A big upside to owning a 3D printer is being able to print things for next to nothing when you need them.While tools made from filament like PLA and PETG lack the durability of even their cheapest metal counterparts, they’re often good enough in a pinch.Micro screwdriver Just add bits Close There are a huge number of printable micro screwdrivers available for download, like this one.
This model is available as a tight fit with no magnet, or as a slightly roomier print, which should be combined with a 5x3mm magnet for a snap-fit.Another interesting design is this miniature screwdriver that uses a shape that should give you a bit more torque.These all take standard 1/4-inch bits, which you can pick up relatively cheaply.
Since you won’t be putting tons of force on them, you can afford to cheap out on these bits (something you shouldn’t do if you’re shopping for a set to match with an impact driver).Vernier caliper For designing your next model A vernier caliper allows you to accurately measure the size of an object from one outer edge to the other, or the gap between two points, and many are also often fitted with a depth gauge.They’re ideal for designing 3D prints, where accurate measurements are vital to maintaining a tight tolerance.
While a digital caliper provides a more accurate and easier-to-read measurement, analog calipers have stood the test of time.You can print your own with models like the vernier caliper rulers and functional mini vernier calipers.Just don’t alter the scale of the model since you will throw off the accuracy.
Mini sander attachment for electric toothbrush For sanding your 3D prints The social media networks know that I own a 3D printer, so I often see advertisements for printing-adjacent tools.One of these is a miniature sander that’s perfect for detailing prints to eliminate layer lines and prepare a model for painting.That’s where the ultimate DIY mini sander attachments come in.
These bolt-ons sit on a standard Oral-B toothbrush, to which you attach a small piece of sandpaper.You can then use the vibrations generated by the toothbrush to sand your models.Since the heads of your toothbrush are replaceable, you can even keep using the toothbrush for cleaning your teeth too.
Just make sure you give it a good clean between duties! Mini ratchet driver A smart design that spreads the load I’ve seen a fair few ratchet driver designs on MakerWorld, but this mini ratchet wrench might be my favorite.Rather than putting the entire torque load on one or two teeth in the ratchet, the model has been designed to clamp down so that the load is spread across the entire outer ring.The model works with 3/8-inch drives and 1/4-inch bits.
Print with a tough filament and understand the limitations of such a tool.Even strong engineering-grade filament like ABS is weak at the layer lines! Adjustable wrench A simple tool you can break and lose for pennies Are you always losing wrenches? Do you wish you had a spare in your car or bag, just in case? That’s where 3D-printed tools like the print-in-place adjustable wrench come in.It scales from 3-11mm to 11-16mm and is perfect for 3D-printed applications.
There’s also no assembly required, since the model is printed as one single piece.Small vise A cheap and small vise for lightweight tasks If you need to bolt an object to a workbench to put some serious force into it, you’re going to want a heavyweight metal vise that won’t let you down.But if you want to hold a small item still for a short while and aren’t going to be hitting it with a hammer or dripping solder all over it, a 3D-printed vise might do the trick.
This tiny table vise is made of five parts and requires no supports to print.It’s perfect for tasks like painting, holding breadboards and other electronics, or clamping together two 3D-printed parts with superglue.It also happens to require only 85g of filament, which makes it a bargain at less than $2.
Mini sanding block I’ll never buy one again I bought a sanding block once, but I now have no idea where it is.The next time I need to use one, I’ll be 3D printing a few so that I can stash them in my toolbox, junk drawer, garage, and anywhere else I might happen to need them.There’s no shortage of these designs to choose from, but I settled on a simple version with great reviews and a screw-tightening mechanism.
Outside of the cost, being able to 3D print your own tools has another compelling benefit you might not have considered.
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