What Can 3D Printers Make?

3D printers can be used by beginners for creating games, decorations and other personalised items. As well as this they are fantastic for experts to do home DIY and make scaled models of structures. Recent developments also mean there is no a demand for 3D printing with the building and medical industry.  

How do 3D printers work?

Alright so the idea of a 3D printer might sound complicated but once you break it down it's pretty easy to understand what's going on.

A 3D printer basically builds a three dimensional shape by adding layers on top of layers, programmed by software. Your printing begins with downloading 3D printing software and designing a model, this is then processed by slicing software which separates the shape into many layers and sets of instructions to make the shape called G-code.

Stay with me here, these instructions are then understood by the printer's nozzle which will move according to the code to make the shape, printing one layer at a time on the print bed to build the shape slowly.

This is done using a plastic filament which you will load into the printer, where it is heated up in order to be fluid enough to go through the nozzle. Each layer will fuse and cool down to make one solid shape.

There you have it you’ve printed a 3D shape.

What can 3D printers make?

What can you make as a beginner with a 3D printer?

Toys and Games

Okay here is a really fun one. A fantastic use of a 3D printer is to  make games for yourself or friends. Games like chess are a popular one to create, as you can make our very own custom pieces and board. Same goes for battleships and frog checkers.

This is brilliant as a hobby or if you have kids, and don't forget that the options are limitless! You could even create your own game.

Here are a few more entertaining things to make with your 3D printer.

• Simple action figures and dolls

• Basic board game pieces

• Simple puzzle pieces

Decorative items

When it comes to any celebration your 3D printer is a great way to make it memorable. Whether it's for you or a friend you can fill your Christmas tree with beautiful homemade decorations or give a personalised gift for a birthday.

This is great for the creatives amongst us who will want to use their artistic side to personalise their own family celebrations. Honestly I really like the idea of a celebration fully made in the family, this is a great use for beginners.

Now, it doesn't just end at celebrations. You can make any ornaments you like for around your home, including picture frames and small figures. This is a fantastic way to decorate your home with homemade items.

Household Items

Another great thing a 3D printer can make is basic kitchen utensils. The best example of this is a bottle opener. These are very customisable so you can get creative and make your own design, which is great to have practically but also a good gift for friends and family.

3D printers are great for making small organisers around the house, for example you can make a pen holder for your  home office or even a holder for all your shower gels and shampoo.

Personal accessories e.g. phone case

In my opinion one of the most exciting things you can do with a 3D printer is create personal accessories. A popular one among the 3D world is creating your own phone case, this is pretty simple to do and is great fun.

Meaning you can have a phone case the exact colour, dimensions and pattern that you want. Plus, it's pretty exciting to be able to say you made it all yourself.

This can also mean making your own simple jewellery and keychains, again giving you the excitement to customise your key set and much more.

If by now you're thinking 3D printing is something you could get in to, I've written another blog as a guide to the best beginner 3D printer. Feel free to give it a read.

What can you make as an expert with a 3D printer?

To scale models

Okay this is where a 3D printer really begins to shine. They are capable of making to scale models of scenery or a building.

So for you model enthusiasts who enjoy creating scenes, be it a dolls house or railway set this 3D printer will be able to make any shape you want all to the scale you want it. So no more searching for hours for the right piece only to find it doesn't quite fit to scale. You can just print your own custom bit.

Also a 3D printer is great for someone like an engineer who needs to scale models of say a building or any other structure. This can be used individually or as a business to help model blueprints for a structure.

Whether it's professionally or as a hobby, 3D printers are great at making to scale models of structures or items

DIY repair and maintenance

Now, home DIY and maintenance is probably my favourite use of a 3D printer for experts.

A 3D printer is so good at making replacement parts for simple things around the house. To give you an example, if you break a door handle that you really liked the shape of and can't find a new one like it, you can simply print a copy.

While it may not be an exact match but as an expert you can get it pretty close. At the very least find a working replacement until you get one you want long term.

There are plenty of DIY projects a 3D printer can help with too. I’ve seen a lot of people printing bird baths and bird boxes, as well as plant pots and other garden DIY. Honestly being able to do these things yourself is not only exciting but means what you make will be exactly what you want.

The possibilities go on with home DIY, if any relatively small part breaks around the house it's likely you can replace it with a 3D printer.

What do 3D printers use to print?

3D printers often use filament to print with

Okay so, filament is the most common material used in 3D printers. It comes in spools and is usually made of plastic. The two most common types of filament are PLA and ABS.

PLA which is a biodegradable plastic derived from renewable resources like corn starch. It’s easy to print with and has a low melting point. ABS is also used as a durable plastic commonly used in automotive and household items. It’s more heat-resistant than others.

You can also work with different types of resins, powders and liquids to 3D print. For beginners it's best to stick to filaments as they will cover everything you’ll need.

If you are an expert and you want to create something with certain properties, such as elasticity or to be very tough then you could consider using a specific resin or liquid gel. However, filaments tend to cover all the properties that you would want.

In short, 3D printers use a variety of materials including plastic filaments, liquid resins, and powders to print objects, while each type has slightly different properties. It's my advice to use filaments as they are the simplest and cheapest to work with.

Do you need to download 3D printing software to print?

The answer is yes, you do need to download software onto your printer.

In my opinion this is actually a simple process. You will need your software to do two things, design the object and slice it into layers. Here are some suggestions of the most popular software.

3D Modelling Software: Tinkercad, Blender, Fusion 360

Slicing Software: Cura, PrusaSlicer, Simplify3D

You’ll be able to download the software online onto your computer, then once it's configured with your printer you’ll be able to make designs and send them over to the 3D printer to come to life.

Conclusion

Okay so there we have it, 3D printers can be used by both beginners and experts for both fun and practical reasons.

For those just starting out, 3D printers can be used to create fun and personalised items like toys, decorations, and simple household accessories. They provide a creative outlet and a way to make unique gifts and home decor.

On the other hand, experts can take advantage of 3D printers to make detailed scale models, perform DIY repairs, and even produce functional parts for various projects. The ability to create custom parts on demand can be especially useful for engineers, hobbyists, and anyone involved in home improvement.

Understanding how a 3D printer works is key to unlocking its potential. By using software to design and slice 3D models, and then printing layer by layer with filament or resin, you can bring almost any idea to life. Whether you are looking to explore a new hobby or streamline your professional projects, a 3D printer can be an invaluable tool in your toolkit.

Blog Author: Simon Cross is the engaging and knowledgeable voice behind the insightful articles on printers and printer consumables at IJT Direct, an ecommerce store renowned for its comprehensive selection of printers, printer consumables, and hardware. View Simons author page to find out more about him.