15 3D-printed gifts you could make at home for free
The holidays tend to sneak up on most of us, which is interesting given the proliferation of holiday-themed stuff that surrounds us this time of year. They most noticeably sneak up on our bank accounts, as we scramble to get everyone from our boss to our brother the perfect gift. This year, though, why not take advantage of the whole DIY craze that's taking our country by storm? Instead of buying a gift, just print one. Heck, if that's not what 3D printers are for, then I've haven't the slightest idea why we've got them.
Below are fifteen things you can make with a 3D printer, with a link to the files needed to do so. Most are free (minus, of course, the cost of materials), and a few cost pennies on the dollar compared to buying the real deal. So save some cash, and everyone likes a "homemade" gift, right? It's Okay, we won't tell.
If doing your own printing isn't to your fancy (or you just don't have a 3D printer at home), there are on-demand online printing services, like Shapeways. Some places, such as Cubify, give you the option to download source code or to just buy the printed item. Word to the wise: if you only want one of something, go with having them print it. The code is often significantly more expensive.
If you buy them outright, gifts come in many different sizes, shapes and prices. Depending on materials, these can take up to a couple of weeks, so shop early. For those who don't have a 3D printer but want to print their own stuff, you can also check a local Staples near you: the store is starting to offer 3D printing services.
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3. Robot Arm All Addams Family aficionados out there, prepare to have your Uncle Fester-loving minds blown. This robot arm is exactly what it sounds like: an arm sticks out of an axis, upon which it spins in three hundred and sixty degrees and can pick things up. Price: Free to Print
4. iPod Tank Case Are you or any of your loved ones the type to throw your iPod mercilessly at concrete sidewalks, slate flooring and large piles of unassuming bricks? Does this happen by accident, or maybe a little too often? Then you need the power of a tank protecting your iPod, which can you can now print out. Price: Free to Print
5. Math Cookie Cutter Set Sure, anyone can make cookies in the cookie-cutter shapes of the plus, minus, division and multiplication signs. But what true Will Hunting is going to be satisfied with cookies in such pedestrian shapes. This set expands to pi, Sigma, e, i, the integral sign and more. Price: Free to Print
6. MakerBot Arcade Yeah, it's cool and all that you can play games on your iPod, but there's just something about heading to the penny arcade standing in front of the over-sized machines. Something about the act of standing in front of an actual arcade machines just rings a gamer's cherries. So why not turn that iPod into an arcade? Cue the MakerBot arcade, making your iPod into something more: a classic arcade game. Price: Free to Print
8. Chess Set You probably already know what a chess set looks like, and this set is a beautifully carved printed one. The color is left up to the printer himself, of course, which means all that needs to be done is to get a chess board. Sure you can print one somewhere, but a large square of cardboard and some paint would also do the trick. Price: Free to Print
9. Lacelocks While DVICE may not be a fashion blog, I'm a fashion-forward writer. This, of course, simply means that I have a nice bathrobe that I call "workwear." Nonetheless, all the kids are wearing shoes today that suspiciously resemble Keds. And what are Keds without lacelocks (i.e. the little plastic bits you put on the bottom lace of your shoes)? This ones' for your hipster nephew. Price: $3
10. Nicho Lamp Do you know what a Nicho lamp is? Probably not. Should you? That's arguable. Is there someone in your circle of friends who loves art and knows what one is? You betcha. And this is a great way to show that person just how much you care. Not to mention you can call it a replica and then point out that "it's sort of a DIY project, you know," and they'll be super impressed. Price: $50
11. Illuminati iPhone Cover Maybe you've got a pal who just loves The DaVinci Code. Perhaps your father was actually in the Illuminati. Perhaps both of those things are true. Whatever the case (no pun intended), this iPhone cover is the perfect gift. Price: $22
12. Snowman Christmas Ornament In my experience, which is not a limited amount of experience by any means, mothers love one thing more than pretty much anything else. And I'm not talking about their children. They love the ornaments their children create. I've never walked into a house and seen a tree that wasn't strewn with ornaments created by the household children. Take our advice and just print one out instead. Price: Free to Print
14. Tape Dispenser You've got a friend who is always burning the old midnight oil at the office, and you've been looking for a killer gift for said friend. All the normal gift-stuff doesn't really make sense for this friend, because s/he never leaves the office. But you can literally create for him a tape dispenser. It's like a homemade paperweight, but better.
Price: Free to Print
15. Snap-Link Watch Band Obviously, the watchband is just as (if not more) important as the watch face itself. But it's hard to find a good band, which is why printing one seems like a great idea. This slick snap-link watch band can make any watch face look fancy, and since it's so easy to change the links, you're totally set if you ever gain a bunch of weight. In your wrists. Price: Free to Print
13. Earbud Holder A nice new pair of earbuds if a fun enough gift, but without a holder, they become nothing more than amalgamation of knots in the old pocket. Why earbuds don't generally come with holders is beyond this writer, but that's where 3D printing picks up the slack. This earbud holder is not only stylish, but it can reportedly "take a beating." Perfect. Price: Free to Print
1. Ping Pong Ball Holder While Iâm sure you can print ping-pong balls, they're cheap enough in stores. More money is wasted on constantly losing them after games of beer pong. Plus, picking them up is a huge pain. With this nifty holder, just let gravity do the work: you can stack the ping pong balls like you would cups in a cooler stack, and grab them one at a time from the bottom. Price: Free to Print
2. RC Plane If you had a childhood like mine, you probably remember leaving some kid's birthday party with a small, foam airplane that youâd put together later and toss around the house. Well, this is pretty much that but far, far more awesome. This is more remote-control than arm-control, and itâs got a propeller. Nothing, I say nothing, beats a propeller. You'll also need a motor. Price: Free to Print
7. Coffee Grinder-looking Pencil Sharpener We can already hear that groggy moan you'll make when you get out of bed and stumble over to the coffee grinder that isn't a coffee grinder. No, it looks like one, but it's actually a pencil sharpener. This could either be a great gift for someone who likes antique-seeming things (and works with pencils) or an awful gift for someone who loves coffee. Price: Free to Print
