If you have a 3D printer (or two) at home, why not use it to print gadgets that’ll simplify your life? We’re talking about printing your own life hacks, whether they take the form of simple single parts or complex mechanical devices.
Here, we’ve gathered some tried-and-true gadgets you can easily print at home. And if you’ve got the perfect time-saving gadget in mind but don’t have the means or desire to print it yourself, head over to Craftcloud. With a range of materials and finishes to choose from, your perfect custom gadget can be delivered right to your door with just a few clicks.
Let’s see what gadgets are out there to offer solutions to life’s little challenges!
Tech Accessories
First up, we have some handy little accessories to upgrade your devices, whether that’s mounting a camera, accessorizing a phone, or just taking care of your charging cables!
Tripod
Do you ever want to take that perfect photo but don’t have someone to take it for you? Well, this camera tripod should do the trick!
A simple, hassle-free model to 3D print, this will come in handy and will be easy to store as it doesn’t take up much space.
The design is made up of nine parts that, when put together, have an open and adjustable screw mount at the top. With this, you could fit a camera, phone, GoPro, or any other device you’d like. You’ll need a few non-printable parts, too, including a 4-mm screw.
- Who designed it? Djanba
- How printable/popular is it? This multi-use tripod has almost 4,300 downloads and over 29,000 views.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
SD & USB Holder
All of us have plenty of data to store in this technological era, with USB keys, SD cards, and MicroSDs lying around. What about a safe place to organize them? With this model, you won’t lose your data anymore, and you’ll be able to conveniently take your USBs and SD cards with you while traveling.
The model consists of two parts that screw together, so you can have fun mixing colors! For this reason, proper tolerances are crucial to assemble the holder. If you have problems screwing the halves together, check your retraction settings, as blobs can worsen your printer tolerances.
- Who designed it? Markus_p
- How printable/popular is it? 14 makers have shared their beautiful holders, giving this design a 4.5-star evaluation.
- Where to find it? Printables
Portable Cable Organizer
When it comes to cables, how annoying is it when you roll them up neatly and then find them knotted? Here is the solution: a simple yet smart cable organizer that allows you to tidy up your cables and take them with you on a journey.
The creator has uploaded three different sizes of the model, so you can choose the one that suits your needs the best. If you’re unsure which version to print first, the designer recommends trying the medium one. Furthermore, you can pick between two different looks: smooth or knurled.
This handy model is a print-in-place design, and lots of people have already printed it with success, so you shouldn’t encounter any issues. In case you have a hard time getting the winder to move, try checking your bed leveling.
- Who designed it? squinn
- How printable/popular is it? This is one the most popular items on our list, with a whopping 50,000 downloads combined from both sites and over 800 makes shared on Printables alone!
- Where to find it? MakerWorld, Printables
Laptop Stand
Laptops are great tools, but they can be a little inconvenient to use sometimes. Especially when working on them for long periods, back pain and stiff neck are around the corner due to the monitor height. With this laptop support, you won’t have to worry about it anymore!
This stand prints in three pieces: two arms and a base. The parts should simply snap together, but if you find the tolerances are a bit loose, use some glue.
You can print it with two walls, 15% infill, and PLA filament if you plan to use it at home. On the other hand, if you think you’ll use it at the park or in your garden, consider printing it in an outdoor-friendly filament, such as PETG or ASA.
- Who designed it? Mihai_T
- How printable/popular is it? Over 1,300 people have downloaded this stand and more than 450 have left a thumbs up for it.
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
Liftpod
Gone are the days when you had to rely on a store to get a versatile support for your desktop and tabletop devices. In this project, even the screws are made through 3D printing, and you’ll have greater stability thanks to the double support arms compared to other single-arm stands.
This model allows for a bit more versatility than the earlier one. And if the design doesn’t meet your requirements right off the bat, there are several optional components like object holders, a phone clamp, a table clamp, parts for metal screws and nuts, and a reinforced easy-lock edition for heavier devices. In all of these, the author recommends using teeth-locking washers to prevent falls. The recommended print settings include a layer height of 0.2 mm, four outer walls, and at least 35% infill; to make assembly easier, no supports are needed.
- Who designed it? HeyVye
- How printable/popular is it? 39 makes and 23 remixes on Thingiverse alone make it clear that it’s easy to make one of these!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Cults
Charging Outlet Shelf
Do you ever need a quick phone charge, but the only outlet is too far off the ground? This gadget allows you to charge your phone no matter the position of the outlet. The model has an opening where the plug should fit through, and you can wrap any extra cable, too.
The designer advises printing with a 0.3-mm layer height as well as with 25% infill.
Cable Guard
The silicone casings on charging cables, especially iPhone cables, aren’t the strongest. If you’re not careful, the protective wrap can wear and tear, and you’ll need to replace it earlier than you want.
Specifically designed for iPhone chargers, this gadget goes around both ends of a cable. When attached, the gadget protects that vulnerable last bit of wire that’s often bent too much.
Several makers have successfully printed this in PLA, though a flexible filament like TPU might give you more maneuverability.
- Who designed it? Serge Romero
- How printable/popular is it? There are 4 posted community makes, and the model has over 20,000 downloads and 3,860 likes.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Customizable Cable Tie
This catch-all cable tie is customizable and can be configured to any size, depending on your needs and your printer’s build space. The creator has supplied the design file and activated the Customizer app, so you can easily alter the model to a specific size.
One maker posted that they successfully printed their tie with a 0.24-mm layer height and 20% infill. To function properly, you should print this tie in TPU or another flexible filament.
- Who designed it? rainers
- How printable/popular is it? This customizable cable tie has 14 recorded makes and over 45,000 downloads!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Around the House
Next, we have some prints that will help sort out your living space, whether in the kitchen, the bathroom, or your wardrobe!
Peephole Cover
Who doesn’t want to feel a little more secure and safe these days? Keep prying eyes away with this snap-together design. The peephole cover will do more than just block the light, it prevents others from looking back through your peephole as well!
With just four pieces, this clever design prints and assembles quickly. Watch it in action!
- Who designed it? Tjsangster
- How printable/popular is it? This privacy print has six makes and three remixes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Screw-on Bag Clip
This gadget is a bag clip with a screw cap on one side. When using it, you can keep a bag’s contents fresh and pour them out easily – it’s ideal for sleepy mornings or picnics! This design is a favorite for storing candy in the All3DP office!
The designer recommends printing with a 0.2-mm layer height, 10% infill, and 5 perimeters for stability. For the filament, PLA or PETG would work well, although depending on whether it’ll be in direct contact with food or not, you might want to check some food-safe filaments and facts.
- Who designed it? Minkix
- How printable/popular is it? This design has 30 makes and 13 remixes, so it’s clearly a popular model!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Chip Clip
Always running low on chip clips or having them break? Skip the trip to the store and print yourself a few of these! There are three different sizes of chip clips you can print, depending on your needs. Now there’s no more stale chips!
The designer says he has tried many different filaments, and PETG worked best. The chip clip should be printed with 100% infill and no supports.
- Who designed it? srwilson58
- How printable/popular is it? This chip clip has 202 makes, 19 remixes, and each file has over 149,000 downloads!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Bottle Opener & Cap Gun
There are many ways to open a bottle, and while some are quite unusual and even dangerous, this one stands out for the fun it brings. Conventional bottle openers often leave you picking up the cap from the floor, but this one, on the other hand, gives you the opportunity to show that you have a good enough aim to hit the target. Check out the demonstration video.
You’ll need a set of M3 screws, a rubber band, a 10-cent Euro coin or a 1-cent US coin, and a 12 x 2-mm neodymium magnet to assemble this piece, which, despite being a launcher, has a smooth shot and is designed not to resemble a weapon for safety reasons. To print this model, you’ll only need supports for the two halves, and it’s recommended to print the trigger solid and other parts with 30% infill.
- Who designed it? 3Deddy
- How printable/popular is it? With an incredible 96 makes, 15 remixes, and at least 267,000 downloads for each of its files, you won’t want to miss out on this clearly popular design!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Squeeze Fan
On hot summer days, some cool air is just what you need. This squeeze fan is a fun way to catch a breeze and cool down without a power source! It’s made of 11 3D printable parts that you can assemble using the provided diagram on the project page. Once assembled, all you have to do to use the fan is squeeze the handle and let the integrated gear mechanism do the work to keep you cool.
As the fan relies on a handful of 3D printed gears to function, the designer recommends printing the model in PETG or ABS rather than PLA, due to PLA’s weaker mechanical properties. The creator of this project also provided a few of the settings they used, including a 0.2-mm layer height and a 50% infill density.
- Who designed it? GeorgeZSL
- How printable/popular is it? This 3D printable squeeze fan has over 200 recorded makes, 17 remixes, as well as over 60,000 downloads combined from both sites! So many people have successfully made this gadget and you can too!
- Where to find it? Printables, Thingiverse
Toothpaste Squeezer
We all know the struggle of trying to get the last bit of toothpaste out of the tube. This three-part toothpaste squeezer allows you to use almost every last bit of toothpaste!
This design has been updated with new versions, so assembly is super easy; all you need to do is press the cylindrical piece inward to engage the lock and pull it out to disengage.
The designer hasn’t provided printing tips, but another maker successfully printed it with a raft, supports, and a 15% infill.
Buckle
Buckles are commonly found on backpacks, lanyards, and belts. However, they certainly aren’t invincible, and sometimes just setting a buckle down too hard can break it. This 3D printed replacement is coming to the rescue! This two-part buckle uses flexion motion to clip and unclip without breaking.
The designer listed the print as easy, and it should only take about two hours to create your own. The first part can be printed without supports, but the second part should have them activated.
- Who designed it? KarmaBK37
- How printable/popular is it? This buckle has around 1,500 likes as well as over 3,800 downloads!
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Vacuum Nozzles
Sometimes your vacuum cleaner’s nozzle just won’t fit into certain nooks and crannies of your house or car. Instead of buying attachments online, you can just print these! The designer has included over 500 variations for different vacuum cleaners, so you’re bound to find some that fit yours.
The designer said that even if none of the models fit your specific vacuum, you can customize your own or let him know, and he can generate it.
- Who designed it? Max
- How printable/popular is it? These vacuum nozzles have 85 makes, 3 remixes, and more than 15,000 downloads.
- Where to find it? Printables
Book Finger Ring
This gadget is for those devoted book readers who want a more comfortable way to hold their books open. It’s essentially a ring that goes on your thumb, so with just one digit, you can easily see both pages.
The designer suggests printing the ring with at least a 10% infill and supports and a raft activated. This small gadget is listed as an easy print.
You can watch the creator of this gadget design the model in a YouTube video.
- Who designed it? maakmake
- How printable/popular is it? This simple and useful ring has 1 community print, more than 2,000 downloads, and has been viewed over 12,000 times.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Belt Clip
If you wear belts a lot, then you probably know the pain of having that slightly too-long belt that doesn’t quite make it to the next loop. This gadget is a straightforward clip that secures any extra belt length. Such a simple idea and yet so useful!
It should be a quick and easy print, so make one in each color to match all your belts for an invisible fix!
- Who designed it? DanielNoree
- How printable/popular is it? This belt clip model has over 5,400 views and around 320 downloads.
- Where to find it? Cults
On the Go
Whether you’re just going for a stroll with your pup or you’re going on an adventure, these next models will come in handy.
Keychain Phone Stand
Sometimes trying to relax with a movie can have the opposite effect when you can’t get a good phone angle or your hands get tired of holding your device, especially if you’re traveling. Lucky for you, this gadget will keep your phone in place so you can comfortably watch whatever you want.
This gadget can fit right onto your keyring, lanyard, or keychain. The project page has five different animal options that you can see in the designer’s YouTube video. These small gadgets, about 20 x 20 x 22 mm, are a quick print and use just a small amount of filament.
- Who designed it? Shira
- How printable/popular is it? This keychain phone stand has over 680 prints from the sites combined.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory, Thingiverse, Printables
Glasses Car Clip
We all know the feeling of going out in summer and forgetting our sunglasses at home. If you can’t stand driving without them, or you need eyeglasses, this is the perfect solution for you. This simple print clips over the sunshade over your car and keeps your glasses at hand whenever you need them.
Since the clip will be exposed to the sun, you should avoid PLA and opt for PETG or ASA, as these filaments withstand heat and ultraviolet rays better. To prevent the deflection of the print, you should also print it with 100% infill and three perimeters. Finally, you don’t need supports for this print, but if you desire a clean look on the first few layers, the designer suggests activating “Supports on build plate only”.
- Who designed it? celta
- How printable/popular is it? With over 115 makes shared, we can say that it is a popular model! And the 4.5-star rating ensures us that there are plenty of fans.
- Where to find it? Printables
Dog Poop Bag Holder
Pets are a part of our family; they fill our lives with affection and love, and that’s why they deserve all the care and pampering they can get. However, the walking routine can be somewhat uncomfortable without the right accessories. Our furry friends often choose unexpected places to do their business, and not cleaning up after them can result in a hefty fine – plus, picking up after them is simply the right thing to do.
With this small accessory, you won’t have to worry about stuffing your pockets with doggy poop bags when you’re in a rush; they will always be in the right place at the right time. There are two size variations, one for 60-mm bag rolls and another for 50-mm rolls, and two options for the bottom lid (round or flat). No supports are needed to create the parts on a 3D printer, and they can be made with just 20% infill.
- Who designed it? jjf771
- How printable/popular is it? This wonderful accessory has a useful make and has been downloaded over 700 times.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Lens Cap
If you have a DSLR camera, you know the fun of keeping track of lenses, cards, batteries, and all the other camera accessories that go along with it. It’s almost inevitable that you’ll eventually lose one or more lens caps. Rather than shelling out a few bucks for a new one (that you will just lose again!), why not spend a few cents printing your own?
This one-piece design has different sizes ranging from 37 mm all the way up to 105 mm. Although it was originally designed for an Olympus lens, it should fit any lens with threads.
- Who designed it? GlOwl
- How printable/popular is it? This easy print has 20 shared makes and 2 remixes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Parametric Rugged Box
When shopping in stores, items often don’t come with a box to store and protect our belongings as much as we’d like. Whether it’s for safe storage or secure transport, a sturdy, custom-sized box can be challenging to find or even more expensive than making one. After all, with this model and a 3D printer, you can create the exact size you need in the comfort of your home.
You’ll only need a few M3 screws for the hinge and latches, along with some filament, and you’ll soon have a box in the color and size of your choice. This design is actually a remix with enhancements like a new snap closure and easy-open feature, and there are eight different box sizes available.
Check out the assembly video to see how easy it is to put one together!
- Who designed it? zx82net
- How printable/popular is it? An impressive 114 makes, 27 remixes, and more than 27,000 downloads combined from both sites show that making your own will be very easy and that plenty of others have added these to their lives!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Printables
Screw Lock Carabiner
This carabiner is a reliable tool designed for applications where a dependable fastening mechanism is essential. The inclusion of a screw lock adds an extra layer of safety, ensuring that the carabiner remains securely closed during use. By increasing the number of walls to five or more, the carabiner’s strength is enhanced, making it suitable for heavier loads and demanding tasks.
To aid in the printing process, an image with highlighted areas where supports are necessary is provided, ensuring that users can easily set up their 3D printers for a smooth and successful print. It’s important to note that while this is a robust and reliable tool, it’s not intended for climbing or other high-risk activities.
- Who designed it? LuvemStudio
- How printable/popular is it? This design has 345 makes and over 21,000 downloads across both sites.
- Where to find it? Printables, MyMiniFactory
Car Headrest Bag Hooks
This is an accessory that every car should have! We use various types of bags in our daily lives, but we don’t always want to put everything in the car trunk or leave it on the floor or some other corner, especially when we have passengers, as space can be quite limited and uncomfortable without one of these.
You won’t need anything but filament because even the screws are 3D printed. It’s important to check the size of the peg in your car to print the right spacer, as there’s an option for 18-mm measurements. Each hook rotates freely around the axis, making it smoother to use and self-adjusting when applying weight.
In the printing recommendations, it’s suggested to use at least 3 outer wall layers and 25% infill, given that you’ll need it to be a sturdy model.
- Who designed it? muzz64
- How printable/popular is it? With 34 makes and almost 51,000 downloads, this support can definitely be done at home and driven around!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
DIY & Tools
Finally, we’ve got some handy little gadgets for DIY projects!
Precision Tweezers
Picking up small objects in tight spaces, like tiny screws in your printer’s extrusion setup or a coin in between a car seat, is a task no one likes. These precision tweezers use elasticity to move back to their original position when squeezed together, and they have a very sharp tip to allow you to pick up small objects. The design has a built-in hinge mechanism that’s supposed to be printed as one part to make assembly easy – you simply fold it!
The designer posted that they printed the tweezers with a 0.2-mm layer height. Each pair only consumed 9 grams of material and took approximately an hour to print. They also stated that they successfully printed the tweezers on both a 0.4-mm and 0.2-mm diameter nozzle with PLA filament.
- Who designed it? M4NU
- How printable/popular is it? This set of tweezers has almost 940 community makes, over 32,000 downloads, and more than 101,000 views!
- Where to find it? Printables
Sorting Tray
When building things, modifying machines, or experimenting, we need lots of small parts, such as screws and nuts. If you’re always scared of losing them, you’ve found the perfect model. These trays will come in handy for your project! But they are not limited to that purpose. As some users have noted, you can use them to weigh things and sort objects in zip bags.
On Printables, you’ll find six different sizes, so you can print only a few or all of them and stack them on top of each other, so they won’t pick up much space.
- Who designed it? Area51
- How printable/popular is it? Only 2 makes are missing to hit the 100 mark; will you help reach this goal?
- Where to find it? Printables
Customizable Sanding Stick
This sanding stick is a game-changer for DIY enthusiasts and hobbyists who seek precision and efficiency in their sanding tasks. With the convenience of a pre-designed SCAD file, you can easily customize some features according to your needs. Four designs are already available, which will fit almost any task. Simply download the STL file and bring your preferred design to life with your 3D printer!
The all-inclusive 3D printing approach is another highlight. With no extra hardware required, including the hex screws, the sanding stick components are fully printable. By printing it with a 0.2-mm layer height and 20% infill, you can expect a robust tool that stands the test of time. With no supports needed during printing, the process is even more straightforward.
- Who designed it? mightynozzle
- How printable/popular is it? This design has an impressive 268 posted makes and 681 remixes, meaning you can definitely make it for yourself!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Paper Cutter
Cutting paper may seem like child’s play, but at times, it can involve using a tool or scissors that can be dangerous for the little ones. So, this is a solution that is well worth it! With this paper cutter, you’ll have the cutting precision of a utility knife without the danger of causing an accident with its sharp blade.
This model has already received some improvements to prevent paper jams and make the cutting smoother and freer, as well as the ability to use various common types of blades. To use other blades, it’s necessary to print the appropriate counterpart to securely and correctly fasten them. In a video, the designer demonstrates the old and new models in action, showcasing the improvements.
- Who designed it? LouD3D
- How printable/popular is it? 36 makes, 3 remixes, and around 2,000 downloads combined from all sites show that it is an easy tool to make and add to any kind of workshop!
- Where to find it? Printables, Thingiverse, Cults
Modular Hose
A modular hose is like a miniature arm that you can position in many ways. It can be used to hold things in place or even to funnel liquids, like blowing water at a CNC router. This modular hose design is inspired by Loc-Line hoses, using small, connectable pieces that link together and can be moved around to position the hose.
To assemble the hose, print as many pieces as you need for the desired length, snap them together, and then apply a lubricant to make moving them easier.
The designer recommends printing with a 0.2-mm layer height, 100% infill, two perimeters, and no supports. It might be worth printing in PETG for mechanical strength purposes, as PLA parts are more brittle and could snap as you push them together.
- Who designed it? DanielVitanza
- How printable/popular is it? 13 people have shared their prints of this hose, and it’s featured in 688 collections.
- Where to find it? Printables
Center Finder
If you’re used to working with metal or wood, you probably know the pain of trying to find the center of a part. Suffer no more! You can use this gadget to find the center for both circular and square parts.
The designer printed their model on a Prusa i3 MK3 with no supports or raft. It’s recommended to use a 0.2-mm layer height, 15% infill, and either PLA or PETG filament.
- Who designed it? MariusHornberger
- How printable/popular is it? This gadget has 30 recorded makes and 3 remixes. Comments have been positive about the design!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Bit Holder
There are many times when a screwdriver comes in handy, like when you’re assembling new furniture or fixing your 3D printer. This bit holder allows you to quickly swap out bits, and the model features a large handle with a grip so you can easily turn the screwdriver.
The designer recommends printing the model with the hole facing up, which would allow you to avoid using supports. They used a 0.3-mm layer height, two vertical shells, four top and bottom layers, and a 15% infill density to print the handle.
- Who designed it? Manuel
- How printable/popular is it? An impressive 18 makers have shared their prints of this nifty design.
- Where to find it? Printables
Parametric Hinges
Parametric hinges make for the perfect gadget because you can use them for fence gates, cabinets, and printer enclosures, to name just a few uses. With this design, you can alter the hinge dimensions, number of holes, size of holes, and more, to make your own using the Customizer app on the Thingiverse page. However you make it, this print is made up of three parts. You can also use a screw as an alternative way to make the hinge function.
The designer printed their hinge with a RepRap Kossel 3D printer with an XY resolution of 0.3 mm and a Z resolution of 0.15 mm. It’s suggested to print these slowly with a high infill percentage for strength.
- Who designed it? rohingosling
- How printable/popular is it? This hinge design has nearly 30 recorded makes and over 2,100 remixes. You can totally print this one!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Pocket Hole Jig
A solid joint is necessary for so many aspects of woodworking. With this pocket hole jig, you can make the perfect joint every time. What makes this jig so great is that its precise design guides the drill bit into the wood at a specific angle to produce an engineered hole to house your screws.
Jigs like this can cost some serious dollars. That is, unless you print your own!
- Who designed it? Henry
- How printable/popular is it? This jig has almost 3,700 downloads, with 41 makes shared so far.
- Where to find it? Printables
Battery Dispenser
Are you always having to dig through a messy drawer to find the battery you need? Well, this dispenser should put an end to that!
This design allows you to easily grab the batteries you need, and it includes holes so it can be hung from a wall. In addition to three options, the designer also provided the SCAD file, meaning that you can customize the battery holder to fit your needs.
The designer printed it in PLA with 10% infill and no support structures.
- Who designed it? Bradk3
- How printable/popular is it? This battery holder has 14 recorded makes and an impressive 104 remixes!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
License: The text of "35 Useful 3D Printed Gadgets to Make Life Easier" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.