I recently purchased a 3D printer after a long time of flipping back and forth on whether it would be useful to me or not. I never really agreed that 3D printing is just an endless stream of solutions in search of problems, but I also wasn't fully convinced I'd get enough real value out of one to justify the space, cost, and learning curve.

I've been proven wrong on several occasions already. From the improvements it's made to my smart home and the ESP32 enclosures it's helped me create, to the general, every-day prints that I now have, it's been a great investment. These are just some of the more unique 3D printed things I use every day, and there are countless more, too.

ReSpeaker Lite enclosure

Makes my ESP32 creation look professional

This is still one of my favorite 3D prints, and for good reason. Not only was it a great way to prove to myself that a 3D printer was a great investment right off the bat, but it's also incredibly functional. Previously, my ReSpeaker Lite was just a board that floated on top of a chest of drawers, but now it looks a whole lot cleaner while remaining just as functional.

I'm using a 3D print that I found on Printables, made by Leo. I took my own measurements to print a separate block that slots inside and holds the speaker in place, as it was designed for a slightly bigger speaker than the one I have here.

With a 3D printed case to house the ReSpeaker Lite, it's no longer an eyesore. Buttons are accessible (as the back of the case holds the ReSpeaker Lite firmly in place), and my separate 3D printed block keeps the smaller speaker steady on the inside. It looks the part and functions as an enclosure for the ReSpeaker Lite perfectly. There are many enclosure options for ESP32 devices, and those are what inspired me to pick up a 3D printer in the first place.

Nintendo Switch 2 case

Much cheaper than a "proper" case

I have a Nintendo Switch 2, and while I travel a lot with it, I don't want it to just float in my bag, bashing into all of the bag's other contents. A decent case to carry it can set you back as much as $20, but I noticed that there were slimmer, more portable 3D printed cases that would cost approximately $3 to print to be found online. This one is by oruoff on Makerworld.

As you can see, it's already scratched up quite a bit, but that means it's doing its job well. It protects my Switch 2 inside of my bag, and has been perfect for travel over the past few weeks. There's a bigger version of the same case that adds a compartment between the two Joycon slots, but I printed the minimal one as it worked better for my needs.

All you need to do is detach the Switch 2 controllers, and everything slots in separately. Finally, the lid on the top keeps it all in place, and it's secure enough to cover it without being too hard to put on or remove.

MacBook Pro cable winder

Keeps my cable safe and tidy

Because I travel a lot, my bag can be a pretty big mess of cables, but this MacBook Pro cable winder helps a lot. It's a print that fits snugly around my MacBook Pro charger brick, with divets to allow the charging cable to wrap neatly around it. There are enough divets to put the cable in as it wraps around the brick that you can choose how loose or tight you want it to be.

This is useful for a couple of reasons. Not only is my bag slightly tidier, but it also protects the cable as it's kept in place in a way that isn't too tight and causes damage. It's exactly what I needed, as most cable organizers aren't built for the length of the MacBook Pro charging cable. This, meanwhile, isn't just purposefully designed, it's also not an extra to carry with me everywhere, as it sits on the charging brick itself.

I was worried that printing this in PLA would be a problem, but I've been pleasantly surprised so far. I haven't had any issues, but if you're worried, PETG might be a better bet. I printed this model from edgecaser on Makerworld. I also didn't show it here, but I printed a dock for my MacBook Pro as well, and there are countless prints out there that you can get for your laptop that might improve your workflow or desk setup.

Cable organizer

Protects my cables while I'm travelling

On the same note as our MacBook Pro cable winder, I've also printed a bunch of cable organizers that are easy to use and keep my cables tidy. Like with the cable winder, these keep the cables in a fixed position, while also making them easy to throw in a bag without worrying about creating a mess or damaging your cables.

Even better, these are quick, easy prints that use little filament, but they help massively with keeping things organized and tidy. There are no clips or clamps, and you just wrap the cable around the plastic, going side to side, until you run out of cable. It's helped me keep on top of my cables that I have everywhere, and there are plastic caddies you can print to put them inside of, too.

This model is made by SD-3D on Makerworld.

LED tealight holder

Looks good anywhere

This is one of my favorites for aesthetics, as it looks great and is one that friends have asked me to print for them as well. It prints in three parts on the same plate, and you can put an LED tealight inside of it and place it anywhere you want. It's not exactly a functional print in the same way the others on this list are, but it just looks nice.

It's a long print because of the intricate details, but that's about the only drawback. The top section lifts off easily when you want to swap the tealight or turn it off or on, and it still looks good even with the light off. It's a great design to just sit on a desk, especially because it's not taking up a huge amount of space. There are countless LED tealight holders out there, but this is one of my favorites.

This model is remixed by JS Prints on Makerworld.

Flipper Zero carry case

It fits the Wi-Fi devboard, too

This one is purely functional, and massive help, organization wise. I always kept my Wi-Fi devboard and the Flipper Zero separate, leading to numerous occasions where I had one but couldn't find the other. This case keeps them both in one place, but more importantly, keeps them both protected.

What's interesting about this particular case is that I used 3D printed M3 screws to connect the hinges and the latches, and they work surprisingly well. The last one snapped when inserting it into the last latch, but it got through just enough that it doesn't make a difference. This model also comes with a snap-on print for the Wi-Fi Devboard, and the dolphin design on the case is a nice touch.

This model is remixed by Mosaic Minds Manufacturing on Makerworld, but I used the "Fixed Dolphin Top" profile by Sergey Konk for the top part.

Google Pixel Watch 2 charger holder

Fixed one of my most annoying issues

This is the 3D print that probably solved the biggest problem I had, and that was my Google Pixel Watch 2 charger. It was plugged into my desk, but would often fall to the ground, and charging my watch on it was annoying. This holder keeps it in place and standing on my desk, and thanks to the fact that it's angled towards me, I can still easily see the time, even while my watch is charging.

This model is made by stringham on Makerworld, and I printed it in PLA. It snapped in my bag when travelling a few weeks ago, but I was able to glue it back together and it's as good as new. if you travel a lot, a stronger material (or a slightly higher infill) might be a good idea, but this was one of my first 3D prints and it's still, somewhat surprisingly, holding up well.

Various storage boxes

Storage is no longer a problem

The last one is the most fun, as I've printed a few different storage boxes that are more unique, are replicable, and cost less than what I can buy at a store. Between a modular storage drawer which I can stack more on top of, an SD card and microSD card holder, and baskets to hold various random things, these have been some of my favorite prints on a purely functional level.

I've also printed DS cartridge holders, a case for my SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless receiver so that the top is flattened out, and a holder for my GoXLR Mini. There are so many unique ways to build storage into things you already have, or create better organizational systems, alone have made a 3D printer a fantastic investment.

I won't link individual options here as there are too many to choose from, but search for storage baskets, SD card holders, and various devices that you have on the likes of Printables or even just on Yeggi. You'll almost certainly find something you like.