9 things you never thought could be 3D printed at home
There are a lot of uses for 3D printing in science, medicine, and research. From prosthesis to housing, these ideas push the boundaries of what is possible in modern manufacturing.
But there are also plenty of similarly impressive items that you can print at home, on a relatively cheap 3D printer.
Springs
You might have thought that springs had to be made out of metal, but you’d be wrong. Even basic PLA is flexible enough to print springs, which you can then use in buttons, triggers, toys, or simply to entertain your cat. It’s worth printing one or two just to see how they work, since each only costs a few grams in filament.
I recommend starting with a parametric spring generator and going from there. Alternatively, if you’re trying to replace a spring in an item, consider searching for the item itself. To get a truly accurate replacement, you might need some extra tools like a digital caliper.
Hinges (in place)
Print-in-place models are some of the most impressive things you can print at home. Hinges might just be my favorite functional object to print in a single sitting, requiring only a small amount of force once the print has finished to free them up before you can use them.
There are all manner of hinge designs on model repositories, but most are integrated into items that might need them. A solid early print is a toolbox in which to store accessories, and picking one with a moving hinge (like this one) is a great introduction.
Bearings
Bearings allow objects to spin freely. While most bearings are made from metal, which allows them to be hard-wearing, you can 3D print your own at home from cheap filament, too. A bearing generator lets you pick from common sizes or resize something to suit.
There are some caveats here, of course. Depending on the design you choose, small imperfections (particularly in ball bearings) will affect how smoothly the object spins. They’re not the most durable option, though they suit hobby projects like model spinners for miniature painting, fidget toys, or as temporary stop-gaps when you need to replace a metal bearing.
Threads
One of the most impressive objects I’ve ever printed is a step-down filter ring for a camera filter. It allows me to mount a 52mm filter on a 49mm filter mount, and it required 2g of filament and about 30 minutes of print time. I didn’t expect much, especially not from a standard 0.4mm nozzle, but the results are truly impressive.
Now that I’ve seen the light, I’ll never hesitate to print an item that uses a fine thread again. You can print threaded rods and nuts with a thread generator, generate 3D-printed bolts and nuts, and print all manner of containers and lids that screw together.
Musical instruments
There are a lot of musical instruments on websites like MakerWorld, Printables, and Thingiverse. I have had a lot of fun “charming” my cats with my 3D-printed Arabian drone flute (though my partner isn’t too impressed), and I’ve added the 3D-printed saxophone to my list (just add a reed and ligature).
There are also 3D-printed stringed instruments like an electric guitar body and the Travelele, a travel ukulele which only needs strings and tuners. It’s one of the most portable 3D prints I’ve ever seen.
While we’re on the subject of instruments, 3D printing is also capable of unlocking new musical frontiers. People who, unlike me, know what they’re doing are able to design microtonal instruments to spec which fall outside of standard scales and musical conventions.
Fabric
Another marvel of print-in-place 3D printing is fabric. While it’s not “soft” like cotton or polyester, there are many fabric types available online, like NASA fabric that you might want to print and touch for yourself. I’m particularly taken by modular fabric, which prints in sheets and can be joined together to make a much larger sheet or even garment.
Though technically not “fabric,” another similar print that will also impress is 3D printed chainmail. This modern take on medieval armor might not stop a sword, but it’s significantly lighter for your cosplay needs.
Airless balls
Airless balls print in one go and use flexible filament like TPU to provide some bounce, with limited results. The softer the TPU, the more bounce, but the harder it is to print. They come in all sizes, from mini ping pong balls to larger soccer balls, and even full-size basketballs.
Just keep in mind that many of these models have recommended filament types, and that supports can be difficult to remove in many cases. If you have a printer that has multiple nozzles (like the Bambu Lab X2D), a support filament like PLA might give you better results.
Padlocks
You can 3D print all elements required to assemble a padlock, including a nifty six-pin tumbler version and a combination lock. It should go without saying that these should not be relied on to keep anything secure; they’re made out of plastic and are purely designed as fun, educational items.
For a lock that uses a key, you might want to print a set of lockpicks too!
Fractal vise
This is one of those items that you never knew you wanted to print until you saw it in action. A fractal vise is designed to hold objects in place, regardless of their shape. By using modular, interchangeable jaws, the vise can adjust its shape to make working on irregularly shaped objects easier.
While a 3D-printed object can’t compare to a metal version for durability, such a useful tool still might be worth a few hundred grams of filament and some self-assembly.
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- Build Volume
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180x180x180
- Printing Speed
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500mm/s
The Bambu Lab A1 mini 3D printer is ready to go out of the box and can have you printing within 30 minutes. Offering full-auto calibration, this compact 3D printer features a 180mm build volume and is compatible with the AMS Lite for multi-color printing. It also features built-in vibration and flow-rate calibration, which are typically features only found on more premium printers.
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- Build Volume
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256x256x256mm
- Printing Speed
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600mm/s
The Bambu Labs P2S 3D printer is ready to go out of the box and can have you printing within 15 minutes. It features up to 20-color printing with the AMS unit, has an upgraded built-in camera for remote monitoring and time lapses, and has an enclosed body for printing even high-temperature filament.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out how your 3D printer can improve your hobbies.