3D Printed Phone Stands for Desks

5 min read

3D printed phone stands for desks are a perfect first 3D printing project, because they are useful, quick to print, and easy to customize. A phone stand holds your phone at a comfortable viewing angle for video calls, recipes, or music, and it costs a few cents in filament. You can print one in under two hours, and the design is simple enough to modify once you learn the basics. A printed stand also makes a great gift, since you can print it in the recipient’s favorite color.

Start with a 3D printer, PLA filament, a phone stand design file, and a pair of calipers or a ruler. PLA is the best filament for beginners because it prints at a low temperature, does not warp much, and comes in many colors. Download a stand design from a reputable model site, or design your own in a free CAD program once you are comfortable.

Choosing a Stand Design

Phone stand designs come in several styles, and the best one depends on how you use your phone. A simple wedge stand holds the phone at a fixed angle and prints in one piece, which suits video calls and recipes. A stand with a cable slot lets you charge the phone while it sits in the stand, which is handy for a desk. A folding stand packs flat for travel, but it has moving parts that need tighter tolerances. Pick a design with good reviews and photos of successful prints.

Check the design file for the phone size it fits, since a stand made for a small phone will not hold a large one with a case. Measure your phone with its case on, and compare it to the design dimensions before you print. If the design is parametric, you can adjust the width and angle to fit your phone exactly.

Setting Up the Print

Slice the design in your slicer software, choosing a layer height of 0.2 millimeters for a good balance of speed and surface quality. Use twenty percent infill, which gives the stand enough strength without wasting filament, and add a brim if the design has a narrow base that might lift. Check the estimated print time and filament use before you start, and make sure the printer bed is level. A level bed is the single biggest factor in whether a print sticks and succeeds.

Preheat the printer and watch the first layer go down, since a good first layer decides the whole print. The first layer should look slightly squished into the bed, with no gaps between the lines. If the filament does not stick, clean the bed with isopropyl alcohol and re-level it.

Printing and Troubleshooting

Let the print run without opening the printer or bumping the table, since vibrations show up as lines in the finished stand. Check on the print every twenty minutes, and listen for clicking or grinding, which can mean a clogged nozzle or a filament tangle. If the print starts to lift from the bed, pause it and add a brim or a raft on the next try, rather than hoping it recovers. A failed print is frustrating, but each failure teaches you something about your printer.

Common problems include stringing, which is thin threads of plastic between parts, and layer shifting, where the print jumps sideways. Stringing usually means the temperature is too high or the retraction is too low, so adjust those settings in the slicer. Layer shifting usually means a loose belt or a bumped printer, so check the belts and keep the printer on a stable surface.

Finishing the Printed Stand

Remove the stand from the bed once the bed has cooled, since a cool bed releases the print more easily. Peel off the brim and any support material with pliers, and sand rough edges with fine sandpaper. A quick pass with sandpaper on the bottom edge keeps the stand from scratching your desk, and a small felt pad on the base adds grip. Check that the phone sits securely in the stand at a comfortable angle, and adjust the design if the angle feels wrong.

Paint the stand with acrylic paint if you want a custom color, or leave it in the filament color for a clean, modern look. A coat of clear varnish protects painted stands from chipping, though plain PLA holds up fine without it. Test the stand with your phone in its case, and check that the charging cable fits through the slot if the design has one.

Customizing and Gifting Stands

Customize the stand by printing it in a favorite color, adding a name or a logo to the design, or scaling it to fit a tablet. Many free designs are easy to modify in a CAD program, and adding a personal touch takes only a few minutes once you learn the tools. Print a stand for each room, such as one for the kitchen for recipes and one for the desk for calls, since the filament cost is tiny. A set of printed stands makes a thoughtful gift, especially in the recipient’s favorite color.

Share your printed stand photos in a maker community, since feedback from other printers helps you improve your designs. Try a new design each time, such as a stand with a built-in cable winder or a stand that folds flat for travel.

One good project leads to another. See where 3D Printed Crafts for Hobbyists: Personalized Gift & Project Ideas takes you next.

Reference: Stands — Wikipedia

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