How Are You Utilizing 3D Printer in Your Woodworking?

[onocoffee]

During Black Friday, I bought the Bambu P1S 3D printer to replace the Creality Ender 3 printer I got the year before, and I've been printing in earnest. Partly because I need the items (I think) and partly because I want to get the most out of the expense.

But I was talking with another woodworker last week about 3D printers in the woodshop and he remarked that he didn't want to "just be printing random stuff" which got me thinking on how I'm utilizing the printer for my woodworking. Sure, I've printed a series of Gridfinity inserts to "organize" my toolbox, doghole covers to stop parts and dust falling through the bench, Sliding Sys Rails, Systainer labels, tape roll dispensers, chisel holders, clamp holders, battery sleds, router rests, Domino Pez dispenser, MFT Hinge, rail angle guide and dust port adapters to fit a D27 to the RS2 - but has any of it really been FOR the effort of making a piece? It's mainly been workshop gadgetry stuff and a couple fun prints, like the Exocomp Peanut Hamper.

For those of you who have 3D printers, how are you utilizing them in your workshop? Have you found a use that actually assists in making projects? Or are you also just printing random things for the workshop?

 

[cdconey]

I primarily use mine for printing accessories for tools, tool organization, organization, parts/jigs for the CNC, dust collection adapters, and /wall hangers.

Gridfinity has its place, I use it in the house but find that it's not so great in the shop.

One big plus is hardware organization - printing smaller bins for the De Walt Pro Organizers - it makes them much more efficient for storing smaller hardware. I prefer the Stanley organizers, but the availability is scarce and price is about 3-4X the De Walt after you add shipping.

As far as using 3D printed parts in a finished projects-

I did use my Bambu X1C to print some hardware for a stair baluster install. Saved hours of frustration and made the install much easier.

And made a vertical plant stand for my daughter ( floor to ceiling ) so she can take it when she moves and won't damage her rental units.

 

[ChuckS]

I don't have a 3D printer but have got some 3D printed accessories for my workshop. Etsy has tons of 3D printed products for sale to woodworkers in case you're looking inspirations.

 

[bobtskutter]

I use a 3d printer to make stuff when I can't. I can design a router template when I'm waiting for my kids somewhere, then print it overnight and use it the next day. I also regularly make vacuum adapters to connect tool A to vac B. I've 3rd printed at the tube fittings for my garage air filter.
Printing stuff is the easy bit, designing stuff is the hard bit.

Bob

 

[WillAdams]

Gridfinity for organizing tools and hardware.

I also make custom jigs/fixtures for cuts where it isn't an option to hit a surface w/ a plane.

 

[WillAdams]

Oh, also, a Jog Pendant was recently added to our lineup by my employer:

First Batch of Jog Pendants

We just put our first batch of jeg pendants in stock as an unlisted product (so you can only get it from this link, not via site search). A couple of users on the forum have tried them and might be persuaded to share their experiences. (@Ed.E and @SLCJedi ) We’re not sure how popular these...

community.carbide3d.com

and I 3D printed a slightly modified shell:

 

[Michael Kellough]

@ WillAdams, this looks really cool! I’m assuming it’s for control of your CNC.

 

[WillAdams]

Thanks! Correct, a Jog pendant allows one to jog a CNC machine around.

 

[Ultimate Tools Marketing]

I use a 3d printer to make stuff when I can't. I can design a router template when I'm waiting for my kids somewhere, then print it overnight and use it the next day. I also regularly make vacuum adapters to connect tool A to vac B. I've 3rd printed at the tube fittings for my garage air filter.
Printing stuff is the easy bit, designing stuff is the hard bit.
View attachment 380640View attachment 380641View attachment 380642View attachment 380643View attachment 380644
Bob

Hey Bob,

What is the European hinge print for? I can't figure out its purpose.

 

[bobtskutter]

@Ultimate Tools Marketing Hay there,
The Euro Hinge print is a test jig I made up of a cabinet frame and a cabinet door.
There are two doors with different hinge drilling set backs, 3,4,5,6 mm. (You can only see one door in the picture).
I was trying to test how the drilling position affected the angle a door would open, and how the door sits against the cabinet frame.
Even though the hinge catalogue said "6mm drilling offset", turned out a 3mm drilling offset worked best - go figure!!!

Post in thread 'Help with Blum cup hinges'

Dec 26, 2025

Hello FOG, Merry Christmas.
I built a jig to test different drilling positions of Blum 75T1550 hinges with 173L8100 mounting plates.
The jig is 3D printed, because I can leave it printing whilst cooking Christmas dinner and sleeping it off over night
The jig is 18mm thick and has different set backs for the cup drilling, 6mm, 5mm, 4mm, 3mm (there are two different "doors"), this is the TB measurement in the Blum catalogue.

Using TB=6 and adjusting the hinge to get a 17mm overlay, 1mm reveal and so the door fully opens, I get a 3.9mm gap behind the...

• bobtskutter

I use the 3D printer for lots of this sort of stuff. I wonder how this would work....???
I admit it's not woodworking, but it helps me test things and then I get on with making stuff.

Regards
Bob

 

[Mini Me]

There is a lot of activity on YT showing 3D printed ball valves instead of blast gates which make for a very tidy duct installation.

 

[Picktool]

Hmmmf... Damn Festool and this forum!?!?!
Been seeing a bunch of things printed here and well now I have the bug.
Went all out on an H2C & have no clue about 3D printing.
My son and I have a small road to figure this out. Should be cool.
And learning Fusion is a beast as I been wanting to design on it.
Bring on more 3D stuff

 

[BWS]

I use my 3d printers to make all sorts of things for my shop and woodworking. For example I 3d printed a layout jig so I can get the perfect layout when placing holes, either for feet on a cutting board or a door pull on a cabinet. Honestly I think a 3d printer is more mandatory than most tools. It will pay for itself within weeks if not days.

 

[AstroKeith]

Dare I say it, but I use my 3D printer to make stuff I would previously have made with woodworking, but can be better done with a printer.

My other hobbies are astronomy and airgun target shooting. Previously I would spend hours (days) fabricating jigs and accessories out of wood - some requiring close tolerances.

Yesterday I wanted a pellet sorting tray. I could have made one from wood and had some fun, but I spent 20 mins at the computer and the printer did the rest. The end product is arguably better than if I had made it in wood? Doesnt look so good, but it is very functional.

 

[ChuckS]

There's absolutely no doubt that 3D printing is a great tool for a lot of things or people (i.e., not just woodworkers). However, as compared to woodworking, it is still sedentary in nature.

That said, if one day I become too old to work in the shop, I'd like to find another hobby that suits my interest of creating things, and 3 D printing sounds like a good match. Right now, I have too many projects I want to do, and travels eat into the shop time that I can make available for them.

 

[Mini Me]

We raced karts for many years and I developed some new stuff for them so I bought a 3D printer for prototyping and it saved about 6 months and paid for itself in one week. Another hobby is flying scale gliders, last night we needed a servo mount for a new build so I grabbed a design off the net and printed it in an hour. Years ago it really was a problem as everything had to be fabricated out of tiny pieces of wood and the result was never very good.