What can you do with Arduino and a new 3D printer?

When 3D printing matured from an industrial edge case to a mainstream commercial technology in the 2010s, it captured the imaginations of everyone from schoolteachers to fashion designers.

But if there’s one group that really, really got excited about 3D printing, it was makers. When 3D printers became commercially available, they knew that everything was about to change.

Indeed, 3D printing offers everyone the invaluable ability to create custom components tailored to specific needs. This in turn brings a ton of powerful benefits – like a better ability to customize designs, cost savings due to relying less on expensive custom-made components, and faster prototyping.

What kind of 3D printer should you buy? 

There are three main types of 3D printers. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printers are commonly used for basic components, while Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) printers are best for complex designs. Stereolithography (SLA) printers, meanwhile, are ideal for specialized applications like jewelry and dental components. 

When choosing a 3D printer, you should consider factors like budget, project complexity, and the suitability of your physical environment.

Arduino, meet 3D printing

When you combine the power and magic of 3D printing with Arduino, you can tap into some seriously exciting opportunities. There are literally infinite possibilities! 

In the Arduino Project Hub, you can browse through examples and see often fascinating results.

Here is just a taste of inspiration for your first – or your next – 3D printing project! 

Feline fun: a cat-friendly Whack-A-Mole

Keeping your pets entertained can be a challenge – until you discover this project: a game of Whack-a-Mole designed for cats. It’s built around an Arduino with Bluetooth^® Low Energy, with parts created using a 3D printer. 

Vintage vibes: resurrecting the first-ever video gaming controller

What did the first-ever video gaming controller look and feel like? Thanks to this project, we no longer need to wonder! Follow the instructions to recreate the 1972 Magnavox Odyssey controller, faithfully replicating the parts using a 3D printer. 

Finally, you can bring the project to life using an Arduino UNO Rev3, saving hundreds of dollars compared to buying an antique controller online.

Creative covers: the best enclosure for your project

Some Arduino projects end up having lots of components, wires, and moving parts exposed. 3D printing an enclosure can make things look and feel much neater, as well as keep your projects contained and safe.

You can decide how complex you want the enclosures to be, ranging from simple covers to elegant lock-boxes allowing for access at a later time. 

It’s fairly simple to design and print covers for projects without much of a time investment: you can often find shared examples ready to use online. Recently, we 3D printed a spooky pumpkin enclosure to complete an interactive jack-o’-lantern based on the Plug and Make Kit…  looking forward to a memorable Halloween! 

In Arduino’s Project Hub and here on the blog, you’ll find tons of inspiration in the form of other 3D printing-focused projects. And don’t forget to share your own creations, either in Project Hub, sending an email to creators@arduino.cc or by tagging us on your own channels!