Here is why you should get a 3D printer

The world of 3D printing is truly amazing. I remember being introduced to this technology in middle school. Our school had a Makerbot and there was always a huge line before you could print something. I used to design small custom keychains and name tags. When I got home one day, I decided to see the price. FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ……. I just ignored the prospect that I would ever have a 3D printer all to myself. 

But right around January, something changed; I needed some parts 3D printed for a drone project that I was working on. The library wait time was going to forever and 3D printing services cost way too much, so I went online and did some research. Within the past 5-6 years, 3D printers have gotten incredibly cheap. Due to the high demand among hobbyists and China’s mass production abilities, a good 3D printer is now only $200 dollars. That’s even cheaper than some 2D printers, and unlike ink, plastic filament is relatively inexpensive. So I convinced my parents and decided to buy myself an Ender 3 Pro, and boy has it been amazing. Here are some of the things you can do after getting your very own printer.

1. Masks, face shields, ear guards. I couldn’t have bought my 3D printer at a better time. There were so many mask shortages in the entire world when Covid initially hit. I was able to 3D print hundreds of face shields, masks, and ear guards for firefighters and doctors. I printed some for my own family as well. There are some apps that will even let you scan your face and generate a custom-molded print. Say goodbye to foggy glasses and constantly having to pull your masks up.
2. Speaking of masks, let’s talk about actual masks before the pandemic. There is an endless supply of open-source designs for Iron Man masks, Batman masks, and pretty much any character you could imagine. What’s even cooler is that some people have even added full functionality by using a Raspberry Pi computer and some servos. You would never have to go buy another Halloween costume ever again.                                                                    
3. Lithophanes are great gifts for any age group and this is one gift that a person can never forget. They are even great wall decorations. The way it works is that it takes in all the colors from the picture and assigns it a specific height and when a light shines through, it creates an image as different parts block different amounts of light. All you have to do is import the image into the software and it will generate a really cool image for you.
4. Going along with the same lines there are all kinds of cool gifts you can give to someone that are not just lithophanes. Things like jewelry, custom keychains, coasters, phone cases, and even lithophane lampshades are a great way to a great way to create thoughtful gifts. I really like the credit card-sized designs that are easy to assemble miniature models which are great for younger kids.

5. 3D prints also allow for some really complicated shapes and designs. You can print a Jaguar, an entirely functioning manual gearbox for your coffee table, and even 3D paintings. The sky’s the limit, and you will have the coolest interior decorator award before you know it. My favorite has to be the moon lampshade. Someone used NASA’s scans..how cool is that!                                                                                               

6. I know you love to fidget with whatever you have in your hand. These cool prints will mesmerize you for hours on end, and when you get bored, just scroll through Thingiverse until you find a new thing to play with. So when the next fidget spinner comes out, you will be the first one to have it.

7. Oh did I mention that you can even print actual useful stuff? When things break, you don’t have to buy a new product because some incompetent engineer designed a cheap plastic piece. You can print table risers, monitor stands, cable organizers, sd cardholders. In robotics, we do this all the time when we need a custom mount for a camera or if a part is out of stock. There are also some amazing tripods and phone stands that you can print and save a lot of money on. If you want to find all the things people have made, just go to r/functionalprint on Reddit.

I hope that by now you are scrambling to find your credit card and ready to delve into this amazing hobby. Happy Printing!