Top 3D Prints for Taming your Desk
A few simple prints to organize your workspace, reclaim your desk, and build a more productive setup.Maker Projects
Desk clutter is a real and constant battle. My own workspace is a revolving door for review gadgets, project parts, essential tools, and an always-growing collection of cables. It doesn't take long for my work surfaces to disappear under a layer of stuff.
While there’s no shortage of desk organizers, they are often generic-looking one-size-fits-all solutions that might not fit your workflow or style. Besides, it's always more fun to 3D print a solution to a problem, so I've become a fan of finding and 3D-printing various desk organizers and catch-all trays.
Here are a few of my current favorites.
Stylish holders for pens and tools
The first thing I needed was a way to wrangle items like pens, small screwdrivers, and files, plus a tube of 3D printer bed adhesive. A generic cup is boring, but 3D printing offers endless variety. For a clean, modern, and tech-forward look, this Hexagon Design Desk Organizer from KL Worx is perfect. It prints quickly and its geometric cells are great for sorting different types of tools.
I liked this design so much that I printed a second, similar one from the same designer. This Kumiko Design Desk Organizer references traditional Japanese woodworking. Both models solve the same problem in slightly different ways, and both involve printing an inner shell with a decorative outer wrap, so it's easy to mix colors even without a multi-color 3D printer like the Bambu A1 with AMS.
A catchall tray with character
Much of my desktop chaos comes from the little things: microSD cards, USB drives, loose screws from a project, etc. A simple valet tray or catchall is the solution, but what makes this Catchall Tray (Army Boy) from Deltaprints so great is its personality. It's got a great streamlined mid-century modern vibe, without being overly angular, instead using organic curves to keep it feeling grounded.
A modular tray system
This Desk Organizer Box from designer Mister.D is less about a single container and more about a complete, customizable system. I printed this large box with a snugly fitting lid, but the series also includes variations with the same ridged, industrial-looking elements arranged in various heights. I find this box especially good for larger dongles, audio adapters, and spare parts from modular cold shoe tripod attachments.
Photo: Dan AckermanAnd lastly, I've lost the original file I adapted and remixed this eyeglasses tray from, but I tweaked it to fit my Meta Ray-Ban glasses, making a version that also fits the entire charging case. You can further adjust it to a perfect fit for your glasses here on my Tinkercad project.
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Dan Ackerman is the Editor-in-Chief of Micro Center News. A veteran technology journalist with nearly 20 years of hands-on experience testing and reviewing the latest consumer tech, he previously served as Editor-in-Chief of Gizmodo and Editorial Director at CNET. He is also the author of The Tetris Effect, the critically acclaimed Cold War history of the world's most influential video game. Contact Dan at dackerman at microcenter.com.
