Photos: 3D printers and the amazing and quirky things they make

The MakerBot factory

The MakerBot factory is located in Brookyln, New York.

For more on 3D printing, see:

-10 facts on 3D printing: Understanding tech's next big game-changer

-10 industries 3D printing will disrupt or decimate 

-3D printing: 10 factors still holding it back

-3D printing: A primer for business and technology professionals

Image: Louis Seigal

MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis

Bre Pettis has been CEO of MakerBot since 2009. Here he holds the Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer.

Image: MakeroBot

3D chess set with mini planters

XYZ Workshop created a 3D printed chess set, and the pieces double as mini planters. Plant grass, herbs, anything--it can be used indoors or outdoors.

Image: XYZ Workshop

Thingiverse's variety of 3D-printed objects

A cute octopus-shaped SD card holder is a featured item this week on MakerBot's Thingiverse. Users have created it in many different colors.

Image: User TJStroker on Thingiverse

3D-printed guitar body

A guitar with a 3D-printed body, on display at the Inside 3D Printing event in New York. The 3D-printed parts were made using a CubeX printer from 3D Systems.

For more on 3D printing, see:

-10 facts on 3D printing: Understanding tech's next big game-changer

-10 industries 3D printing will disrupt or decimate

-3D printing: 10 factors still holding it back

-3D printing: A primer for business and technology professionals

Image: Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Phone cases and docks

This Thingiverse user wrote: "I wanted to be able to dock my S3 with its external case on. So I created this thing." Simple enough. This is the downloadable design for the dock.

For more on 3D printing, see:

-10 facts on 3D printing: Understanding tech's next big game-changer

-10 industries 3D printing will disrupt or decimate

-3D printing: 10 factors still holding it back

-3D printing: A primer for business and technology professionals

Image: User MacGyver on MakerBot Thingiverse

3D Storm Trooper cups

Why wouldn't you want a Storm Trooper pen cup? The design can be found on MakerBot Thingiverse, which has more than 100,000 digital designs of things that can be made with 3D printers.

Image: User Summers007 on MakerBot Thingiverse

The unbeatable Elder Wand

This is the Elder Wand from Harry Potter, in two pieces. The design was made to print with the MakerBot Replicator 2 and is available for free download.

Image: User OkieDokieIguess on MakerBot Thingiverse

3D Jewelry

Shapeways is a website where customers can connect with designers and order customized products such as jewelry, home decor, games, and art.

Image: Jordan Graves on Shapeways

3D gun parts

"The Liberator" is the world's first fully 3D printed gun. Fifteen of its 16 parts are made of plastic and can be printed overnight.

Image: SmartPlanet

Robohand made by MakerBot

Last year, a "Robohand" was printed on a MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D printer. It became a cost-effective way to create substitute fingers instead of buying prosthetics.

Image: MakerBot

Cornell makes 3D printed ears

Cornell bioengineers and physicians created an artificial ear that looks and acts like a natural one. Bioprinting is a rapidly growing area of research--so far, scientists have also successfully printed noses and stem cells and prosthetics.

Image: Lindsay France/University Photography

The Liberator 3D gun

Image: CNET

Austin-based startup re:3D's Gigabot 3D printer

The Gigabot 3D printer is larger, more affordable, and is being used to print logos for StartUp Chile, a Chilean government program for emerging entrepreneurs.

For more on 3D printing, see:

-10 facts on 3D printing: Understanding tech's next big game-changer

-10 industries 3D printing will disrupt or decimate 

-3D printing: 10 factors still holding it back

-3D printing: A primer for business and technology professionals

Image: re:3D

Stratasys prints in many colors

The Objet500 Connex3 can build up to 45 colors in one print job. Stratasys is marketing this $330,000 machine to companies looking to carry out small batch productions of products--for example, bike helmets. 

Image: Stratasys

Professional 3D printers

3D Systems' ProJet 460Plus is a professional full-color 3D printer made for businesses.

For more on 3D printing, see:

-10 facts on 3D printing: Understanding tech's next big game-changer

Image: 3D Systems

3D printers in space

Made in Space Deputy Program Manager Matthew Napoli examines a 3D printed piece at Marshall Space Flight Center . The 3D printer, as part of the 3D Print Experiment in coordination with NASA, is scheduled to arrive at the International Space Station (ISS) in 2014.

Image: Made in Space

3D printing with carbon fiber

Mark Forged developed the world's first 3D printer that uses carbon fiber, which is strong and lightweight. The Mark One can print in carbon fiber, fiberglass, nylon, and PLA, and the machine itself is sleek enough to fit on a desk.

Image: MarkForged