What are your favorite useful 3D printing objects? I don't need more trinkets for a shelf.

I've had this Ender-3 maybe a month or so.  Bed is level, passed a printing test nicely.  I've printed a filament guide and fan cover.  Found a mini Gonk droid from Star Wars, and tried a two-sided coin.  Ok, seems to be working...

But I don't want to print baubles to put on a shelf.  I'll probably do some more Star Wars related stuff, but what else is out there?  The Miata already has printed sun visor delete plates.  And I've already bought the console cup holder that replaces the ashtray.

What else?

I've been using mine to produce models and molds for silicone casting. I'm buying another one to make things better all around.

Just go browse thingiverse. 

But I have this habit of downloading lots of stl files and never doing anything with them. 

glove box divider ?

heater vent  diverters, 

Miata speaker covers with Abarth Logo :)

Sun glass holder , 

But I agree with you , I want to make stuff that I can look at and smile that I made that !

I find the longer you live with it the more things you find to make.  Also learning your way around Fusion 360 so you can design your own stuff or at least modify other stuff helps.

I havent made anything really earth shattering but I need a bracket I design something and print it.  Handle for the chicken coop door, easy peasy.   Custom badge for the back of the truck, why not.  Lots of little accessories and bits for my aquarium.  Really you just have to start looking at the things you want to do and decide which of those make good printing projects.

Going to try out a thingiverse posted design for a Dremel sanding drum holder this week, as the expanding rubber sleeve types from the store pretty much suck.  

Any chance you could print me a 1:160 scale (AKA "N" Scale) NB Miata for my son's train layout?  You'll earn hero status.  

BTW, if you wanted to make a fair bit of coin, a line of N scale modern vehicles priced at $5/$10 each would probably sell well.  Shapeways is kind of the only real option right now, and they tend to hit you closer to $15-20 for something the size of an old school Micromachine. 

Print upgrades for the printer, of course!  Then print an entirely new printer!  Now you have two printers and can print enough parts for four printers!

Seriously, upgrades are a big thing when I have downtime for actual projects, but I generally use mine to prototype stuff.

I printed adapters to go from a single 1bbl to twin Weber two barrels on my '67 Mustang.  I'll be casting these later using the lost wax method.

https://i.imgur.com/W03QKPC.jpg

As well as a throttle linkage for the same

https://i.imgur.com/HLvVXlg.gif

I used CAD to design a replacement for an obsolete outboard part, then I cast it in bronze

https://imgur.com/a/kJjBZ

I printed gauge adapters for the same Mustang I mentioned above

https://i.imgur.com/TiEIbsx.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/nXrifGj.jpg

I printed a hose-to-outboard attachment so I could flush out an old outboard.

https://i.imgur.com/cvY716m.jpg

I needed more light in the garage, so I printed adapters for some cheap LED lights off Amazon

https://i.imgur.com/9HJBDFN.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/h4H7Nd4.jpg

When I rebuilt my engine, I sandblasted my intake manifold for paint.  Didn't want anything getting in the injector bungs when I painted, sooooo I printed plugs

https://i.imgur.com/h1WltZN.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/uyIzxq8.jpg

And these were all just a few of the things I've done with my home printer.  I also have done at least twice that much with the free ones at college when I was doing my engineering program.

Learn some form of CAD or Blender or some other modelling software and make your own stuff.

I tend to design stuff that I need, but doesn't exist. 
currently working on trim rungs for my recesses lights. I used thin wood for the ceiling so existing trim rings don't fit. 
i fixed my toilet with my very first 3d print 6 years ago. 
i also designed and printed a charging station for the carious phones and tablets we have here at the house. 

Got plenty of time this weekend, I'll figure something out.  Maybe take a stab at creating something myself.

Looking at Thingiverse before work I did see this: Customizable hole plug/caps

Reminds me of the printed center caps for the daisey's on the Miata.

novelty bookends for a shelf

Tool holders (wrench racks, socket strips) or dividers for your tool box

Custom emblems for your car.

You want to drive a Star Destroyer?  No problem.

noddaz said:

Custom emblems for your car.

You want to drive a Star Destroyer?  No problem.

You seem to know your audience.  This intrigues me.