40 Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less)
40 Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less)
Fed up with print jobs that need two days to complete? Forget about it! Here are 40 easy and fun things to 3D print in less than 60 minutes
We’re all busy people. Sometimes we haven’t the time to wait for days and days before a print job is finished. And worse still is if the print job gets all futzed up at the eleventh hour and you have to start all over again.
No. Sometimes, we want to print something just for fun, something which won’t take longer than an hour. Here are 40 easy and fun things to 3D print that are so simple, they’ll be finished less than 60 minutes.
These timings have been checked for accuracy on an Original Prusa i3 MK3 or, but keep in mind that some 3D printers will perform faster than others, and you’ll probably have tweaked your machine for optimal speed and settings.
To stay within our self-imposed parameters, the majority of these items should be printed at 200 microns with 20% infill, except where specified otherwise.
5 Easy Steps to 3D Print Easy & Fun Things
- Browse this list of fun things to 3D print for inspiration and ideas. Go ahead, take your time, we’ll be here when you get back.
- Download the STL file for your chosen model. Click on the link to take you to the site where the files are hosted, and you can download them absolutely free. Please note that some sites may require registration before you can download.
- Slice the STL file to prepare it for 3D printing. Whether you use an open source application like Cura or a paid solution like Simplify3D, slicing is a critical step for the quality of your model. Open the STL file and tinker with settings like infill, layer height, and supports.
- Convert the STL file into GCode after you’re done slicing. Save the GCode and upload it to your 3D printer, either using a USB cable, an SD card, or a network connection. Now get printing!
- Alternatively, use a 3D printing service if you don’t have access to a 3D printer. Simply upload the STL files to Craftcloud – 3D Printing & Price Comparsion Service by All3DP to have any of these things 3D printed in a variety of materials.
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Flexi Rex
Flexi Rex has a history almost as rich as the dinosaurs he was modeled after. He was originally conceived as a drop-in enhancement for the legendary board-game “Settlers of Catan”. Designed by Zheng3, the original Robber Rex was a humorous little model. Now finessed through a series of remixes, we have the Flexi Rex, which adds links to make him bendable. You can also print Flexi Rex in two colors using a dual-extrusion 3D printer, though that will lengthen the production time.
Who made it: Alexander Thomas
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Proteus Key Holder
This is a key holder in the style of a Swiss Army penknife. Simply print each half and then assemble together with your keys using a set of nuts and bolts. For this particular project, it’s recommended that you raise the infill to 75% minimum. That will increase the print time past the 1-hour threshold we’ve set ourselves, but you can definitely fabricate a sample model with lower infill in under an hour.
Who made it: Protean Man
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) 3DBenchy
The jolly 3D printing torture test is totally worthy of inclusion here. Not only is it a pretty little steamboat, it’s also been carefully designed to test and calibrate the settings on your 3D printer. We’re literally drowning in them here at All3DP, because they’re so reliable for quickly assessing the capabilities of the 3D printers that come into our workshop for review.
Who made it: CreativeTools
Where to download: YouMagine
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) V29 Survival Whistle
Make some noooooooise with this 3D printed whistle. It emits a pitch of 118db! Suitable for use by lifeguards, traffic cops, school teachers, and party animals. It takes about an hour and a half to print with the recommended 100% infill at 200 microns. But you can further reduce the print time by printing it at 300 microns instead.
Who made it: Joe Zisa
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Sunglasses Visor Clip
A simple but effective life hack for stashing your sunnies out of harm’s way in your car. This 3D printed clip is in the shape of a “U” and attaches to the sun visor, with an open loop to hold the arms of the sunglasses. Quick, simple and clever. We like!
Who made it: Trevor Long
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Earbud Case
Those precious ear-buds need better care than being stuffed into your bag or pocket, where they might crash into coins, keys and lint and come off the worse for wear. Print this excellent little spool design, which protects the jack and phones, whilst keeping the cord free of tangles.
Who made it: Walter Hsiao
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Strong Carabiner
This is an ultra useful item to 3D print – a carabiner with a strong frame and a flex door design which uses a split hinge to open and close. It prints quick and easy with no supports; simply arrange two items on the single build tray. While this carabiner is capable of carrying loads of up to 30kg, it’s not suitable for use in activities such as climbing. Absolutely no way should you even think about doing that.
Who made it: Brian Kay
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Turbine Faucet Watersaver
We can’t say with certainty that this dinky little turbine is going to help you save on your water bills. But what it will deliver is a neat sprinkler effect, dispersing the water in a wide arc so that you can clean your dishes/hands/whatever more quickly.
Who made it: Luis Gonzalez
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Cable Holder
Keeping wires and cables out of harm’s way is a problem experienced by every modern desk jockey. This nifty cable holder is the solution. It comes in three variations; one sized for smartphone cables, one standard for fixing in place and another that can be weighed down with coins.
Who made it: Bardia Zadeh
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Micro Catapult
This is a great little toy for the office or classroom; a print-in-place micro catapult which can lob tiny nuggets of ammo. The maker reckons it can hit targets up to two meters away. The smart feature is that you can lock the catapult in place until you’ve loaded it up and are ready to fire. The “spring” mechanism relies on the flexibility of the material. In those terms, a less brittle filament like ABS or PETG is most suitable.
Who made it: Luke Tansell
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Credit Card Cutlery
Let’s imagine you want to spontaneously chow down on a big plate of currywurst and chips. No cutlery? No problem, whip out these credit card sized utensils from your wallet, press out the knife and fork, and enjoy your meal. Also comes with a spork variation, so you have all your bases covered.
Standard caveats about 3D printing and food apply. Firstly, fabricate with a non-toxic filament like PLA or PETG to avoid contaminating your food. Secondly, this is an item designed for single use only. Microbes have a habit of getting stuck in the tiny crevices between layers.
Who made it: Mike Fasig
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Keychain Smartphone Stand
This is a small, practical and funky keychain that doubles as a stand for your smartphone. Available as one of six different creatures, ranging from a dragon to a hippo to a cat, this is a model that’s incredibly easy to make in an hour or less.
Who made it: Sonia Verdu
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Shark Comb
Coif your locks into a towering sharknado with this snazzy grooming tool. What if you have shoulder-length hair? You’re gonna need a bigger comb.
Who made it: Faberdashery
Where to download: YouMagine
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Spirograph Set
Relive those distant memories of childhood – or create fresh ones with your little ones – with this fun toy for drawing geometric figures. It’s simple to print, but it guarantees hours of fun. Pen and paper not included.
Who made it: Valdis Torms
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Simple Toothpaste Squeezer
Moving to the bathroom, this item is perhaps the most useful thing on this list. It’s also the quickest to make. It’s a simple toothpaste squeezer to maximize your dental hygiene. Also, don’t forget to floss.
Who made it: Randall Smith
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) One Hand Book Holder
If you happen to be grappling with A Song of Ice and Fire – or some other monster tome – then you’re going to need some help keeping those pages propped open. Enter the one hand book holder, an uncomplicated solution made possible through the miraculous wizardry of 3D printing. Signal the banner-men for House Filament!
Who made it: Daniel Gross
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Smart One-Handed Bottle Opener
Trying to improve on the basic design of a bottle opener is a favorite pastime of the maker scene. Case in point is this one-handed bottle opener. Because, hey, using two hands to open that beer is one hand too many.
Who made it: Tino Kaartovuori
Where to download: YouMagine
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Book Owls
Another quick 3D printing project for lovers of literary pursuits are these owl-shaped bookmarks. They come in two sizes (for big books and little books). Whether the tale is filled with characters fair or fowl, these items will leave readers hooting with pleasure.
Who made it: Faberdashery
Where to download: YouMagine
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Men's Wallet
This is a collection of wallets with geometric patterns and branding, each of which can be individually customized or resized. Each wallet is printed flat, as a single sheet, which can then be folded into shape.
Who made it: XYZWorkshop
Where to download: YouMagine
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Touring Bike Business Card
After you’ve printed a wallet, queue up this business card next. Why? Because it’s a miniature clip-out model card of a touring bike. Fits perfectly inside your new wallet, ready to amaze and delight your friends.
Who made it: katsuhiko kikkawa
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Mini Folding Knife
Constantly in need of a pocket knife? Get this credit card-sized Mini Folding Knife Assembly Kit. It may not be quite as reliable as your Swiss Army knife, but you will certainly impress your friends with this handy kit that can be assembled and folded. The printing time is a bit over an hour, but the extra minutes can compensate for an emergency case use. The model includes a serrated and non-serrated file. Some post-printing work will be required, as you need a flat and rounded finish to fit the parts together. Still, it’s basically a survival kit in a business card. How cool is that?
Who made it: PRima
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Puzzle Key Hook
This puzzle version of a key holder, which can keep up with an expanding key collection, will bring an interesting (and useful) aesthetic to your home’s entrance. Additionally, it allows for a periodic reorganization. The fact that the parts in principle do not require much post processing and that extra pieces can be printed as needed is a great plus.
Who made it: Patrick Sieber (Ricky 1982)
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Fidget Cube
Forget about stress, anxiety or lack of concentration with this 3D printed fidget cube. Scale the files to 800% and print at 25% infill. Printing in two different colors would certainly improve the optics of your cube, but this may increase your printing time. This print is recommended for printers that can perform overhangs and bridges wells, otherwise, the cube may be contra productive and result in increased stress over the poor print.
Who made it: Cthig (Collier Thigpen)
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Hanging Photoframe
Get a fast and fun print to decorate your space with floating photos. This print takes just under an hour of printing time and lets you feature your memories in a minimalist way. The lack of post processing (aside from the installation) is an added value when it comes to time requirements.
Who made it: Tosh
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Simple Earring-Fast Print
With an infill density of 20% and a printing time under half an hour, these 3D printed earrings are a perfect last-minute present. You just need to add the final accessories to the earring structure. Bonus point, you can scale it to different sizes and include a necklace with the same design.
Who made it: Daniel Salinas
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Fast Release Earbud Wrap Designer v2.4
Just because we love credit card size products, here’s another one. This flat storage would be an ideal earbud wrapping solution. It’s easy to pack away when not in use and it has customizable options, all of which makes it a convenient must-have item. Its print time is about 40 minutes, but it will certainly save you some minutes every day when unwrapping your earbuds.
Who made it: Brian Alang
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) IPad and Tablet-Table Stand
These simple but strong stands offer an easy to carry solution for keeping your tablet or iPad upright. Print two and use one at each end of your device. It works regardless of brand/type, so save yourself the hassle of buying expensive supports with this quick print. It can, however, offer only one inclination angle.
Who made it: Luz Pinheiro
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Classic LEGO Brick
LEGO bricks are already fun on their own, but how much more fun is it to 3D print them yourself? For about half an hour per piece, you can extend your collection with a wide range of bricks offered. This is also a great solution for that one missing brick in your LEGO masterpiece. The files include a variety of sizes. For a larger offer of LEGO bricks (under and over an hour) check Fantastic LEGO to 3D Print.
Who made it: Ben Peters
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Easy Chopstick
If you use your chopsticks like a fork and stab your sushi rather than daintily pick it up, here your salvation. This easy chopstick help (cheat) is here to save the day. Carry extra pieces for your friend to make this handy helper less judged. With a print time of only about 20 minutes, you will have enough time to squeeze in a fast print for a last-minute lunch invite. Even though this might not be a must-have for many folks, there’s certainly some who could make great use of it.
Who made it: Andres Canan
Where to download: MyMiniFactory
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) The Thork
Tired of getting cheese fingers when snacking on Cheetos? The Thork is here to save a romantic Netflix evening from the dust of finger food. It has an easy print and assembly, and its printing time is only an hour. However, be aware that for using it with food related products you should print it with an antibacterial filament and wash it thoroughly every time it’s used. You don’t even have to use it exclusively for spearing Cheetos. They have different uses, like petting your cat (if he/she will allow it) or using it in a mini Zen garden. So multifunctional!
Who made it: Trevor Day Enterprise XD Design
Where to download: MyMiniFactory
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Can Handles
This can handle will take an extra 20 minutes after the hour, but you’d save yourself from getting cold fingers and a warm beer/soda. It has an added bonus of being an ice breaker, since you can (humble) brag about your 3D printing prowess with friends and strangers. Be sure to test it out beforehand to ensure that its dimension fit the local can dimensions and that your print offers sturdy support. It would be a shame to spill your drink all over yourself!
Who made it: Bruceeckerput
Where to download: MyMiniFactory
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Web Camera Cover
A super-fast print to keep you away from surveillance. This print can be the solution for your privacy concerns, giving a classier cover than tape and post-its on your computer’s camera. Additionally, you won’t have to remove your entire cover each time that you are up for video calls.
Who made it: HorizonLab
Where to download: Cults3D
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Atomic Dice
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Spiral Heart Pendant
This unique piece of jewelry is a great fast print for your loved one. Combine showing someone you care while putting your 3D printer a good use. You can also personalize your present by printing this pendant in your partner’s favorite color – just get a suitable necklace for a proper finish. Depending on your jewelry skills, you could further customize this design to get a nice companion set of earrings.
Who made it: Ideamx
Where to download: Cults3D
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Christmas Reindeer Kit Card
Even though the Christmas season is over, this credit card size reindeer card can be a fun gift to entertain kids. Who needs real credit cards when you can have dozens of fun designs instead? Bonus points if you keep these in your 3D-printed wallet.
Who made it: Tony Short
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Green Lantern Ring
“In the brightest day,
In the blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight.
Let those who worship evil’s might
Beware of my power:
Green Lantern’s 3D printed light!”
This piece will only take over half an hour, with multiple sizes included. For consistency, 3D printing in green is suggested.
Who made it: Matthew Hellmer
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Deathly Hallows Ring
Master death with this Deathly Hallows ring. With the power of the Elder Wand, the invisibility of the cloak and the resurrection stone, this 3D printed ring would be a terrific acquisition for any of Harry Potter’s fans. The results of the print are, however, dependent on the filament used and your printer’s capabilities.
Who made it: Jose Manuel Sanchez Ramirez
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Customizable Coin Trap
If you are wondering why you would need a coin trap, Laura Taalman envisions it for those uncomfortable occasions when you lose a bet. Sure, you’ll pay up when you lose the bet, but good luck getting that money out! You can also immortalize your own successful bets or keep your lucky penny safe. The author provided STL files preloaded with the diameters of all US coins and the 10 top world currencies. You can also enter the coin diameters manually.
Who made it: Laura Taalman
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Dachshund by Picasso
This fun design is for fans of the pencil animal drawings by Picasso. It is a fast and easy print that will be done in less than 15 minutes. Print it at 20% infill.
Who made it: Zac Fenigshtien
Where to download: Thingiverse
Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less) Pom Pom Maker
This is an easy way to make pom poms while avoiding labor-intensive knitting sets. It consists of two doughnut-shaped structures. The printing time for the medium size file is about an hour, but the result will provide days of fun. Print two of whichever size you choose (five sizes are available). The system is pretty simple, and it is intended for kids from 6 years old on.
Who made it: Rob W Lakes
Where to download: Thingiverse
Image credits: All images copyright their respective owners.