Interesting Things Things You Can Make With a 3D Printer
Imagine having a device that can build anything. You would create everything you can think about. With a 3D printer and an unlimited supply of printing filaments, that is what you could do; you could make anything want. If you tick both boxes, your creativity needs a push in the right direction. Read on; we have some great ideas you could execute with a 3D printer and access to an unlimited printing material supply.
1. Board Games
Board games have been a mainstay of many homes for decades, whether as a rainy-day hobby or a pleasant way to spend time with friends and family. Of course, Monopoly and Scrabble are still in practically every home, but board games have advanced beyond the norm, and new varieties are gaining popularity. In addition to creating your board games, you may also use 3D printing to make board game storage, dice towers, and game pieces for replacement, customization, and original inserts.
Both resin and FDM printers can be used to 3D print board games. Larger sets that need to be printed separately and assembled are better suited for FDM printers. Also, they work well for set pieces and other less-detailed board game components. Have you wondered why it's so amazing to 3D print your own board games, board game pieces, and board game accessories? Not only can you customize your collection and individual items, but you can also produce your entertainment at a fraction of the retail cost.
You could consider the example of the Minichess set created by Daniel Beaver on Cults. Chess has grown extremely standardized in modern times. The game has lost a lot of its raw grit and brutal fun due to the development of chess software, opening databases, and grandmasters in abundance. It's not particularly difficult to print this model's board and components. There is a storage tray with a magnetic clasp, and they are designed to be magnetized using small magnets.
2. Wall Clocks
Everything is governed by time. You look at your watch or clock to determine when to get up, go to work, eat dinner, meet friends, and do other activities. You're generally aware of the time at all times.
Analog clock production has always been a meticulous operation requiring careful attention to detail and precision-made microscopic moving parts. This technique is made simple and enjoyable by 3D printing. Today, it is effortless to construct tiny clock parts.
You can design your clocks to look in ways that conventional clocks could never have. Multiple 3D models of mechanical clocks ready for 3D printing are available on platforms such as Thingiverse, MyMiniFactory, and Cults. Models like the Triaxial Tourbillon are complex pieces of art and engineering marvels that can hang on your walls. The gear clock design by Luke’s 3D on Cults is another interesting model.
3. Kitchen Gadgets
If you enjoy baking or cooking, you undoubtedly know that you can never have too many kitchen gadgets, utensils, or accessories. By facilitating easy preparation and food arrangement, kitchen tools can improve the convenience of cooking. A wide range of measuring instruments, cutting tools, knife sheaths, and holders for kitchenware, utensils, cutlery, and crockery are available for printing. Around 2,000 3D models of kitchen appliances are available on CGTrader alone. To refill your kitchen gadgets, utilize any of the 3D models available.
Some models that can only be described as creative genius are the Bakercube models readily available on Thingiverse. These ingeniously made models include a box-like design with various kitchen measurements geometrically carved from either side. For example, the cube has parts on one side for a 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) scoop, a 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters), a 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 milliliters), and a 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 milliliters). The goal is to fill each compartment according to the recipe's specifications precisely. The most room is available for one cup (240 milliliters).
Almost 65,000 people have downloaded this interesting box from Thingiverse, which has been at the top of the website's list of the most popular designs for weeks. The creators of Bakercube are now hoping to capitalize on Thingiverse's success with a crowdfunding effort on Indiegogo beginning on June 4. Other notable prints are the pasta maker and egg cracker models available on Thingiverse.
4. Instant Circle Tool
Have you tried drawing a circle with a specific radius without using a compass? Tough process, right? Also, do you remember how compasses were a hazard? Have you ever wondered whether you could make the process of drawing a circle easier and safer?
These tools contain holes at specific points along the length of the drawing tool through which you can insert your pencils or drawing equipment to draw a circle perfectly circular. You can find a model of this design on Thingiverse, designed by Muh60. This tool lets you draw circles with a radius between 5mm and 60mm.
5. Hexx Case Tool Roll
The Hexx case tool roll is a flexible tool holder that can be rolled into a hexagonal container. These designs are based on the old Rolykit designs made by a Dutch company. This tool holder was designed as an ergonomic storage solution for holding your tools without taking up much space in your workshop or workstation.
The most popular design for the Hexx tool roll is the one created by Davie CC. This model can be found on platforms like Thingiverse, MyMiniFactory, and cults3D.
6. Center Finder
A center finder is a simple tool used to find the center of a cylindrical object, such as a wooden stump so that the center point can be utilized to cut the cylindrical object or to create designs for discs, wheels, or coins. You could also use the center finder just to find the center of things that are lying around. You can see some of the best designs of the center finder on Thingiverse created by Stefan Jenisch.
7. Squeeze Fan
Have you been in one of those dreadful situations during peak summer wherein there is no power supply? You do not have a portable fan, either. How nice would it be if you had a fan that is easy to use? That is where a squeeze fan can come to your aid.
A squeeze fan is a simple tool that turns a fan's blades through the action of some gears and springs, which are activated by squeezing a trigger like in a gun. If you are creative, you can also get some forearm workouts while using this fan. There is an impressive model of a squeeze fan on Printables designed by George Zhu
8. Sound Amplifiers for Your Smartphone
The resonance of air is an interesting concept if you are looking for ways to amplify the sound output on your smartphone or handheld computing device. You can boost the sound played by your phone by making the frequency of the sound wave the same as the natural frequency of the air inside a column.
These amplifiers consist of a long, hollow tube where a smartphone can be placed. The phone should be housed in such a way that the sound output of the smartphone is at the base of the air column. Such amplifiers are known as passive amplifiers. You can find their 3D printable file on Cults3D.
9. Digital Sundial
A digital sundial is one of the insanely fantastic things you can 3D print. And it actually works. The sundial's design allows it to display the current time at intervals of 20 minutes by only letting in the proper rays at the proper time and angle. Naturally, it is only in use from 10:00 to 16:00 during the day. The amazing design for this concept was created by Mojoptix and is available on Thingiverse.
10. Toothpaste Tube Squeezers
Use this toothpaste tube squeezer to extract every last drop from the tube. It prints in a single pass and has adequate width to fit the majority of commercial tubes. With the design created by Spidersky1498, you may get the most out of your toothpaste tubes. Check out the design on Printables.
11. Honeycomb Storage Wall
This is a fantastic replacement for the typical pegboard. This 3D printable honeycomb design was created to hold all the required clutter that would otherwise accumulate on your desk or in its drawers. Cables, disk drives, USB sticks, SD cards, and keyboards may all be safely stored. Also, small storage chambers and hooks are ready for 3D printing. There are also a ton of intriguing remixes that add new storage concepts to the system. This model was designed by RostaP and is available on Printables.
Conclusion
The sky is quite literally the limit when it comes to what you can print if you have access to a 3D printer and an unlimited supply of printing material. You can print anything ranging from storage solutions to passive amplifiers. You can also keep yourself entertained with board games and toys. Hopefully, this article will help you with a tiny push to your creativity in the right direction. If you would rather create these designs yourself than download them, consider using SelfCAD as it’s easier to learn and get started, and there are a lot of interactive tutorials available that you can use to create them.
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