Discover the Wonders of Home-Based 3D Printing: A Comprehensive Guide

Key Takeaways

• A simple and affordable 3D printer is a useful tool without fancy software.
• Starting with a 3D printer is easy with self-leveling and sample prints.
• Downloadable 3D models can solve specific day-to-day problems at home.

I was intimidated by 3D printers for a long time, and I didn’t know what I would actually do with one. Then, I impulsively bought a 3D printer on a whim, and I realized my fears were unwarranted. A simple, affordable 3D printer is a very useful tool to have in your home; no fancy modeling software is required.

The question of what I would do with a 3D printer if I got one was maybe even a bigger concern than how to use it. I’d seen lots of people print cool things with 3D printers, but much of it was more novelty than practical. Spending a few hundred bucks on a gadget to print plastic trinkets wasn’t appealing to me. Still, I was interested, and late one night, I clicked buy now on an Anycubic Kobra on sale for $200. Oops.

The Kobra is now discontinued, but you can buy the Anycubic Kobra 2 if you’d like to follow in my impulse purchase footsteps.

Getting Started is Not as Hard as You Think

Before I show off some of my practical home and life improvement prints, a couple of notes on the self-imposed barriers you may have in your head about 3D printing.

My particular 3D printer took about an hour to assemble, and it has a self-leveling program, which makes getting started super easy. After I was done setting it up, I popped in the included microSD card and printed the sample model. To my surprise, it came out pretty good.

Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek

Is this a perfectly smooth, immaculate print? Heck no. But did the printer successfully produce a solid figure that is clearly an owl? Yes, and that is really all you need for most things.

That little owl is a perfect example of how easy 3D printing can be. It required zero configuration, and I didn’t do a thing with the 3D model. I simply loaded in the filament and pressed “Print.”

But 3D printing isn’t just printing owls or novel little trinkets (though that’s naturally a lot of fun). It’s also really useful. You can find 3D models for all manner of useful things on big 3D model sites like Thingeverse . I’d encourage you to browse through there to see all the potential things you could solve with a 3D print.

You don’t have to take my word that you can 3D print useful stuff, though. Let’s take a look at some things I’ve 3D printed around my house. Without further ado, here are some examples of how free, downloadable 3D models can solve very specific day-to-day problems in your home.

Brita Fridge Base

Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek

• The Problem: The plastic frame around the fridge shelf blocks the Brita dispenser from sliding far enough forward to use. If you set the dispenser on top of the frame, it always slides off, and you have to pull it forward again.
• The Solution: A very basic base that raises the dispenser high enough to slide over the frame and holds it in place.

Brita Hands-Free Dispenser

Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek

• The Problem: The Brita dispenser takes two hands to operate—one to hold the cup and one to pull the spigot lever.
• The Solution: A cleverly shaped attachment that bends the spigot lever when you push a cup against the bottom.

Keychron Keyboard Cover

• The Problem: I like to take my wireless Keychron keyboard with me when I work remotely, but it doesn’t have any protection in my laptop bag.
• The Solution: A two-part cover that slides over the keyboard and protects the keys (personalization optional).

IKEA Milsbo Fan Mount

Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek

• The Problem: If you convert an IKEA Milsbo cabinet into a greenhouse, a very popular plant-enthusiast hack, you’ll need fans for circulation. However, the IKEA Milsbo is not meant to be a greenhouse.
• The Solution: A three-part articulating mount that utilizes the screws on a USB-powered fan and can connect to the cabinet’s adjustable shelf mounting slots.

IKEA Milsbo Shelf Supports

Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek

• The Problem: The IKEA Milsbo cabinet only comes with supports for three adjustable shelves. If you want to add more shelves, IKEA does not sell more supports.
• The Solution: Print your own supports.

A 3D Printer is the Ultimate Problem Solver

You’ll find many freely available 3D models that solve many common problems people have with everyday things, including printing headphone hooks, phone stands, and other accessories we highlighted in a roundup of fun and useful 3D printable accessories . However, with very minimal 3D modeling, you can take matters into your own hands.

Here are a few examples of things I’ve modeled myself in Fusion 360 to solve problems in my own home. (You can check out other 3D modeling apps , too, but Fusions 360 is a bit of a staple and a good place to start.)

Close

You might not think you’ll jump right into making your own prints, but it’s not as daunting as it seems! I may not have created the world’s most intricate 3D models, but in the “practical prints” category, I was able to easily make the things seen in the gallery above, like a coffee basket holder, closet rod support, plant trip dray, and a curtain ring ramp to keep the shower curtain from catching.

You may not think of a 3D printer along the same lines as a drill or a hammer, but it can be just as useful for DIY projects around your home. Even an affordable printer can spit out serviceable prints with very little fuss. You won’t need to rely on Amazon shopping to solve problems anymore.

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