I’m new to Bambu but not to 3d printing overall. I’ve owned Makergears previously, tho I’d fell out of printing because so much of the hobby for me previously was making my printer work rather than printing something.
I mostly use my printer to make inserts or components for my board games, but I’ve now reached a point where almost all of that is done. As I look for new things to print, I dont want to spend a lot of time printing silly things (tho i will make a couple), I’d prefer to print useful things.
With that in mind, what is the most useful thing you’ve ever printed?
things i use every day:
Multiboard & it’s accessories (underware 1.0 was first)
my kensui holders
gridfinity + gridfinity items
things for my cats
planters
things organizing stuff on my desk
poop bins for a1 and a1 mini
accessories for p1
things i made and won’t ever publish because those are either prototypes or one-offs…
and my printers haven’t achieved 1k print hours yet…
Rigs to give everything a home screwed to the wall. Literally everything on the wall. Hair dryer. Guitar. Steam deck. Headphones. Cords. Controllers. Scarfs. Guns. Lamps. Action figures. Glove boxes. Swords. Replicas. Hoses. Calipers. Picture frames. Tablets.
Sometimes they’re plain. Sometimes they get creative. But they always fit and they give me back countertop/work space!
I print toys for the grand kids but I also print a lot of functional items for our use.
various boxes
organizers
sliding bag clips
succulent pots
cable tracks
toothpaste tubes squeezers
Christmas ornaments
Stuff for my printer: Side spool holder, illuminated top glass riser
I enjoy being able to design something to fix an issue or replace a broken part. I have to remind myself I can make things with my printer because I will be looking at a ‘problem’ and not think “I can print something to fix that”.
Small hooks to hang mugs from ikea kitchen rails - use them for last 7 years. They are starting to get brittle due to being printed from PLA - now running reprint from PETG
Translucent PETG lamp shades - use bunch of them around house
Shelf supports
Dog food scoop scaled just right to have perfect portion
I have done this for only 2 years till now, but I would say the Honeycomb Storage Wall (HSW) and its inserts for me. It’s a great way to organize stuff away from your regular storing spaces, in unused areas for example, and with minimal damage.
If you have an AMS-like system, I also recommend Pastamatic, it’s a great way to increase comfort in using third-party filament by easily being able to respool any filament.
While not directly usefull, printing gifts of all sorts is also greatly appreciated (and money-saving), like small sculptures, especially some that people from outside of the hobby would never/rarely come across normally (voronoi, print-in-place, flexi, … always peaks interest).
I would, however, mostly state that 3d printing isn’t that much about fixing your printer or printing some pre-made models, it’s much more fulfilling as a tool to handle your custom needs.
Learning to design models on your own, no matter if functional or organic, is a great way to stimulate your brain and increase your overall comfort. It’s also a great gateway to all sorts of other hobbies which can nicely synergize.
Replacement/Extension parts (car door seal attachment clips, antique table repair, lamp extension base plates)
Custom parts (pool cleaning adapter, frog proof pool outlet, Gutter plates for wintergarden floor gaps, bathroom radiator hooks, cable guides, …)
Stuff that is useful but for which we’d not like to spend money (toothpaste squeezers, window stops, dental brush travel cases, thermo/hygrometer mounts, dessicant holders to keep the outdoor freezer a bit more ice free, …)
Stuff for seasonal decoration (Halloween, X-Mass, Easter,…)
Stuff I need right now but the shops are closed (snail rings, travel comb, simple missing board game pieces, a ruler for the kids monday morning maths test, …)
Conversation pieces for the next annual neighbourhood flea market.
And of course stuff for the printers, but I do not really count that anymore: No longer printing to make a printer do its job
Functional things that can be used inside the house or outdoor. Also a few things to help with 3D printing. I designed those myself though. Check out my account if you have time and look under two collections: Useful Models, and 3D PrintingTools & Accessories
The most practical thing for me is the desk organizer (with integrated smartphone stand & charger, smartwatch holder & charger, glasses holder and thermometer) - fits all the most important things in a small space and I use it every day In general, all organizers and jewelry boxes - there are never too many of these things.
This is my favorite use personally. Random custom parts for things that I could not buy anywhere. Most require minimal modeling skills in Tinkercard, combined with good measurements.
This is a great question. For me, “useful” is very different than enjoyable. i would like to say it was something like a bracket for my project boat, or something that I’ve printed for the use of sand casting aluminum parts, but those are one off, and semi-useful. The most “useful” thing I’ve ever printed was something that is now about 8 or 9 years old. I designed a custom phone mount for one of my motorcycles, and I still use the original prototype today, pretty much 4-5 times a week since that’s how often I ride that bike. I’ve definitely gotten the most use out of that print. I should probably do a redesign, maybe better quality filament since a lot has changed in the last 9 years. That being said, my favorite thing I’ve ever printed was toys for my kids, they’re 18 and 17 now but when they were about 9 and 10 I had them draw a toy, then design it in an old application called 123D design, using rudimentary shapes, then we printed them. Both of my big kids still have them sitting out on their desks. They both said they have them out as a reminder not to limit themselves and anything is possible with some effort.
Honestly the most useful things are the ones I designed by myself, because they solve very specific needs. Most of them are so specific I didn’t even published them online.
The bin trash compartment for my car that doesn’t have one, the tablet stand for my kitchen’s countertop, the tamper station holding all my coffee machine’s accessories, the sink corner organizer, …
Oh one of the first thing I printed: The little dust lids of my garage’s gate. I’ve been asked 500€ from the manufacturer of the gate. With those money I bought a P1S and made them by myself with 2 spools of pla.
As per things made by others, keeping out all the props, helmets and busts, I’d say:
An airbrush cleaning pot, The quest 2 Elite strap replacements arms and quest 3 adapter for the elite strap 2 and, of course, the Scaling banana.
I’ve implemented multiple X1C into our manufacturing facility. Both R&D and production components.
For personal use I’ve found printing vehicle trim clips, cable management clips, speed loaders, and even some firearms for fun. When I need anything made of plastic I think about printing before purchasing it somewhere.
Loads of stuff really but the object I use everyday is my lovely gearstick knob! I took the metal ‘get arrangement’ from the top of the old, broken one and designed a knob to fit around it. I gave it a textured finish and it looks exactly like the original.
Specific custom parts for things that I could not buy anywhere. I am learning Tinkercad and its larger sibling Fusion and using them to model my designs. Simple things, like an adapter for a room A/C vent. another was a very specific sanding block to shape a replacement handle for some grill tongs. Very happy with final outcome but took a couple of variations.
Well being a sign shop I’ve printed business card holders, vacuum accessories for our CNC machine and run out plates for our large format printers and all the wire clips and ballast holders for all the lighted signs we build. I want to start doing channels for led strips in the form of our customers logos for backdrops.
and look under two collections: Useful Models, and 3D PrintingTools & Accessories