14 Last-Minute 3D Printing Gifts That Are Actually Worth It

For the filament hoarder who’s lost control of their inventory, these open source RFID tags are an intervention in a box. Tiger Tag is, essentially, a smart cataloguing system. It lets you turn dumb filament spools into “smart” ones loaded with useful machine readable data that (some) 3D printers can already read. It’s powered by a DIY friendly open standard of RFID. This 50 pack is more than enough to get an organizational head start.

TigerTag Maker 50 Pack

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The nuclear option for fusing PLA parts together. While standard superglue leaves a messy white residue that ruins the finish, Gloop chemically welds the PLA, resulting in a bond so strong you have to sign a waiver just to buy the stuff. Okay that part isn’t quite true – there is an acknowledgement tick-box, but that’s more to do with it being a potent chemical for professional use. It’s ideal for folks you know print large-scale cosplay armor or multi-part statues who struggle with print durability. Gift responsibly.

3D Gloop! PLA Gloop

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Yes, it’s a dad joke printed on cotton. No, we aren’t apologizing for it. Juxtaposing the Flexi-Rex printable on the iconic Jurassic Park logo, it’s a comfortable, irreverent 3D printing gift by the filament wizards at Protopasta. Available in a handful of colors, sizes XS through 3XL.

Jurassic Print T-Shirt

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An XL-sized bottle of insurance against print bed adhesion-based failure, Magigoo is compatible with a variety of build plate types and printed materials, making it a universal salve for first-layer woes.  It comes in a practical roll-on applicator and releases prints when the plate cools, which is helpful. A sanity-saving stocking stuffer.

Magigoo

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Most 3D prints are black, white, or grey. This is a dull, undeniable fact. Cookiecad’s Dark Magic PLA tracks a little different, combining a mostly black PLA base material with deep blue glitter for an almost iridescent effect that subtly shimmers in the light.

Cookiecad Dark Magic PLA

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3DFuel’s Pro PCTG is the tougher, better-behaved cousin of PETG. It offers high impact resistance over that of regular PETG, with printability approaching that of PLA (which is to say ‘it’s easy’). It’s available in a wide range of colors, notably the “toolbox” series which matches major powertools’ signature colors, such as the Makita-like teal pictured above. A spool of this is a gift that says, “I respect that you actually build useful things.”

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Besides giving their printer a punchy pop of color, Biqu CryoGrip Pro build plates offer excellent print bed adhesion, particularly at lower temperatures, letting them save energy as well as go about their business knowing their print won’t fail from a failed first layer. Take note of the different plate texture (Glacier and Frostbite; fine and coarse) and size options – most popular printers are covered – and use express shipping for delivery before Christmas.

Biqu CryoGrip Pro Build Plate

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Bambu Lab’s CyberBrick self-build toy ecosystem includes everything they need to print and assemble fully remote controlled vehicles, contraptions, devices and other gadgety toys – either on-rails according to a library of fully documented projects, or completely according to their own designs and imagination. While it’s not strictly recommended for young kids, I managed to bring mine along for the ride building two SoccerBot cars like the one pictured above. The Ultimate Hardware Kit contains everything you need for two controllers and two vehicles.

Bambu Lab CyberBrick Ultimate Hardware Kit

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Wet filament is the enemy of joy. Well, maybe not joy – but it is annoying. Fortunately, such compromised filament is salvageable, and the Polymaker PolyDryer is one system that can help them do it. It comes in two parts: a storage box and dryer dock unit. Independently, the box is a stackable, sealable filament storage tub that keeps filament protected from moisture in the air. Attaching the dryer dock lets you actively dry the filament inside. Boxes can be bought separately, with the dryer dock jumping between to dry as needed. It’s an elegant, scalable system that’s spawned a universe of community-made addons and mods.

Polymaker PolyDryer

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For the long-distance printerer who pushes their printing to the limit (of a spool). If they’ve ever complained to you about a spool ruinously running out mid-print, this is for them. The Infinity Flow S1+ is a modular gizmo that complements their printer, seamlessly feeding a fresh spool as one runs out, paving the way to theoretically infinite printing.

Infinity Flow S1 Plus Automatic Filament Reloader

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Building a 3D printer from scratch is a major, but rewarding, time investment – it’s a right of passage for some. This kit 3D printer from Prusa Research gives them a massive head-start, including everything needed for a full 3D printer with fully illustrated, clearly written instructions and heaps of helpful guides to get it across the line. The reward at the end is the brand’s iconic MK4S 3D printer – fast and feature-packed, and coming with a detailed user handbook, and bonus Haribo gummy bears to sustain the builder throughout. There’s even the possibility to keep the fun going and enhance it further with the multicolor-enabling MMU3 device, or even upgrade it to the Core One+.

Original Prusa MK4S

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Gravity is merely a suggestion for this foldable, portable 3D printer that prints upside-down, and can shrink down to fit in a small box. It’s weird, wonderful, and an absolute marvel of compact engineering. Unlike the Prusa kit recommended above, the Positron shouldn’t be a first printer. The 3D printed components required can be bought extra, but half the fun of this one is in customizing the appearance with printed parts in the color of your choice; better they print it themselves. Perfect for that someone in your life you could imagine printing something in a hotel room. Upside down.

LDO Positron v3.2 3D Printer Kit

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Is it inappropriate to refer to a gadget as a gateway drug? As far a crass metaphors go, the Bambu Lab A1 Mini really is it for 3D printing. It’s inexpensive, compact, effortlessly usable, and even the most technologically illiterate family member could whip up fabulous prints with it in no time. If they know how to use a smartphone, then the A1 Mini will delight them. There’s room to grow with the AMS Lite multicolor addon too, which grants the A1 Mini the ability to print with four different filaments in one print.

Bambu Lab A1 Mini Learn more

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