3D Printing: is it Worthwhile?

I got my hands on my first 3D printer back in 2018. My goal was to use it to enable a couple projects that I had in mind but which I had hit a wall and unable to build them with the tools I had. The 3D printer was supposed to unlock a world of making things that don’t exist, and bringing ideas to life.

Over the last 3 years, I have printed a lot of things. The 3D printer gets more use than the paper printer in my house. That’s a great accomplishment.

some of the 3D prints have stood the test of time:

• custom printed house numbers
• A decrative doorbell cover
• SD card storage box
• soap tray
• storage organizing bins
• various wire management clips
• decrative moon light (test with lithophane)
• mounts for Alexa and Google devices
• special organizing hooks and trays

Lots of other projects were fun to build, and educational:

• RC boat
• mini geodesic dome
• glider model

Many of these projects just would not have happened without a printer in the house.

Keeping it in mind is an important step to get the most out of tools like a 3D printer. I follow several social media accounts and Youtube channels that focus on 3D printing and it helps spark projects. If the ideas aren’t coming at you, it’s very difficult to see problems in real life and imagine how a 3D printer will solve that for you.