Useful 3D Printed Items for CNC & Machine Shops!

When 3D printers first made their consumer debut, they were marketed as novelty machines. This video shows numerous 3D printed parts, fixtures, organization tools, and more that are actually useful!

In addition to our own examples, Jan Roetz (TIE Fighter Builder Extraordinaire) also has several awesome ideas to share. A huge thanks to him and Tyler Reid for reaching out to make this video jam packed with great ideas!

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Links for this video:

Jan Roetz

Tyler Reid

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Reach us / CNC Info:

[semperparatus]

JUST WOW! I am 100% Disabled Vet. and I got a 4896 CNC Router to work from home when I'm not down because of surgeries. I was 3D printing before I got wounded and KNEW the two could integrate BUT this video gave me TONS of ideas on printing holding jigs, tool jigs, storage and so on. Really appreciate the help. Video felt like you came into my shop and pointed out what I could do better. Thanks for that!

[cackleberryfarm]

I'm woodworker, tinkerer, farmer. But, SO many of these items in here show me WHAT can be accomplished with a 3d printer for us around here and out and about. And thanks for bringing in someone's ideas from another shop, that was FANTASTIC!!! You really helped in getting me closer and closer to falling off the fence and landing on the 3d printer side. Thanks, Rick

[amann]

Didn't know this many people were interested in CNC Machine shops! I have a machine shop myself and I just discovered this channel. Got a little bigger machines though.. 20ft table size double column gantry, Mazak integrex 670 lathe, lots of cool stuff. Mostly aerospace work

[ProtoSimTechnologies]

This dude started in his apartment. I can't believe how far this business has come. Absolutely blown away ;-)

[ShopNation]

Thanks for sharing, John. Lots of useful and functional 3D prints out there. The real paradox is that most of them tend to reveal themselves after you obtain the 3D printer - not before. I've been on the practical 3D printing train for a while and I always tell folks if you're on the fence, take the plunge!

[AmericasTeamAdventure]

I'm designing a new classroom for my high school small engine class. 3D printing a scale model of all the tools and equipment could be a game changer for the planning. Great idea!

[gredangeo]

19:02 Wow, just look at that nice subtle off white colouring. Raised lettering too. This guy's a champ.

[vpcnc]

The Haimer preload-ring is awesome. Also, Mr. Speroni tells me the ruby has a bit of dirt on it ;-)

[P-Engineering]

Timing couldn't have been any better!. Got the notification while unpacking my new 3D-printer for the machining business I just started this year. Have been absolutely binging through all the content you and John Grimsmo put out. Can't thank you guys enough for all the sharing you do.

[ScroungerLee]

What a fantastic episode! John you started out talking so fast, then I realized you had so much to say about so many ideas on so many machines. Congrats on the new machines coming by the way. You convinced me to invest in a 3D printer, although I may have to have my wife call you so you can use your enthusiasm to convince her it’s a good idea!

[TheTsunamijuan]

I have had a 3d printer for about 9 years now. Recently I have picked up my first Lathe and CNC mill. With the plan to start getting into manufacturing and job shop work. Primarily aimed at providing jobs for people that are disabled at varying degrees. I do a lot of work in CAD and other 3d programs. So often what I am designing already has a complete 3d model of the parts and assembly. Its so unbelievably easy these days to then take that and make fixtures and tooling.
Most recently I made a production printing press for a product that has 7 different colors as part of the design. If I had made these in a more traditional method, by hand. The materials cost and time would of put it vastly outside the budget. But by recycling materials on hand, and printing the mechanisms. With about an hour and a half of design time. I had a mostly complete solution that just needed to be printed. So I could focus on other tasks at hand between swapping prints. Overall cost in material 40$.
I should add pretty much everything i am using at this point is easily obtainable by anyone. The printers are nothing special. They aren't even anything super high end. Yes you need to know how to get the most out of the printer. But everything has a learning curve. Its just that most of the information in this space is freely accessible, and not behind a pay wall. So sit down and learn, or spend some time helping people and learning at a maker space or school. So you can bring what you have in your head, into the physical world.

[MrSidiox]

Even after all this time, the mini shop model is still my favorite. That sort of stuff is just so handing in planning out your building and equipment.

[dangerrangerlstc]

The building model is a great idea. They used to make paper or styrofoam models just like that, but 3d printing them yourself is faster and more customized. Kinda makes me want one to plan out our new house or my new shop.

[kidkhaos]

I 3D printed a mini mill CNC conversion with great success. My intention was originally to 3d print the conversion, then mill the parts out of aluminum. But it works so well I see no reason to waste my time or the material to remake the parts. I could have made them on my manual machines, but that would have taken up a lot of my limited shop time. A 3d printer is like an employee. You give it an action plan and it gets to work. It doesn't need sleep or breaks. I have 3 printers to split up the work load for faster results with multiple parts, and am working on building a 4th that will handle larger parts.
Great video guys!

[armadillomachinery]

Custom tools is one of my favorite uses for a 3D printer. I'd like to see someone machine a part held with 3D printed soft jaws.

[oldphart-zcjz]

I recently bought a printer solely to make useful tools and parts. Many handy items do not require a perfect or even a particularly good print so after three benchys I switched to printing storage enhancements, funnels (specialty funnels are surprisingly useful) and so forth. Phone/device holders and parts are trivially cheap to print as are RAM-style mounting ball attachments with various bases.

[Ragnar.Lothbrok..]

I'm really interested in checking out that 3d printing power point. It looks like it's talked about in your August 2020 blog but I can't seem to find the attachment.

[bbarker]

I just got a 3D printer and was thinking about what I could make to help with things around that shop. Great timing for this vid!!

[feman]

WOW, you have come a long way in your shop. I remember the old building and first videos...

[mazakdan]

Cool video! It's so handy to be able to quickly draw something up and let it print while you do other things.