“I’m Pretty Proud Of It”: 82 Creative People Who Used 3D Printers To Make Things They Couldn’t Find Anywhere Else

In a nutshell, consumers value reliability. 3D printer manufacturers know this, so they pre-program settings that don’t prioritize efficiency.

The idea is that you end up using slightly more material, but you don’t have to worry about the design collapsing or having aesthetic flaws.

What you can do is experiment with your printer, changing one setting at a time so that you find the right balance between speed, quality, and resource use.

“Some factory settings can stay exactly where they are because they work and don’t create enough waste to justify the effort. Others deserve attention because the same unnecessary plastic appears after nearly every job. The goal isn’t a printer that produces no waste. It’s knowing why the extra material is there,” XDA stresses.

We can’t wait to hear your thoughts! Upvote your favorite pics and join the conversation in the comments with your fellow Pandas.

Which of these designs impressed and inspired you the most? What is the coolest thing that you have ever 3D-printed yourself or seen someone else create?