BTW… In the process of designing these there were made a few prototypes. They all are not perfect, but if someone (from Germany) wants one, here is my stock :D If you have questions on a specific one just ask. I would give them away for shipping+packaging cost.
I threw mine a couple times now with the new case, so far it’s doing a great job (using the neon green one with the blue lanyard for myself). But it highly depends on the type of case you print or to be more precise on thickness and buildtype. If it’s thick enough and protects all the edges, you probably will be as save as with a usual case you would buy (at least that’s what I feel right now after I designed and printed these). But if you print one, that’s very thin, then your phone might get damaged when dropped.
You’re absolutely right. I had the same problem. Always wanted the case I am using right now, but I just wasn’t able to find one. Feels like a bit more freedom right now. And for the price of one good case from Amazon I now print multiple. But yes, I paid for the printer, material and electricity. If my calculations are right, my printer paid off already after I printed a holder for my wife’s hairdryer. If I would have bought one, it would have cost me about 130€, absolutely insane. My printer with all upgrades cost me 300€ by now btw. So definitely get yourself one :)
Hmm… the top edge is round, so it might work. Maybe I will give that I try :)
The dirt gets trough the hex-holes to the phone, yes. But I believe in the gyroid infill it will get stuck somewhere in between and then not be easy to clean (depending on the type of dirt :D)
I would say that depends on you, your printer and the used filament.
On my Voxelab Aquila out of the box with official slicing Software I could print PLA without issues, but with TPU it would have been impossible. Now I use Astroprint.com for slicing where I control print settings in more detail than it would be possible with Voxelab’s slicer. So that was the first step to take. Also I upgraded my printer to DirectDrive and DualGearExtruder. I then needed a new fan shroud, because the one I used before didn’t fit anymore. Then I had to learn about e-steps, because somehow I went into Unterextrusion (after switching to the dualgear Extruder you need to get the e-steps set new depending on the new extrudergear thickness. Luckily it was mentioned on the package it came in). Then the TPU started wrapping around the extruder gears. Turns out I printed too fast and so on…
Long story short. Depending on your printer, I would suggest at least switching to DirectDrive if your printer doesn’t have it. Also print very slowly, like 20mm/s slowly.
I did this for a few inserts for like glasses holders and stuff, but not yet for smartphone cases. Wouldn’t it then also expose the top of the edges? Also I think it would probably collect very fast, very much dirt in my pockets :D
Oh you are so right :D I bought 3 rolls last week… Using this one for my cases btw:
SUNLU TPU Filament, 1KG Flexibles 95A TPU 3D Drucker Filament 1.75mm Maßgenauigkeit +/- 0.03 mm, Hohe Liquidität und Elastizität, 1KG（2.2Lbs) Spule, TPU Filament für FDM 3D Drucker,TPU Gelb https://amzn.eu/d/872AVs6
They take from 5.5 to 11 hours to print (depending on the version you choose). Printed these with 0.2 layer height, 15% Infill and supports while laying on the back.
Ah okay, then I got you wrong.
I edited my last comment with a picture that shows the supports, so you get an idea where the „ugly“ parts would occur. I made good experiences with gas lighters (not normal ones, the ones which flames look a bit like a blowtorch). With these you can carefully warm the TPU and try to make the ugly parts a little more beautiful. You can as well use a clean soldering iron to iron the ugly parts a bit more flat.
I printed most of them laying on the back to get this nice PEI printbed finish. The only one I printed upside down is the LEGO one, because I was afraid the back would look ugly if supports where on it.
Of course you could print all of them facing the back up, so the „ugly“ supported sides are inside. You obviously will need more filament that way because of the supports, but it should work just fine.
BUT…
I highly recommend printing these in TPU, not PLA. I don’t know if you will even be able to get your phone in these, as they get a bit around the phone and PLA is not really flexible. And even if you get it in, it will possibly brake fast and not protect your phone they way it should.
Edit:
Here is how it looks after slicing. The brighter parts are supports.
No, a jump robe would be a bit too thick I think. But you can get cheap „Paracord“ on AliExpress, Whish or Temu. Pretty sure on eBay and Amazon too (even though a bit more expensive).
Did you use TPU for the prints? If you used PLA, that really was a bad idea. With TPU my drop tests (not on purpose) were successful and the phone without damage everytime (so far)
BTW… In the process of designing these there were made a few prototypes. They all are not perfect, but if someone (from Germany) wants one, here is my stock :D If you have questions on a specific one just ask. I would give them away for shipping+packaging cost.
iPhone 13 (regular):
iPhone 13 Mini:
iPod Classic 5G: