11 Spectacular 3D Printer Failures
By Leslie Horn on at
Just because you have a 3D printer doesn't mean you're going to make anything remarkable. It doesn't even mean you're going to wind up with what you set out to produce. Believe it or not, 3D printing requires some skill. And when you don't have it, things go delightfully askew.
While there are plenty of possibilities with a 3D printer, there's also just about as much room for human error. You can't let the printer get too hot. But it must be hot enough! And you don't want it to work too quickly. But it has to work quickly enough! You're going to mess up. But you're not alone. Here are some of great examples of some pretty egregious 3D printing failures:
Whistles that can't even whistle should be called something else.
Image credit: Flickr
Apparently, this was supposed to be some type of animal.
Image credit: Pinterest
A failed attempt at a Celtic skull, via an entire Flickr group dedicated to 3D printer failures.
This ruined car comes from Beautiful Failures, a book that presents 3D printer screw-ups as art.
Image credit: Cunicode
This botched bust is supposed to be Walt Disney. Squint hard, and maybe you can kind of see it. (You can't).
What's this supposed to be? Trojan Horse. The answer we were looking for is Trojan Horse.
Image credit: FailThing
Definitely don't try to use this 3D-printed glass as a glass if you have any desire to use it for drinking.
This would-be owl is missing his head. And most of his body.
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, and 3D-printed Windsor Chairs.
Image credit: CNET
Here you see the makings of a starfish. Unfortunately, the machine ran out of material.
Image credit: RichRap
Bonus round: This iPhone shoe abomination isn't technically a failure, we're going to include it as a reminder of what NOT to do with a 3D printer. Because seriously, what the hell?
Image credit: BetaBeat
Have any favourite 3D-printing fails of your own? Share 'em below!
Leslie Horn