I’m always on the lookout for ways I can use my 3D printing to make life a little easier, usually for minimal filament cost.I’ve been taking more chances and printing more models recently, but one recent print has proved its worth more than others.Add How-To Geek on Google Add as Preferred Source Follow on Google Discover This stable laptop stand saves space on my desk When your desk becomes “our desk” Close A few weeks ago, another MacBook showed up on my desk, which is odd since I only use one.
This belongs to my partner who, since starting a job where their employer supplies them with a laptop, finds themselves opening the MacBook Air less and less.As a result, whenever they go to use the machine, the battery is usually dead (despite my ongoing advice to shut the machine down).I get it—MacBooks tend to “just work” perfectly coming out of sleep, so the desire to snap the lid shut when you’re done and open it expecting an instant-on laptop is central to the experience.
It also happens that this 2023 model is getting on a bit, so the battery isn’t what it once was.Leaving it on my desk is a sign that it needs charging, and since I’ve got a spare 100W USB-C cable right there, I should probably heed that warning.This is all well and good, but it’s been weeks, and somehow the laptop has found a permanent home on my somewhat cluttered desk.
I like a nice clean workspace, but I rarely get it.As I type this, there’s a cat taking up the entire right side of the desk, and the aforementioned MacBook taking up the left side.So I decided that storing the laptop in a manner that takes up as little space as possible while still exposing the charging ports (which Apple frustratingly limited to one side of the laptop) was a good idea.
There are a of these models to choose from, but I settled on a geometric vertical laptop stand that is well-reviewed.I broke out the digital calipers and measured 16.5mm for the MacBook’s thickest part, and found some felt tape in the garage that compressed down to around 2mm for a snug fit.The model fit perfectly, even though I was happy to scale it on the Y-axis to make things fit if I needed to.
Under-desk storage was another consideration Save even more space, though charging might be an issue The result lacks the overall heft of a metal stand, while still doing the job of keeping the laptop upright, stable, and taking up far less space.Rather than spending money on something that might feel a little sturdier but doesn’t fit quite right, I’ve got a tailored accessory that does the job and looks good doing it.I printed it in black matte filament, which matches the legs of my desk and my existing laptop stand.
At only 90g, it’s not exactly heavy, but it’s designed in a way that won’t topple easily even if a cat decides to give it a nudge.I could have added weight to the print artificially, but I lack the supplies to do so at the moment.Another good option would be some way to hide the laptop under the desk, like this under-desk laptop holder.
This sort of solution is arguably more elegant and gives your workspace a “custom-built” feel, but it’s also a little less practical for my uses.Lining up the laptop correctly with the holder so that it could be charged during storage seems like it could feel like a bit of a chore over time.There are also clamp-on laptop holders that attach to your desk, if that’s more your kind of thing.
What a savings At $2, I can’t complain At 92g precisely, my vertical laptop stand cost me exactly $1.84 at the “going rate” for Bambu Lab matte black filament at $20 per kilogram.That said, I did bundle a few more spools on the order to receive a modest discount, so the real cost was even less.After waiting five hours for my printer to do its thing, I have an accessory that fits in nicely on my desk in a color of my choosing.
$2 seems expensive compared to the $0.05 that this print costs to organize your cables.
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