The future of customization is in 3D printing.
Figuratively and literally, many bells and whistles of a bicycle are made using 3D printers at home. Owning a 3D printer or outsourcing 3D printer to a local shop means you can maximize the customization of your unique bike accessories. Bicycle storage products like wall mount, hangers and even stands are no different.
We're going to dive into how to actually get a 3D printed bike storage from scratch, in 2 easy steps.
Step 1. Buy a 3D Printer or Ask someone else.
You'd want to buy a 3D Printing Machine that has reasonable price and reliability. Biggest issues with modern 3D Printers is that they can break while on the job, very very easily.
We recommend Bambu Lab P1S. It comes in 6 colors and semi-open sourced, but get ready to shell out 450 usd to 899 usd for a unit. If you wish to go beyond the frontiers of the 3D printing world, there are 3D Printers using aluminum, steel and even plywood. Expect these special 3D Printers to break and cost a lot of money.
Realistically, if you cannot afford one unit, have no space to put it, or just simply want one single prototype, ask Google Map: 3D Printers near me to find some shop that can do it for you instead. Note that local 3D Print Shops would still ask you for a .STL file if you are looking to have it made by them. This brings us to the next step.
Step 2. Design a print yourself or buy an existing file.
This is the software part when it comes to 3d Printing. There are two main ways to create a 3D print. First, you can download pre-made 3D files in the .stl format from various online sources. Alternatively, you can design your own 3D models using CAD tools like DesignSpark Mechanical, Fusion 360, or TinkerCad. After completing your design, export it as an .stl file (e.g., Birdhouse.stl).
Design your own 3d Model
Here’s a quick overview of popular CAD software for 3D printing:
- TinkerCad: A beginner-friendly option that’s simple to use.
- DesignSpark Mechanical: A free, intuitive tool that offers more features than TinkerCad.
- Fusion 360: A professional-grade software with advanced capabilities, though it has a steeper learning curve.
Download pre-made 3D files
Thingiverse is one of the largest platforms for 3D printing files, offering all its resources for free.
Yeggi works as a search engine specifically for 3D-printable files, and it’s a great starting point to discover a variety of websites.
We also recommend TF3DM, which mainly features files sourced from video games. While these models aren’t typically designed for 3D printing, you can make them printable by using tools like GreenToken's online converter and Microsoft's 3D Model Repair tool if adjustments are needed.
3D Printed Wall Mounted Rack
So below is a downloadable design for a wall mounted bike rack. You can find it here https://www.printables.com/model/520304-wall-mounted-bike-rack
3D Printed Portable Kickstand for MTB
Another cool nifty kickstand for storage and parking is this 3D Printed kickstand. Please make sure your specifications match with the specifications of the model and download the file here https://www.printables.com/model/635592-mtb-bike-stand-parametric
3D Printed Ceiling Bike Mount
Make sure your bike is a road bike or lighter when it comes to downloading a 3D print file for a ceiling mount or hanger. Try out this one if you have a light bike: https://www.printables.com/model/112071-bike-hanger-mount
Downsides to a 3D Printed Bike Storage Unit
As you will soon find out, making a 3D printed "anything" requires multiple steps and a bit of money. We haven't even talked about filament issues or the myriad possible risks of a 3D printed product. A lot of bikes are just too heavy and did we mention, your 3D printer will definitely 100% break? Half of the value to 3D printing is the experience and the process of making a 3D printed product.