seems to me that the reason is the snowball effect. The technology had to mature, grow from a hypothesis to a pilot implementation, and finally to commercialization and scaling (what is happening now). In addition, it should be borne in mind that construction is one of the most conservative industries, where, unlike even aviation and the automotive industry, there is still an extremely low introduction of digital solutions and automation in the field of the production process itself - the construction itself. The issue of regulation and certification also plays an important role - this process is long and creates an additional lag.
In 2014 - 2016 the first samples of building 3D printers and prototypes of printed buildings appeared.
The concepts of various form factors of construction 3D printers and types of printing materials were tested.
In 2017-2018 in the world, the first notable investments were made in a number of construction 3D printing start-ups. Further, by 2020, these investments "rolled" in the form of reaching a certain level of technology maturity - the first commercial products (3D printers and houses) appeared.
Finally, in 2020-2022 it became clear that the hypotheses of the effectiveness of construction 3D printing were justified (cheaper, faster, more environmentally friendly), and large investments began in the industry. A striking example is the investment of GE (the French division of General Electric) in the Danish COBOD or the achievement of a capitalization of $ 2 billion by the American company ICON.
In 2022-2023 over 1,000 buildings will be printed worldwide already, scaling from single buildings/pilot projects to entire villages and major infrastructure/reinforced concrete implementations.
In addition, in a number of countries, by now, a regulatory framework has been created or is being actively created for the introduction of additive technologies in the construction industry.
Thus, I believe that the specified time period is a fairly natural cycle of technology development, which is likely to experience exponential growth in the next decade.
According to ResearchAndMarket report, the global construction 3D printing market is valued at USD 354.3 million in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 11068.1 million by 2027, an increase of 99.04%.
Various market processes affect the prices and behavior of participants in the global 3D construction printing market. They create price signals that are the result of changes in the demand and supply curves for a product or service. They can be associated with both macroeconomic and microeconomic factors. Even human emotions can also drive decisions, influence the market, and create price signals.
Now let's take a quick look at what the construction 3D printer is. Without delving too deeply into the technology, we can say that construction 3D printers are very similar to classic FDM/FFF printers that print with plastic, but instead of plastic, the material here is a cement mixture, which is fed directly into the nozzle and forms an object by layer-by-layer overlay. Printers are also portal, on the basis of a flying boom, with a robotic arm.
Pictured left is a construction printer based on a boom. The figure on the right is a gantry construction 3D printer
In the figure above, a construction 3D printer in the form of a robot arm installed on a mobile platform.
Everything changed completely when, in the summer of 2021, the American company ICON, which was trying to introduce 3D printing into the construction of various auxiliary facilities, signed a contract with one of the largest American developers, Lennar, to build a village of 100 houses in Texas and immediately became a unicorn , having received 200 million dollars of investments from several investment funds.
At the same time, the Danish company COBOD, created by the world's largest construction formwork company PERRI, began selling its gantry 3D construction printers and participating in construction projects around the world. In the photo below, a modern two-story house built in Germany and a school building in Malawi, built in record time with a minimal budget.
Few things unite developed, developing and poor countries, everywhere their problems and tasks, but The lack of affordable housing is a global agenda . If in poor countries there is an acute problem with the increase in the number of homeless people due to a lack of housing, as such, then in developing countries it is necessary to dramatically accelerate the number of new housing being built to meet the needs of a growing population. In developed countries, the problem is primarily in the cost of housing, which has risen in price to such an extent that it has become practically inaccessible to young people.
And with the simultaneous increase in life expectancy in these countries, this problem is only getting worse.
At the same time, the trend towards “green agenda ”, CO2 emission reduction, building with more environmentally friendly materials, etc. is developing. But, unfortunately, so far the construction industry is the absolute leader in CO2 emissions, as well as in the amount of garbage that each construction site leaves behind. This is not to say that construction 3D printing solves all these problems, but at least it is moving in the right direction. Let's look at this with a few illustrative examples.
3D printed walls. Today, when we talk about 3D printing of houses, we are talking about printing walls. Everything else (foundation, windows, doors, ceilings and roof) is done in the traditional way. 3D printed walls are built as fixed formwork, which significantly saves the amount of cement used , and this, in turn, reduces the cost of construction and reduces the environmental impact of cement production.
In addition, with this method of construction, no additional waste is produced, the strength of the structure does not suffer. It can be reinforced, as shown in the photo on the left, and engineering communications can be immediately laid, as shown in the photo on the right, which also affects the final speed of the construction of the object. At the same time, the total weight of the structure is reduced, the remaining cavities can be filled with lightweight foam concrete, insulation, straw or any other available material. Such a lightweight design can use a lighter foundation. The construction method itself is more economical in terms of material, and therefore environmentally friendly.
Eco-concrete with the addition of polymers is being actively developed, the production of which reduces CO2 emissions from 30% to 100%. The Apis Cor company mentioned at the beginning of the article, which built a house in the suburbs in 2015, is now based in hot Florida, plans to start using this material in its projects.
Another startup from Russia, Mighty Buildings, headquartered in California, initially relied on a polymer with the addition of mineral chips. And while the company doesn't build entire homes, it only makes wall panels, it has won numerous design awards, as well as a $400 million valuation in several investment rounds.
As a result, with a rough calculation, we can say that the total savings on the construction of walls can reach 30%, and the total cost of the house can be reduced by 10%. This is true for houses designed for conventional construction. And if you initially design with 3D printing, you can improve this ratio by optimizing the laying of communications, the ability to immediately print interior walls, bookmark niches for bathrooms, fireplaces, built-in wardrobes and kitchens, as was done in the house built by COBOD in Germany.
"There are spots on the sun." Despite all the advantages of construction 3D printing, has several significant disadvantages .
The main one is layering, which cannot be avoided at the current level of technology development.
The photo above shows the layering of the 3D printed walls.
This task can be worked in several directions:
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Ribbed walls can be plastered, painted and played with as a design element. That's how ICON does it in the US, for example their latest project House Zero is done that way and has won a number of design awards.
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Use special "shutters" on the print head that allow smooth layers, as COBOD and other manufacturers do. The photo below shows that this does not ensure the complete absence of layering.
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Fully sand the surface to get the usual smooth wall for plastering, painting, wallpapering or other finishing. It is possible, but it will require huge labor costs, which can reduce the overall efficiency of using 3D printing.
Pictured above is a 3D printed wall sanded smooth.
The second problem is the required temperature. Ideally, printing should take place at temperatures between +5C° and +30C°. Humidity is also important. Using additives, you can push these boundaries, but not indefinitely. At strong sub-zero temperatures, printing will be possible in the field only if the construction site is covered with a dome and the required temperature is reached inside with the help of heat guns. In conditions of intense heat, it is preferable to print at night. Another solution could be to print the wall panels in the shop and assemble them on site. Of course, each of these decisions will have a negative impact on the economic efficiency of the project.
Building 3D printing can be useful not only for the construction of houses . With its help, you can solve many other problems, and there its disadvantages will not matter. For example, the American concern GE uses COBOD printers to build towers for wind turbines in the shop. Ribbed surface and temperature restrictions in this case do not play any role.
