15 Best 3D Printed Tools for Your Workshop

One of the most satisfying things about owning a 3D printer is printing tools that make your workspace more efficient. Not novelty trinkets that collect dust, but actual functional items that you reach for daily. After three years of printing workshop accessories and testing dozens of designs, I've narrowed it down to 15 prints that genuinely earn their spot.

Every item on this list is free to download, printable on a standard 220 x 220 mm bed, and designed for real use rather than Instagram aesthetics. I've included material recommendations and key print settings for each so you can get them right on the first try.

Organization and Storage

1. Gridfinity Baseplates and Bins

Gridfinity is an open-source modular storage system designed by Zack Freedman. Print baseplates that screw to your workbench or shelf, then snap in bins of any size configuration. The system uses a 42 x 42 mm grid that locks together magnetically or with friction fit. Print baseplates in PLA at 0.2 mm layers. Print bins in PETG for extra durability. This single system replaced three different organizer brands in my workshop and actually stays organized because rearranging takes seconds.

2. Hex Bit Holder Rack

A wall-mounted rack with labeled slots for every hex, Torx, and Phillips bit you own. The best designs use a stepped layout so you can see and grab any bit without removing others. Print in PETG for impact resistance, PLA cracks when you fumble a heavy screwdriver into the rack. Use 3 walls and 40% infill for rigidity.

3. Caliper Holder with Drawer

Digital calipers are the most-used measuring tool in any maker's shop, and they deserve better than rolling around in a drawer. A printed holder keeps calipers upright and accessible, with a small drawer underneath for spare batteries and calibration blocks. Print in PLA at 0.2 mm with 20% infill, this is a static holder, not a structural component.

4. Cable Management Clips

Adhesive-backed clips that route USB cables, power cords, and filament tubing along desk edges and printer frames. Print 20-30 at a time in PLA, they take about 4 minutes each. The self-adhesive versions use a flat back surface for 3M VHB tape. Simple, boring, and one of the most useful prints you'll ever make.

5. Spool Holder with Bearing

The stock spool holders on most printers are friction-fit dowels that resist rotation and cause inconsistent extrusion force. A printed spool holder with 608 skateboard bearings ($1 each) spins freely and feeds filament smoothly. This is especially valuable for TPU and flexible filaments where consistent feed tension prevents jams. Print the holder body in PETG at 40% infill for load-bearing strength.

3D Printer Upgrades

6. Filament Dust Filter

A clip-on sponge holder that wipes filament clean as it feeds into the extruder. Dust and debris on filament cause nozzle clogs, especially on long prints. The filter holds a small piece of sponge (cut from a kitchen sponge) around the filament path. Replace the sponge monthly. Print in PLA, takes 20 minutes. This is the cheapest print that prevents the most expensive failures.

7. Camera Mount for OctoPrint

If you're running OctoPrint for remote monitoring, you need a camera aimed at the build plate. A printed articulating arm mount attaches to the printer frame and holds a Logitech C270 or Pi Camera at the perfect angle. Ball-joint designs allow fine adjustment without tools. Print in PETG, PLA softens near the heated bed over time.

8. Tool Holder for Printer Sidebar

A clip-on caddy that attaches to your printer's vertical extrusion and holds spatulas, scrapers, tweezers, and flush cutters within arm's reach. No more walking to the toolbox mid-print. Design it to match your printer's extrusion profile (2020 or 2040 aluminum in most cases). PLA is fine since it's not near heat sources.

9. Nozzle Organizer Box

A compartmentalized box with labeled slots for different nozzle sizes and materials. Separate sections for 0.2 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.6 mm, and 0.8 mm nozzles in brass, hardened steel, and ruby-tipped variants. The box prevents nozzles from rolling around in drawers and getting damaged. Print in PLA with 0.12 mm layers so the label text is crisp and readable.

Measurement and Alignment

10. Angle Gauge Set

A set of reference angles (15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°) for quick setup of miter gauges, table saw blades, and drill press tables. Printed in PLA at 100% infill and 0.12 mm layers, these are accurate to within 0.3°, more than sufficient for woodworking setup. Keep a set at each power tool station.

11. Center-Finding Ruler

A V-shaped jig that finds the center of round stock, dowels, and pipes up to 80 mm diameter. Place the round object in the V, draw a line along the straight edge, rotate the object, draw another line, where they cross is the center. Invaluable for drilling centered holes. Print at 100% infill in PETG for dimensional stability.

12. Thickness Gauge Set

Feeler gauges from 0.1 mm to 2.0 mm in 0.1 mm increments on a fan-style ring. Perfect for setting nozzle-to-bed distance during manual bed leveling, checking part tolerances, and gap measurements. Print at 0.08 mm layer height for maximum dimensional accuracy. Verify against digital calipers after printing and label any that are out of spec.

Jigs and Fixtures

13. Soldering Helping Hands

A ball-joint articulating arm system with alligator clips for holding PCBs, wires, and components during soldering. The printed version uses M5 bolts as ball joints and is infinitely more adjustable than the cheap cast-metal versions from hardware stores. Print the arms in PETG (heat resistance near the soldering iron) and the base in PLA with sand fill for weight. A genuinely better tool than what $30 buys commercially.

14. Drill Depth Stop Collar

Snap-on collars for drill bits that set a consistent drilling depth. Print a set for common bit sizes (3 mm through 12 mm) with a thumbscrew tightening mechanism. Each collar takes 8 minutes to print and replaces the $10-15 commercial metal versions. Use PETG for durability against the spinning bit shaft. These are consumable items, print extras because they do wear out after 50-100 holes.

15. Custom Clamp Jaws

Soft jaws that snap over your bar clamps and vise to hold irregularly shaped parts without marring surfaces. Print them in TPU for maximum grip and surface protection, or PETG for rigid custom-contour jaws. The beauty of 3D printing here is that you can design jaws that perfectly match any specific workpiece, something no commercial clamp offers.

Materials Summary

Most workshop prints fall into three material categories. PLA for static organizers and room-temperature tools, it's easy to print and dimensionally accurate. PETG for anything that takes mechanical stress, lives near heat, or needs impact resistance. And TPU for grip surfaces, vibration dampening, and protective covers.

Proper filament storage matters doubly for workshop prints. A tool printed from moisture-contaminated PETG will have reduced layer adhesion and fail under loads that a properly dried print handles easily. Keep your filament dry and your workshop prints will last years instead of months.

The best part about printing your own tools is iteration. If a bit holder doesn't fit your exact set, modify the model and reprint it. If a clamp jaw needs a slightly different contour, adjust and reprint. No commercial product matches the customization a 3D printer delivers. Start with the Gridfinity system and a spool holder, those two prints alone will change how you interact with your workspace.