Practical 3D Printing: Everyday Items You Can Make at Home

When most people think of 3D printing, they picture miniature figurines, prototypes, or artistic models. But in reality, 3D printing has become one of the most practical tools for everyday life, helping hobbyists, small businesses, and creators design and produce functional items right at home.

Whether you want to tidy up your workspace, make a custom part for your gear, or print something that simply makes your day-to-day life easier, the possibilities are endless. In this post, we’ll share a few practical prints we’ve made recently here at RAW3D and explore how you can start bringing more functionality into your own prints.

From Desk to Workshop: Practical Prints in Action

Business Card Holder

Every small business owner knows how important first impressions are. When we realised our front counter could use a clean, modern display to showcase our new business cards, we decided to 3D print our own.

This business card holder was printed on the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon AMS, using a combination of RAW3D PLA+ White and eSUN Matte PLA Deep Black. The contrast between the matte black and glossy white gives the holder a professional, eye-catching finish, perfectly matching the design of our reception desk. 

Not only does it look great, but it also highlights how useful 3D printing can be for small business branding. Instead of waiting for a custom design to be made or ordering bulk from overseas, we had a fully functional, stylish holder within the day.

DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Holder

Another recent print was a camera holder for the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, printed on the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon using RAW3D PLA+ White.

This was a unique and satisfying project that fulfilled a genuine business need. We needed a way to mount the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 for smooth desktop content, so we designed and 3D printed a custom mount using our RAW3D PLA+ White. Clean, sturdy, and perfectly tailored for the job, the mount fits seamlessly onto a third-party desk arm using a MagSafe ring for easy attachment and adjustment.

As an added bonus, being able to create a custom solution that precisely met our filming requirements saved us the hassle and cost of buying a branded accessory that may not have worked as well.

It’s a perfect example of how 3D printing can extend the usefulness of your tech gear, giving you the flexibility to create designs that suit your exact setup.

Everyday Uses for 3D Printing

One of the best things about 3D printing is that you don’t need to tackle massive projects to get real value out of it. Here are a few ideas to inspire your next practical print:

Home Organisation

Tired of messy drawers or cables everywhere? Print your own cable clips, wall hooks, drawer dividers, or storage bins. PLA+ works perfectly for most of these - it’s strong, easy to print, and holds up well for everyday use.

Workshop and Maker Tools

For anyone with a workshop or 3D printing setup, practical prints can make a world of difference. Think spool holders, calibration cubes, tool caddies, nozzle storage racks and the list goes on. Many hobbyists also print mounts for their printers or camera brackets for time-lapse setups.

Office and Desk Accessories

Like keeping your desk neat and functional? Try printing pen stands, monitor risers, headphone hooks, stationery organisers, or even business card holders (like we did!). With the right design and filament, your prints can look every bit as clean and professional as store-bought options - with the added bonus of being customised to suit your exact setup.

Around the Home

Household prints are some of the most rewarding and fun to make. Think bag clips, soap dishes, utensil organisers, or phone stands. These small items are quick to print but can add both personality and practicality to your home, making everyday tasks that little bit easier. They’re also a great way to test new filaments and colour combinations without using too much material.

Choosing the Right Filament for Functional Prints

When it comes to practical 3D prints, filament choice matters. Here are a few quick tips:

• PLA+ (such as the RAW3D PLA+ that we used in our prints) is a reliable all-rounder for most practical prints. It’s stronger and less brittle than standard PLA and works beautifully for desk accessories, home items, and decorative functional parts.
• PETG is ideal for parts that need more flexibility or temperature resistance compared to PLA, such as phone mounts or outdoor clips.
• ASA is an ideal option for outdoor or UV-exposed items, thanks to its weather resistance and durability.

If you’re printing something structural or that will be under stress, try increasing your infill percentage, wall thickness, or switching to a tougher filament. But for most everyday applications, PLA+ offers the perfect balance of printability and strength.

Tips for Getting the Most from Practical Prints

• Design or choose models with function in mind. Look for sturdy base layers, thicker walls, and solid infill patterns.
• Test-fit before finalising. If your print needs to hold something (like our camera holder), print a small test section to check fit and tolerances.
• Experiment with finishes. Mixing matte and glossy filaments can create a professional, modern look without any post-processing.
• Keep your print settings dialled in. Always use the recommended print settings for your specific filament and adjust as needed.

Why Practical Printing Makes Sense

Practical 3D printing isn’t just about saving money (though that’s a nice bonus). It’s about creativity, customisation, and sustainability. You can make what you need, when you need it, without waiting for shipping or buying mass-produced plastic items.

Plus, 3D printing allows you to repurpose, repair, or improve existing products. If something breaks or doesn’t quite fit your needs, a quick redesign and reprint can often fix the problem.

For small businesses like ourselves, that flexibility can be a real advantage, whether it’s printing branded items, store fixtures, or even replacement parts.

Final Thoughts

From camera mounts to business cards holders, 3D printing opens up a world of possibilities for functional, everyday use. The more you experiment, the more you’ll discover how useful your printer can be.

If you’re ready to bring your ideas to life, check out our range of high-quality filaments here, available online or for local pick-up in Perth, Western Australia.

Start printing smarter and turn your 3D printer into the ultimate everyday tool.