11 Different Things to Print With Your 3D Printer

I remember watching lots of cartoons and anime when I was a kid. But there was one that intrigued me a lot: The Jetsons. It was always a flirt with what could be possible to be done in the future. And a silly-sitcom format was the best part: they had gadgets for absolutely everything (and lots of money too, apparently)! Reading utopias and dystopias had always caught my attention and robots were my main kid-theme inspiration for quite some time. How awesome would it be to have a machine that can make other objects, for example (hello, 3D printer)?

The year is 2023 and 3D printers are real. And way more than just a fad, they’re here to stay and revolutionize the way we consume, produce and even collaborate. 3D printing technology has come a long way in recent years, and it has become more accessible than ever before. With a 3D printer, you can print almost anything you can imagine, from small trinkets to large-scale models. With that in mind, can you think about the potential of one of these into geek/nerd/entrepreneurial hands? I sure do!

If you don’t own a 3D printer yet, you can read this post about the many reasons to buy one.

Here are just a few suggestions of what is possible to do with this amazing device:

#1. Cases

If you have any card collection, from Magic to Pokemon, you sure need cases or folders to store them. 3D printing makes it possible for you to choose the size, the design, colors and even texture of your case. Need a new case for your Ipad, Kindle or smartphone? What do you want them to look like?

#2. Miniatures

If you’re reading this post, there’s a huge chance that you enjoy minis, or miniatures if you prefer. With a 3D printer, you can literally rule over the world with your own army of minis! It doesn’t matter if you’re an enthusiast collector/painter or dream about building your own business on them. That’s totally up to you.

#3. Jewelry and Accessories

You will be able to create unique, beautiful and diverse pieces of jewelry and wearables. You can print necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and even rings (just don’t throw it on fire, maybe in the future, who knows?). If you want to wear a piece that you’ve never seen before or make your cosplay look more professional, you know what you have to do now! Additionally, check out some of the amazing props Loot Studios makes here.

#4. Art

Any artist or aspiring one can put your artistic expression to practice and use with a 3D printer. You’ll be able to explore complex geometries, some of them impossible to be done by hand. This is the type of gadget who really pushes you creatively. So you have to test it yourself and see the way you think of art changes.

#5. Home Decor

You can print vases,planters, key holders, bowls, picture frames, headphone stands, you name it! Anything is possible. And don’t worry if you are not a master designer or if you lack design skills. There are tons of online blueprints for you to download and test for yourself, including furniture and kitchen gadgets too.

#6. Tools

3D printing technology can be used to create specialized tools that are not readily available in stores. Or maybe they are, but you don’t wanna spend money on them right now. You can find even automotive parts being printed at home, from air intake systems and custom dashboard components to a sunglass visor clip.

#7. Replacement Parts

If you ever stopped using an appliance or even an old toy or game because you lost parts and pieces from it, a 3D printer can be life-changing. Nowadays, lots of companies interrupt entire productions just to make us buy a new version of it – but not necessarily new, if you know what I mean. I can’t count all the times I avoided taking my board games to friends’ houses fearing some small pieces could be lost. Have you ever been through the same? This is a must-have then!

#8. Musical Instruments

You can go on youtube and check for yourself, but this is one of my favorites of this entire list! If you are a musician like me, you know how difficult and expensive it can be to have the opportunity to learn and play different instruments. You can print flutes and recorders, trumpets, mini saxophones, guitars, drum sets and even electric violins! Some of them you’ll need arduino projects to make it work, but just by the fact you don’t need to design it yourself, it is groundbreaking!

#9. Robotics

When I was a kid I remember trying to build my own robot by following instructions and acquiring the parts from a weekly magazine. The final result was a disaster, but I enjoyed every single time I put myself to work on it! The amount of projects you can find online about it is astonishing (even NASA is already using it). Yes, you can build your own robotic arm, but there’s so much more than this. Use and abuse from the online tutorials and open source projects to make your own robot and impress everyone around you!

#10. Games

If you are into gamification or creating your own board games, it’s very important to prototype without using fancy objects or materials. In the beginning you’re looking for a mechanic that works even without shiny minis or mesmerizing cards, images and maps. But if you already created something valuable, going from scratch to product can be really difficult and expensive – unless you have a 3D printer! You won’t have to find a supplier which will force you into making a thousand units just to launch your game – you can start with your family and friends, and look super professional even though.

#11. Personalized Gifts

Me and my family always enjoyed giving personalized gifts, like cooking and baking, craftwork and so on. I just wish I could have a 3D printing device earlier! By having the option to choose size, color, and everything else, you can create things that are so special and personalized, that it’s almost impossible that people won’t like it! From bookholders to spirographs, I’m pretty sure that kids and adults will love them all.

Final Thoughts

Having a 3D printer can really help in a lot of areas, as you can see. One of the main benefits is the ability to rapidly prototype designs. This means that you can quickly create physical models of your designs and test them out before committing to large-scale production. You can quickly iterate on designs and make changes as needed, saving time and money in the process.The efficiency is also a big player here: 3D printing only uses the materials that are needed to create the product, resulting in less waste and lower costs.

As we’re talking about money, many can say that the cost is too heavy, and initially, it may seem so, but the cost savings over time can be substantial (you can read more about which 3D printer to get in another post). The more you print on your own, the bigger your savings will be as you’ll stop purchasing the items. We can also say that it is environmentally friendly, because you have the option to print only what you need, reducing the necessity of mass production and shipping compared to traditional processes.

New technology is never all roses, and for sure there is much room for improvement. Learning how to operate a printer can be time consuming. Sometimes, printing one object can take hours or days to finish, so it’s not exactly suitable for big companies or businesses with high-volume production needs. Materials are limited – so far – to plastic. Raw materials like metal or graphite are being used, but not at-home productions.

The learning curve is also something to keep in mind. If you’re not the one who likes to learn new softwares and/or languages, you may have to change that, or 3D printing will not be suitable for you. You’ll have to be able to use 3D modeling software to create designs, and understand how to properly calibrate and operate the device. I strongly recommend watching “Print the Legend”, a documentary that sparks lots of possibilities we can do with 3D printing, but also some concerns that are already appearing.

I hope you could learn and get motivated with this post, and don’t hesitate to share your projects with us, we can’t wait to check on them! We may not have flying cars like the Jetsons yet, but we sure evolved a lot. Welcome to the future!

Loot Studios can help you print highly detailed minis, statues and props. Choose your favorite bundle from our previous releases or sign up for Fantasy or Sci-Fi to receive a new bundle every month. You can also check out some tips at our YouTube Channel.