Photos: 30 weird and useful things to 3D print for your desk
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Customizable cable catcher
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.


Out of office sign
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.
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.


Pen holder
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.


Circular business card holder
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.


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


A daft iPhone dock
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.


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


Tablet stand
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.


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


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


SD card holder
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.


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


Coffee pod desk organizer
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.


Cubicle shelf
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.


Monitor-top mirror
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).


Cubicle hook
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.


Fix a sinking office chair
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.


Office chair brake
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.


Cable corners
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.


Stackable desk organization bins
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.


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


Self-watering planter
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.


Adjustable laptop stand
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.


Bag clip with screw cap
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.


Office chair cup holder
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.


Headphones hanger
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.


Custom keycaps
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)
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