6 modular 3D-printed projects to build and customize this weekend (Sep 25 - 27)

Published Sep 25, 2026, 12:30 PM EDT Tim has been covering technology for almost 20 years, in that time spanning a broad range of topics from security to product reviews. He is especially focused on the Apple ecosystem, productivity, and consumer advice. Over the years Tim has written thousands of articles, reviews, and round-ups in addition to producing video content and original photography. A graduate of journalism, he found his footing as a freelancer with a laptop and loves how he is able to work from practically anywhere. Now a Senior Editor for iPhone, Mac, and Smart Home at How-To Geek, Tim still loves to write. He can also be found crafting round-ups and productivity posts for the Zapier blog. Earlier in his career Tim spent nearly a decade as a writer and eventually Apple section editor for MakeUseOf. Tim currently lives in Brisbane, Australia. Outside of work he loves to hike and work out, play video games, and spend quality time with his wonderful partner and two cats Inka and Roger. Modular 3D-printed models are designed with customization and future expansion in mind. By adding additional modules or printing just the parts you need, you can expand on a project in the future or make something that feels tailored to you. Gridfinity is arguably the ultimate modular 3D-printed organization project, but you probably already know about that one. So here are six more to sink your teeth into. Gridfinity-compatible and endlessly adjustable I said I wouldn’t feature Gridfinity, but I didn’t say anything about Gridfinity-adjacent systems. Slotfinity is a similar project that mirrors much of what makes Gridfinity so enticing. Print a grid-based base plate, then add dividers and trays to organize your various tools, drill bits, mills, blades, and more. You can use Gridfinity to organize tools, but Slotfinity is even better since you can simply pick up a divider and move things around on the fly. You can also swap in additional trays to accommodate larger or smaller tools and bits. It’s worth taking a look at the reviews to see how people are using this system to bring order to their tool collection. Megapowerbank Just keep adding 18650 batteries Credit: leospacelab / MakerWorld Do you ever feel like power banks just aren’t big enough for your needs? A lot of this comes down to manufacturers designing their products around what airlines will allow on board. But if you don’t care about that, you can use a modular system like Megapowerbank to add as many 18650 batteries as you like to an endlessly expanding stack. This isn’t just a 3D printing project; it involves electronics too. You’re going to need a high-power charging module, mainboard, battery holders, batteries (of course), plus heat set inserts, countersunk screws, and cables. The bigger your bank, the more you’ll need. On the plus side, 18650 batteries can be found for reasonable prices in bulk, so even with filament costs and additional circuitry you’re still looking at a good deal. Strong custom modular shelving Wood makes up the bulk of this project Credit: Benji / MakerWorld Wood is an excellent 3D printing material. I’m not talking about filament that includes wood (though that is pretty great), but rather the use of wood alongside 3D-printed parts to add strength and style while keeping a project relatively affordable. This modular 3D-printed shelf track serves as a great example of this. Print as many supports as you need for however large you want your unit to be, then add wood to suit. The model author makes the bold claim that the model “supports the weight of 2 adults (140kg) without noticeable deformation” when printed with Bambu Lab’s PLA basic filament. While this might be the case, PETG might be the safer option given PLA’s tendency to creep and warp over time. Modular hydroponic tower garden A growing operation Credit: chrisebryan / Printables Hydroponic gardening means growing plants in water, circulating nutrients as necessary while avoiding the use of soil substrate. It is said to use dramatically less water and space, while producing higher yields and allowing for year-round harvests through the use of indoor growing and artificial lighting. Despite the obvious benefits, a hydroponic setup can feel like a lot of work and investment. So why not start slow with a modular system like the Modular Hydroponic Tower Garden? This Printables upload is a repost of a Thingiverse model by an author called boundarycondition. While the original upload no longer exists, effort has been made to preserve the model. Start small with a few plants, then expand your grow-op by adding more. The only limitation is how much vertical space you have. On top of the 3D model, the project depends on an Arduino-driven water pump—instructions for which have also been preserved on GitHub. Modular cable ducting Guide and hide wires in your home Credit: Lukas / MakerWorld A 3D printer is a powerful tool for overcoming cable clutter in your home. Not only can you tidy up your box of cables, you can also route those that you have to look at every day. One of the best prints for the job is a modular cable duct, since you can print only the pieces you need, on demand, in a color of your choosing. This particular model is available in standard sizing for a 256x256 build plate, or with longer 300mm rails for use on a Bambu Lab H2 series or Prusa Core One XL+ printer or similar. It’s pretty light on filament, all things considered, and looks way better than a messy run of cables. IKEA Skadis and derivatives Expand Skadis and 3D print more attachments Credit: IKEA IKEA’s Skadis is a pegboard system that has taken on a life of its own among the 3D printing community. You can buy the pegboards from IKEA, or you can make your own. A combined effort using something like the IKEA Skadis Modular system allows you to expand the reach of Skadis with oddly-shaped expansion pieces. Beyond this, the 3D printing community has generated hundreds if not thousands of attachments for the system so that you can attach everything from modular calendars to modular organizers to cable clips you can print on demand. Even modular systems like the Skadis have modular expansions! Hungry for more? Find out what makes the Skadis so appealing to 3D printer owners. Another great place for modular projects is your homelab, where you can build and expand on server racks.