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Innovation

Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

By Erin Carson August 30, 2019, 12:57 PM PDT

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cablecatcher.jpg
cablecatcher.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Customizable cable catcher

Image: TheNewHobbyist/Thingiverse

Customizable cable catcher

Until the cord cutters finally have their way, you can print this cable catcher and attach it to your desk to save you from hunting around for your various wirings.

Image: TheNewHobbyist/Thingiverse
outofoffice.jpg
outofoffice.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Out of office sign

Image: Tosh/Thingiverse

Out of office sign

Leave no doubt in the minds of folks who come by your desk looking for you. You are OOO until the sign says otherwise.

Image: Tosh/Thingiverse
cupholder.jpg
cupholder.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Cup holder

Image: tonghuix/Thingiverse

Cup holder

Because plastic cups lack flair, print out this cup holder and never sip the same way again. Plus, you don’t have to worry about condensation.

Image: tonghuix/Thingiverse
dinopenholder.jpg
dinopenholder.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Pen holder

Image: XYZWorkshop/Thingiverse

Pen holder

You could lay your pen on your desk. Or, you could stick it in the powerful jaws of a 3D printed T-Rex. Your call.

Image: XYZWorkshop/Thingiverse
cardholder.jpg
cardholder.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Circular business card holder

Image: tmorris9/Thingiverse

Circular business card holder

Reports of the death of business card are exaggerated. Organize the ones you’ve got (and actually want to keep) with this fanning business card holder.

Image: tmorris9/Thingiverse
robotdeskorganizer.jpg
robotdeskorganizer.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Robot desk organizer

Image: purita/Thingiverse

Robot desk organizer

Our robot overlords will applaud your organizational skills after seeing this desk organizer.

Image: purita/Thingiverse
phoneholder.jpg
phoneholder.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

iPhone dock

Image: mikie10/Thingiverse

iPhone dock

For the 3D printing minimalist, here’s a simple iPhone dock.

Image: mikie10/Thingiverse
daftholder.jpg
daftholder.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

A daft iPhone dock

Image: paulsiew31/Thingiverse

A daft iPhone dock

For those who aren’t minimalists — here’s a Daft Punk-esque iPhone dock that will let you charge it, point it, zoom it, press it… or whatever it is that you do.

Image: paulsiew31/Thingiverse
ballpencilholder.jpg
ballpencilholder.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Pencil holder

Image: pmoews/Thingiverse

Pencil holder

Do you have more writing utensils than you know what to do with? Try the buckyball pencil holder.

Image: pmoews/Thingiverse
octopusstand.jpg
octopusstand.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Tablet stand

Image: Notcolinforreal/Thingiverse

Tablet stand

Might as well combine function and style. These octopus tentacles come up from your desk and prop up your tablet. Just don’t make them mad. They get a little grabby.

Image: Notcolinforreal/Thingiverse
gear.jpg
gear.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Gyroscopic cube gears

Image: joefe/Thingiverse

Gyroscopic cube gears

Not everything on your desk has to serve a specific function. We’ll call this little machine a “conversation starter.”

Image: joefe/Thingiverse
spool.jpg
spool.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Cable spool

Image: cheewee2000/Thingiverse

Cable spool

Here’s another option for folks overwhelmed by cords and cables.

Image: cheewee2000/Thingiverse
sdcardholder.jpg
sdcardholder.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

SD card holder

Image: tjstroker/Thingiverse

SD card holder

The thing about SD cards is they’re small, and small things tend to get lost. Keep them handy with these guys.

Image: tjstroker/Thingiverse
safe.jpg
safe.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Combination safe

Image: SavageRodent/Thingiverse

Combination safe

Keep prying eyes and sticky fingers at bay with this 3D printed combination safe.

Image: SavageRodent/Thingiverse
coffee-pod-organizer.jpg
coffee-pod-organizer.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Coffee pod desk organizer

Image: StIzZo/Thingiverse

Coffee pod desk organizer

If you use a lot of coffee pods at work, this desk organizer is right up your alley. Modifications may be needed to fit some kinds of coffee pods.

Image: StIzZo/Thingiverse
cubicle-corner-shelf.jpg
cubicle-corner-shelf.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Cubicle shelf

Image: xenotrim/Thingiverse

Cubicle shelf

Running out of space for all your office paraphernalia? You should think about printing some shelves, such as this one that nestles into a cubicle corner.

Image: xenotrim/Thingiverse
monitor-top-mirror.jpg
monitor-top-mirror.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Monitor-top mirror

Image: Kas-sir/Thingiverse

Monitor-top mirror

Is your back to your cubicle or office door? Know who is sneaking up on you by printing this tiny monitor-top mirror (mirror not included).

Image: Kas-sir/Thingiverse
cubicle-hook.jpg
cubicle-hook.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Cubicle hook

Image: BrookTrout/Thingiverse

Cubicle hook

In the perfect office, all cubicles would come with a couple of coat hangers. When that isn’t the case, you can just print your own cubicle hooks.

Image: BrookTrout/Thingiverse
sinking-office-chair-rings.jpg
sinking-office-chair-rings.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Fix a sinking office chair

Image: MacGyver/Thingiverse

Fix a sinking office chair

Who hasn’t dealt with a sinking office chair? These simple rings will hold that self-adjusting chair right where you want it.

Image: MacGyver/Thingiverse
chair-brake.jpg
chair-brake.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Office chair brake

Image: Onesilentlight/Thingiverse

Office chair brake

Speaking of office chairs, does yours move around more than you like? If so, print a couple of these chair brakes, and you’ll finally stay put.

Image: Onesilentlight/Thingiverse
cable-corners.jpg
cable-corners.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Cable corners

Image: muzz64/Thingiverse

Cable corners

Corners are the bane of cable management. Well, not anymore. These cable corner organizers will help keep cords where you want them–against the wall and out of the way.

Image: muzz64/Thingiverse
stackable-bins.jpg
stackable-bins.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Stackable desk organization bins

Image: sartemch/Thingiverse

Stackable desk organization bins

When I worked in IT, there were always errant screws, loose adapters, and miscellaneous bits floating around our repair desk. I wish I had a set of these stacking organizers, available in multiple configurations.

Image: sartemch/Thingiverse
candy-machine.jpg
candy-machine.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Mini candy machine

Image: piraxchild/Thingiverse

Mini candy machine

Be the envy of the office by printing (and filling) your own miniature candy dispenser!

Image: piraxchild/Thingiverse
self-watering-planter.jpg
self-watering-planter.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Self-watering planter

Image: O3D/Thingiverse

Self-watering planter

Don’t come back from vacation to dead office plants: Print this self-watering planter, and your companion will be alive and healthy when you return. The only additional item you need is some cotton string to pull water from the reservoir into the soil.

Image: O3D/Thingiverse
adjustable-laptop-stand.jpg
adjustable-laptop-stand.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Adjustable laptop stand

Image: jpearce/Thingiverse

Adjustable laptop stand

You don’t need to spend hundreds–or thousands–of dollars to get a standing platform for your computer: Print your own! This one is designed for a laptop, but there’s no reason it couldn’t raise a monitor and keyboard as well.

Image: jpearce/Thingiverse
bag-clip-cap.jpg
bag-clip-cap.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Bag clip with screw cap

Image: Minkix/Thingiverse

Bag clip with screw cap

Keep office kitchen clutter and spillage to a minimum by printing some of these combination bag clip/screw tops. They’ll keep opened packages sealed and make accessing the stuff inside super simple. 

Image: Minkix/Thingiverse
chair cupholder
chair cupholder
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Office chair cup holder

Image: AdrianoMoura/Thingiverse

Office chair cup holder

All that keyboard tapping can make an office worker thirsty. Keep your favorite drink close at hand with this office chair cup holder that clips right onto a chair arm.

Image: AdrianoMoura/Thingiverse
headphone-hanger.jpg
headphone-hanger.jpg
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Headphones hanger

Image: skriver/Thingiverse

Headphones hanger

Headphones are important in an office setting–they’re sometimes the only thing standing between getting work done and a loud room. Keep your headphones organized by printing one of these cube wall headphones hangers.

Image: skriver/Thingiverse
keycaps
keycaps
Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk

Custom keycaps

Image: csm76/Thingiverse

Custom keycaps

Is your work keyboard too beige for your taste? Spice it up by printing some of your own custom keycaps.

Also see

  • DIY-IT Project: 3D printing discovery series (ZDNet)
  • Gallery: 27 Star Wars goodies you can download and 3D print right now (ZDNet)
  • IT pro’s guide to 3D printing technologies (free PDF) (TechRepublic)
  • Photos: 3D printed dentures, bike, surgical tools, and more (TechRepublic)
  • The new Monoprice 3D printer prints 3D things for $150 (CNET)
  • Check out more must-see photo galleries (TechRepublic on Flipboard)
Image: csm76/Thingiverse
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By Erin Carson
Erin Carson is a Staff Reporter for CNET and a former Multimedia Editor for TechRepublic.
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