3D printing has impacted many industries and made custom manufacturing easier and cheaper than ever before. Frames for glasses and sunglasses are no different, and the customizability of 3D printing means you can ensure a perfect fit!
In this article, we’ll start by sharing our favorite frame designs to 3D print. If you see a pair you like but don’t have the means to print it yourself, check out Craftcloud by All3DP. With a range of materials and finishes available, your dream frames can show up on your doorstep after a few simple clicks.
Finally, we’ll highlight some pioneering eyewear companies leveraging 3D scanning and printing technologies to produce beautifully-crafted glasses.
Without further ado, let’s take a look.
To Print
First up, we’ve found a fun range of frames to start your search for the perfect pair of glasses. Some of these will require metal pins or screws to hold the arms in place, while others have clever hingeless solutions! Of course, you’ll also need some lenses, which can be laser cut, but if you wear prescription ones this part is probably best left to the professionals.
Screwless
First off, the designer of these simple frames was tired of buying new glasses every time they accidentally broke. So, using Onshape and a 3D printer, they decided to create their own! These frames were based on the designer’s existing lenses, but the Onshape file is linked from the Thingiverse page in case you want to make some adjustments before printing.
Instead of using screws to connect the arms, these glasses have holes for pieces of 1.75-mm filament, so there’s no messing about with tiny screws. The designer suggests printing them flat on the print bed, then using a hairdryer to curve the frames to perfectly fit your face!
- Who designed it? ericsko
- How printable/popular is it? This neat design has 31 recorded makes and 31 remixes. With heaps of comments and successful makes, you can totally print these!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Simple
These stunning sunglasses would work just as well with prescription or blue-light lenses. The designer of this model laser cut their own lenses and has listed the details and brand of lenses they used if you’re equipped to take on that challenge.
These stylish frames were printed using a wood PLA that gives an amazing finish. As a guide, the print took about 3 hours at 30 mm/s with a 75% infill. Unlike the previous model, these glasses will require hinges to assemble, but they should only cost a couple of dollars.
Child-Size
Children and glasses can be a hazardous combination. Even careful kids can have accidents that result in an expensive trip to the optometrist!
These frames print from three files, with the left and right arms pre-defined, so there shouldn’t need to be any shaping after they’re printed. Scale the design to fit your growing child’s head and avoid the cost of constant replacements!
- Who designed it? Frank
- How printable/popular is it? Almost 400 Printables users have downloaded this pint-size design and the makers have published a remix.
- Where to find it? Printables
Textured
These aviator-style glasses will make your Top Gun dreams come true. The interesting texture on the surface of these frames was achieved by the simple trick of printing them front-side down on a textured metal built plate!
The frames are designed with a groove to easily insert lenses, and the designer suggests using a lighter to warm the earpieces for the perfect fit.
- Who designed it? flol3622
- How printable/popular is it? Two makers have shared their successful prints and mentioned that it was fast to print but will take some adjustment for a good fit. Almost 450 people have downloaded it.
- Where to find it? Printables
Cat Eye
This cat-eye glasses design will look good on a variety of face shapes. According to the designer, these glasses were created for “independent minds who have an eye for fashion”.
You’ll only need 15 grams of material for these funky frames, which are listed as very easy to print. The model is support-free, and you’ll want to print it at a medium infill percentage. If you have a smaller print bed, you might need to place the model diagonally to get it to fit.
- Who designed it? M Badia
- How printable/popular is it? These cat-eye frames have over 15,000 views as well as over 1,300 downloads. There’s also a community print from a very satisfied and stylish maker!
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Bendable
These next frames have thin arms that can bend and twist to fit many different head sizes. If you want a more colorful frame, it’s easy to swap the arms out to mix and match!
These frames come in two different versions to accommodate different lens thicknesses. The designer printed in ABS, but another maker had success printing in PLA. The model is listed as an easy print that should take less than an hour, and it only needs 8 grams of material.
- Who designed it? fbillowes
- How printable/popular is it? These bendable frames have over 7,000 views as well as over 500 downloads. There’s also one community make posted that looks great!
- Where to get it? MyMiniFactory
Sunglasses
If you’re going for a retro look, these are the frames for you. Although they’re designed for sunglasses, there’s no reason you couldn’t use them for regular glasses as well.
You won’t need supports for the main part of the frames, though you might want to activate them for the arms. As with one of the previous designs, you may need to position the model diagonally on your print bed to get it to fit.
- Who designed it? M Badia
- How printable/popular is it? This frame has over 25,000 views as well as over 2,600 downloads. There’s one community print that was done successfully in PETG.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Rectangular
This is another pair of glasses that was created out of necessity, this time because the designer’s old pair was chewed by a dog! This design includes tabs and a small lip to hold the lenses in place.
There’s a small overhang where the hinges attach, so you can print with supports if you prefer. It’s also suggested to print with at least a 25% infill. Once printed, you can use a hairdryer to bend the frames for a better fit across the nose and around the ears.
- Who designed it? thedrunkpenguin
- How printable/popular is it? This design has 1 recorded make and over 3,000 downloads.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Print-in-Place
These print-in-place glasses frames have bendable hinges, so no extra parts are needed! No hinges means no wobbly arms, but it does also mean that these glasses won’t fold down completely.
Because this design prints in a single piece, you’ll definitely need supports activated. While the pictured frames were successfully printed in PLA, for stronger bendable hinges, you might prefer to have this printed with an SLS printer through a 3D printing service.
- Who designed it? Sacha_Zacaropoulos
- How printable/popular is it? This print-in-place frame design has more than 35,000 views and 2,100 downloads.
- Where to find it? Cults
Flat
These flat glasses frames are very lightweight and are perfect as a backup pair for activities that require a lot of movement. They were created more for novelty value than as a working pair of glasses, but that doesn’t make them any less functional!
The model is made up of seven different parts that you can print and assemble. Luckily, you’ll only need some glue and a paper clip for the hinges. The source files are also supplied if you want to make any modifications.
- Who designed it? langfordw
- How printable/popular is it? This flat frame design has 4 recorded makes, 3 remixes, and over 6,000 downloads.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Angular
These geometric-looking frames were created as part of the #DesignItWright challenge to design glasses for famous English footballer (and renowned glasses-wearer) Ian Wright. The arms of these glasses feature a clever cut-out of a cannon, inspired by the logo of the Arsenal “Gunners”.
The model is listed as a medium-complexity print. Print these in a proud red and gift them to an Arsenal supporter! Or, with a bit of tweaking, you could adapt the cut-out to a symbol of your choice.
- Who designed it? The Design Bandit
- How printable/popular is it? These football-inspired frames have over 3,400 views as well as 100 downloads.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Lens-free
These frames were inspired by the lens-free glasses trend, but plenty of makers have successfully added lenses. You’ll need a small axle for the hinges, but a paper clip works just fine.
The design is easily scalable for you to find the perfect size for your face. The SketchUp files are supplied if you want to make some adjustments before you hit print. One maker posted a great print of this design in carbon fiber filament.
- Who designed it? SwFL3D
- How printable/popular is it? This minimalistic frame design has 16 recorded makes, 5 remixes, and over 14,000 downloads.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Blinking Cat
If you’re a fan of Halloween you’ll love this unique design. These glasses use an iris mechanism to open and close, giving the model a feline look. All parts snap together, so you won’t need glue or fasteners. Whether you desire a realistic look or maybe a steampunk one, you choose different colors that match your style.
They’re really easy to print since the designer was kind enough to design built-in supports and write a detailed description of print settings and instructions for the assembly process. Following the suggestion of the creator, you should orient the lower halves of the hemispherical pieces so that the fan is blowing on their exterior for smooth results.
- Who designed it? LoboCNC
- How printable/popular is it? Almost 300 people have downloaded it and 3 makers have shared their glasses. A remix has been posted too.
- Where to find it? Printables
Happy Birthday
If you want to be the most stylish one at your next birthday party, you can’t miss these glasses. Weighing only 21 grams, they’re fast to print and incredibly fun with the bobbling letters “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”. And the best part is that they fit even on a Prusa Mini build plate!
You should be able to print them flawlessly without any special print settings. The only thing you should pay attention to is the adhesion to the build plate since the front piece is intricate and there are a lot of small parts that can warp or cause stringing. A few makers have recommended using PETG for its flexibility.
- Who designed it? rorys3D
- How printable/popular is it? Almost 200 people have downloaded this funky pair and 4 makes were published, with makers giving this model a 4.5-star score!
- Where to find it? Printables
Bonus: Cat
This isn’t a pair of glasses you’ll want to fit lenses to, but we couldn’t resist these adorable kitty frames! Not just for cats, these quick-to-print frames could be used for any pet, a child’s toy, or just any object you want to add some personality to.
- Who designed it? Neolker
- How printable/popular is it? 26 makers have shared photos of cats in their stylish new glasses. Not all of them look pleased about it, though!
- Where to find it? Printables
To Buy
If you like the idea of 3D printed frames but would rather leave your eyewear to the professionals, there are a few companies that can give you the best of both worlds! Here we have companies using 3D scanning and printing technologies to revolutionize the optical industry.
Klenze & Baum
Klenze & Baum is one of the largest 3D printed glasses companies out there at the moment. One of the most interesting features of their products is their patented ball hinge that enables the temple to yield or even dislocate if overstressed instead of breaking.
Their inventory includes different collections of polyamide SLS 3D printed glasses, available in up to 10 colors. Thanks to this design choice, the weight of the frames is surprisingly low. You can even customize your hinge and lens colors, choosing the style that best suits you.
Unfortunately, you can’t buy a pair of these online yet, but they have over 200 stores in Europe and a few shops in Asia! Additionally, if you don’t find any model that fits you perfectly in their inventory, you can customize the frames to match your exact dimensions.
Götti
Götti is a Swiss high-end eyewear manufacturer that uses additive manufacturing in some of their frames and other glasses accessories. The brand’s long-time fans include Oprah Winfrey, who has worn the frames in high-profile interviews with public figures like Lady Gaga and Barack Obama. The company came to global attention in 2021, when Oprah wore a pair of Götti glasses during her interview with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
Frames from Götti’s Dimension collection are printed using SLS technology and then finished by DyeMansion with their print2product workflow. This manufacturing process was first introduced by Götti in 2014, making them one of the first eyewear brands to incorporate 3D printing into their products.
Unlike some online-only glasses brands, these frames are available from a large network of retailers all over the world. Despite the prestige, the products aren’t all that expensive when compared to standard designer frames.
Rolf
Rolf is an Austrian manufacturer that produces high-quality glasses with a focus on sustainability. Their philosophy is to reduce their impact on the planet by rethinking processes and materials. They offer frames from renewable or plant-based materials including wood, stone, and beans.
Perhaps the most unique collection they offer is Bean Glasses. Starting with castor beans, an oil is extracted and then converted to a biopolymer powder. With the help of a binding agent, the powder is 3D printed into a pair of stylish spectacles! This material makes their models extremely lightweight and durable. Equipped with Rolf’s patented “flexilock” – a screwless hinge – these frames are built to last.
You can’t buy their products online yet, but you can find them in eyewear shops all over Europe and a few in major cities in the US.
Hoet
Hoet is a Belgian company that 3D prints titanium and polyamide to create their unique eyewear frames. They feature 23 modern and beautiful “Couture” frames at the moment, available in a natural metallic color or with a black or red copper coating.
Their glasses are produced with SLS on a made-to-order basis. Thanks to their material, the glasses are rust-free and anti-allergic. This way of manufacturing opens the possibility of customization through name tags and decor elements to make your glasses even more stylish, for example with mounted diamonds, or gold or platinum inserts.
You can buy one of their pairs in their shops all over Belgium. At the moment they have 35 stores. Unfortunately, you can’t buy them online yet but you can contact them for additional information through their website.
Monoqool
Monoqool is a Danish 3D printed glasses frame retailer and manufacturer that has a variety of unique styles to choose from. Check out their collection to see what’s on offer.
Monoqool glasses are sintered in 0.1-mm layers to achieve beautiful detail. The lightweight materials used mean their frames are ultra-light, with some designs weighing just 6 grams. Their frames are also screwless, so no need to worry about tightening.
The only downside is, you can’t buy these beautiful frames online, but with stockists all over the world you’re sure to find somewhere nearby. If not, their incredible range of shapes and colors is good to look at for inspiration!
Mykita
Mykita is a modern eyewear maker that started in Berlin but now sells its frames in major cities all around the globe. Using what they call “modern manufactory”, they produce glasses with a combination of high-tech manufacturing techniques and handicraft to ensure each item is of the highest quality.
One of the manufacturing methods they use is SLS to create frames from “Mylon”, their proprietary nylon-like material. Mylon is lightweight, durable, and supremely comfortable. Thanks to SLS technology, smaller details and intricacies can be incorporated into the design compared to the traditional cellulose acetate frames.
You can get your own pair from their online shop but keep in mind they currently only ship to Europe and North America. However, they do have a handful of stores and retailers in Asia as well.
License: The text of "3D Printed Glasses: The Best Models & Brands of 2023" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.