There are many options for 3D printed EDC gear and accessories, from professionally designed holsters and organizers that you can have 3D printed to order, to print at home plans developed by enthusiasts and shared online. The best 3D printed EDC gear will be genuinely useful, compliment your 3D gear collection and make your daily loadout more efficient. Let’s have a look at some examples of 3D printed EDC gear.
Innovative EDC community 3D printing designs for EDC tools
A good example of community build 3D printing is this EDC gear combo for a Knipex Cobra and 711L EDC ratchet with internal space for bits and other EDC tools. A feature we also like is the contoured design, making it both easier to handle and reducing the printing volume.
The author on Reddit provides a link in their post to the public OnShape CAD file (shown above) for other EDC fans to print their own. This is an updated version of a holster that the same author designed a year ago. They combine ease of use with functional storage for several commonly used EDC tools.
Why is 3D printing used for EDC gear & EDC accessories?
3D printing is a popular pursuit among the same people who enjoy the sense of freedom and empowerment that comes from mastery of your personal EDC gear collection. This is perhaps a reason why 3D printed EDC gear and accessories are increasingly being adopted by EDC gear fans. Many EDC gear users also have 3D printers, or access to 3D printers, for their projects.
How does NASA use 3D printed tools & accessories?
NASA has investigated 3D printing of tools in space as a way of both enabling repairs when a specific tool is not available, and a way of reducing the mass of tools you need to send into orbit. If you use a reusable plastic material for your 3D tool printing, it’s feasible to remelt and reform it many times to build the next tool without needing to take more weight with you.
We have seen the positive attitude at NASA and among NASA astronauts to EDC gear and 3D printed EDC accessories in space, so it should not be surprising that NASA are investing in this technology and testing it for future development possibilities.
3D printed Knipex Cobra & 711L EDC Ratchet holsters
The combination of Knipex Cobra and 711L ratchet is popular with 3D printers who make EDC gear holsters and accessories. Here’s an example from 3Dgo makersworld, that has a minimal design without additional storage.
The Swiss Mods systematic tools combo EDC gear holster
We also like this combo holster build by Swiss Mods systematic tools, which is a professional, compact design made to fit the Knipex, 711L EDC ratchet, and a selection of tools from Victorinox for a compact, versatile, go-anywhere EDC loadout.
A 3D printed magnetic base for the 711L Lollipop Bit Driver and bits
At 711L we are fans of 3D printing, and like to experiment with our own ideas for accessories and companion pieces to our tools, like the Lollipop bit driver and bits stand shown above. The base has a neodymium magnet that not only keeps the bits in place but enables you to attach it to any magnetic surface for convenience.
Simple, effective, added functionality with 3D printed EDC gear mods
3D printed EDC gear can be very cleverly designed to add ease of use and functionality without being complex, and some of the best ideas, like this clip on pivot for 711L EDC ratchets with an integral hex bit socket in the handle can make this specific 711L EDC tool easier to use as a bit driver. Another simple 3D printed project that we like is this one for a bit holder insert for our standard EDC ratchet tool tin design.
Why are 3D printers making accessories for 711L EDC gear?
When you have high quality EDC gear built to the precision and engineering standards of 711L EDC gear, and built to last, then you want to organize it, keep it safe and secure with your other high value EDC tools. It makes sense to build a custom 3D printed holster that fits EDC tools for Leatherman and keeps them ready alongside your multitool, or a combo holster for your Knipex pliers and 711L EDC ratchets.
As EDC fans, we combine the best tools from different manufacturers to make our own personalised loadout, but a manufacturer is not going to make holsters for other people’s products. This is why you have to do it yourself or look for a third party 3D printing professional who can make the right holster or accessory case for your personal needs. In our next article we’re going to focus on one specific 3D printing professional, ZapWizard, who has made some excellent holsters and mods for our tools.
