Single part gear mechanism (3D printing demo)

thingiverse

This one's a real standout. It's actually my very first print that I designed myself, but it still takes the cake as one of the most impressive prints I've ever done. What makes it so awesome isn't its complexity or difficulty to print - in fact, it's surprisingly easy - but rather the simple fact that it showcases what 3D printing does best: creating a working mechanism in one fell swoop. Just seeing those gears printed directly around the axles is enough to win over even the most skeptical folks and show them why 3D printing is truly revolutionary. Just keep in mind, though, that this part can only be produced using 3D printing, and it was definitely not designed with ease of printing in mind. You'll need support material, which will take some extra effort to remove from between the gears and the top and bottom plates - a bit of a hassle, but worth it in the end. Plus, you'll need to use this mechanism quite a few times before friction causes those final support wires to break away and allow the gears to move smoothly, like they're supposed to.