Anyone who spends time in a workshop or garage knows that a comfortable workspace is half the battle. Tools should be to hand, small parts sorted and home-made fixtures fitted exactly to the job. This is where 3D printing<\/strong> becomes an indispensable helper. Instead of hunting for the right accessory in the shops or cobbling something together from whatever is lying around, you can simply print a part that suits you perfectly.<\/p>\n In this article we look at the most useful things a 3D printer can make for kitting out a workshop \u2014 from simple organisers to functional clamps and templates.<\/p>\n A pegboard (perforated panel) is one of the most popular ways to organise tools on a wall. But standard hooks and holders don\u2019t always suit a particular tool. 3D printing solves this: you can create a holder shaped exactly for your screwdriver, pliers or spirit level.<\/p>\n PLA plastic<\/strong> is quite enough for these parts \u2014 the holders don\u2019t carry significant loads, and they print quickly and without problems.<\/p>\n Screws, nuts, washers, wall plugs, terminals \u2014 they all have a habit of scattering around the workshop and going missing at the worst possible moment. Printed organisers with separate compartments keep small things in order.<\/p>\n The advantage of 3D-printed trays over shop-bought ones is that you can make them exactly the size of your drawer, shelf or workbench. You can print a modular system: separate containers that connect to each other, adding new sections as needed.<\/p>\n PLA is the best choice for organisers \u2014 it holds its shape well, has a smooth surface and comes in different colours, which is handy for colour-coding categories of parts. Read more about the available 3D printing materials<\/a> on our website.<\/p>\n The handle on your file broke? Need an ergonomic handle for a chisel or an awl? 3D printing lets you make a handle that fits your palm perfectly. You can allow for the tang diameter, add ribbing for a better grip or even a hole for hanging.<\/p>\n For tool handles that carry mechanical loads, we recommend PETG plastic<\/a>. It\u2019s stronger than PLA, more impact-resistant and doesn\u2019t become brittle over time.<\/p>\n In woodworking or metalworking you\u2019re always one clamp short. Printed cam or spring clamps won\u2019t replace metal clamps for heavy loads, but they\u2019re great for holding parts during gluing, soldering or marking out.<\/p>\n Clamps are functional parts under load, so they should be printed in PETG<\/strong>. This material provides the springiness and strength needed for the clamp to work reliably for a long time.<\/p>\n Drilling a hole precisely at the right angle or with the right spacing is a lottery without a template. A 3D-printed jig is fixed to the workpiece and guides the drill exactly to the right spot.<\/p>\n Typical uses:<\/p>\n PLA is suitable for templates and jigs \u2014 they don\u2019t carry significant mechanical loads, and PLA prints slightly more accurately, which matters for marking-out fixtures.<\/p>\n A workshop without a vacuum cleaner means dust everywhere. But standard nozzles rarely suit cleaning hard-to-reach places: under a machine, between shelves, in the corners of racks. 3D printing lets you create a nozzle of any shape \u2014 a narrow crevice tool, a wide floor nozzle or a special one for connecting to a woodworking machine.<\/p>\n Just measure the diameter of your vacuum cleaner\u2019s tube and you can print an adapter or nozzle that fits the hose perfectly. PLA will do for nozzles that don\u2019t heat up. If the nozzle will work near heat sources, PETG is the better choice.<\/p>\n Building a light shelving unit or frame from aluminium profiles or wooden battens is much easier with printed connectors. Corner pieces for 20×20 or 30×30 mm profile, T-joints, cross joints \u2014 all of these print in an hour and let you put a structure together quickly without welding.<\/p>\nWall tool holders and pegboard accessories<\/h2>\n
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Trays and organisers for small parts<\/h2>\n
Custom tool handles<\/h2>\n
Clamps and holding fixtures<\/h2>\n
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Drilling templates and jigs<\/h2>\n
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Vacuum cleaner nozzles<\/h2>\n
Corner connectors for shelving<\/h2>\n