I find 3D printers pretty interesting, and I'm interested in getting one, but what do you do with them besides just tinker around with them? I don't really want to buy one just as a toy to goof around with, so I'm hoping to get some ideas here.

I'd love to hear what you do with yours if you have one.

Mines going to be to dick around with and print fun things I find online mostly but my brother uses his X1C to print all kinds of stuff for his rural home. Parts for his tractor, shrouds for cameras, things for my nieces softball team etc. On our last cruise he printed up a ton of the cruise ducks to hide around the ship which was fun. Once you get into it and search around on the 3d maker sites, you will find all kinds of things to make you never even thought of that can improve your day to day. Any time your break a small part on something around the house, searching online for a 3d model of it someone already made is pretty easy.

If you buy one to goof around with, make sure to get a good one. Started with a Creality and it sucked the life out of me.

Moved to a Prusa because I liked the open nature vs Bambi and I like building things and I've been much happier.

Also… to answer your question directly: 3D printed Nerf parts and blasters for the kids. So many cool enhancements and motor upgrades to make the $20 Walmart blasters shoot faster and farther.

I do a mix of things. Started out with mostly toys and nick nacks for the kids while I was getting the hang of things. I've designed some mounts like a rearview mirror mount for Furrion camera video screens, and some other camera mounts for different purposes.

I've had some other ideas that I may monetize once I get the designs where I want them. Not sure how to go about the advertising and selling side just yet, though.

My daughter identified a demand for a niche item that she sells on Etsy whenever she is looking for some extra spending money.

I did not want a trinket machine. Bought one to add to be used as a tool as I do a lot of carpentry and other maker-type stuff on the side. I feel like it's been a game-changer for me.

• Nearly completed the patent process on a technology to help guitar-makers using a system of plates and plugs that my partner and I designed and printed.
• I'll print scale models of whatever cabinet layouts I'm building. So much better than just a CAD model. The visceral effect of being able to see and hold a physical model is awesome and helps hone in on a final design better.
• Countless jigs, fittings, gauges, and guides.
• Tons of things that I could buy, but are much cheaper and often faster to print - Example - Zero Clearance Table Saw inserts run about $50/pop.
• Some things that I could buy, but don't quite fit what I'm doing - ie "generic" dust collection fittings vs custom ones with the angle I need.
• All types of organizational inserts, trays, and parts.

Almost all of the above were done in Fusion 360. I never used 3D CAD before buying my printer, but I've found it easy to learn and there are a lot of resources. Of course, there are huge libraries of things you can find online and print without any CAD know-how - I'll echo Fatzilla's comments about about finding things that break. Any of these you're interested in seeing, just ask.

I'll also agree with OldArmy07 above, the Prusa printer just works. I've got a MK3S+ and I'm considering adding a MK4. I think today Bambu probably has Prusa beat on paper, but I've been so happy with the quality and ease-of-use, I'll keep supporting Prusa. Nothing against the Bambu, though. They are pushing the market forward.

This seems like something that is a bigger deal than people give it credit for. 3D printers have kind of fallen out of the news with AI hogging all the limelight. I've never thought about buying one but the potential is almost limitless.

YouBet said:

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This seems like something that is a bigger deal than people give it credit for. 3D printers have kind of fallen out of the news with AI hogging all the limelight. I've never thought about buying one but the potential is almost limitless.

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They have been around for quite a while, so I'm not sure why they would be in the news anymore. At this point they have become extremely affordable and have options all the way from cheap hobby printers, to mid range 'just click print', up to business printers printing boats and houses. The only new advances you hear about are when they start printing in some new material they have never printed with before.

Some libraries have 3D printers that they allow patrons to use. Given it only costs you the material costs, it might be a cheap way to try stuff out