We’re back again with some of the coolest 3D prints for the month of September. Every day, talented designers upload tens and hundreds of 3D models on the internet. Some are simple and average, while others are attention grabbers worth spending your time on.
In this article, we’ve collected five 3D prints that you should absolutely add to your project list. These models are easy to print, free, and can be great gifting options for the holiday period as well!
Print-In-Place Fidget Clicker
A fidget clicker can help you focus your attention and even relieve stress in certain situations. This particular fidget clicker prints all at once. You have a stick switch, a knob switch, and a clicking gear wheel in a tiny package. There’s no assembly; it hardly uses ten grams of material and even has a keyring hole for portability.
Make sure you have the printer’s tolerances dialed in, however. Otherwise, the moving parts can stick to one another. Other than that, it’s a quick print that can keep you occupied for hours.
- Designed by: Frankee
- Where to find it: Printables
- Popularity: 2K+ likes, 6K+ downloads
Rhino Beetle Lamp
The rhino beetle lamp gives the “glowing insects” new meaning. It emits a subtle glow from its wings and makes for a pleasant night lamp. You can use this 3D-printed lamp as a desk accessory or centerpiece on your coffee table.
It’s completely 3D printed, with the exception of the lighting accessory. Owing to the complex design of the rhino beetle, the parts need support structures. However, the designer has included 3D models with pre-existing supports, saving you from print preparation hassles.
- Designed by: toolmoon
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
- Popularity: 3K+ downloads
Zig Zag Planter
This zig-zag planter takes a minimal design approach and comes with a dripping tray that subtly wraps around the planter body. The dripping tray engulfs the planter’s body quite nicely, resembling a hand holding a pot. The tray and the planter are easy to 3D print and require no support.
The designer also sells a commercial license for this model on their Patreon. If you are considering selling these planters, make sure to keep this in mind!
- Designed by: h3li0
- Where to find it: Printables
- Popularity: 1K+ downloads
Self Balancing Bird
This self-balancing bird is an eagle that balances itself on its beak, leaving the rest of its body floating in the air. It’s a cool thing to print in 3D, and it’s sure to grab some eyeballs. Due to the eagle’s design and orientation, the entire underbelly requires support. You’ll need to pay special attention while slicing the model to ensure each portion is supported well. Print the bird at a lower layer height to get a finer surface finish and highlight the model’s details.
- Designed by: ngonjuan
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
- Popularity: 17K+ downloads
Anxiety Keychain
The second part of Inside Out 2 was recently released, introducing a new emotion – Anxiety! This keychain resembles the movie version of the Anxiety character and is a neat way to 3D print it.
The designer has uploaded print profiles for Bambulab 3D printers in different configurations. The print is multicolor and should take no longer than an hour to 3D print.
There are also designs of other emotions from the movie. You can print them and keep them as a personal item that resonates with you.
- Designed by: Litolunar
- Where to find it: Makerworld
- Popularity: 250+ downloads
Tip of the Month
If you’ve ever faced inconsistent print quality, it’s likely that moisture is affecting your filament. To combat this, you’ll want to use a dry box for storage.
While a simple container with silica gel packets can protect your printing materials from humidity and dust, there are also more active solutions, like filament dryers. They work by heating and drying the filament and air around it in order to expel moisture.
We’ve got good experiences with them ourselves when drying filaments at least a couple of hours before 3D printing.
Give them a shot and let us know how it goes!
