Introduction: 3D Printed Fidget Toy Belt

Do you love fidget toys? Because I sure do, so that is why I invented the Fidget Toy Belt. I am a student in 8th grade and fidget toys are very popular at my school. Many people carry their fidget toys in big bulky bags, so I thought about a way to make it easier to carry fidget toys and this is the result. This took a lot of trial and error to get the final result as every fidget toy and case had at least 2 prototypes and revisions before the final one. There are currently 3 fidget toys with cases, however, I hope to continue to design and add more. I used Fusion 360 to design this and was glad I was able to gain some experience on that wonderful CAD program.

Supplies

  • 3D printer (I used Flashforge Adventurer 3)
  • 3D printer filament (I used PLA)
  • Belt that measures no more than 1 1/4 inches in width and 1/8 inch thick, and long enough to go around your waist.

Step 1: Design

This step is optional depending on if you want to design your own fidget toys. I used Fusion 360 to design the files that are attached below. You can create your own fidget toys, or create some similar to mine. If you are interested in designing toys that match the ones that I have made, you can look at the photos to get an idea on the dimensions that I used, including the slot dimensions that the belt slides through as that was a spot of trial and error for me.

Step 2: Printing the Models

There are 3 fidget toys currently. The first one is a gyroscope that can spin in any direction. By pausing the printer mid-print and changing out the filament, cool multicolored results can be achieved.

The next fidget toy is one where balls go through a spiral tube. When not is use, the balls can be stored in the middle of the fidget toy. I have also found that it is fun to have the balls inside the middle tube and shake the toy with a finger over the opening of the tube. I printed mine horizontally without supports, however, I imagine that printing vertically would work too but with supports because the overhang is quite steep. The ball size will vary per printer so If the balls don't fit into the fidget toy, scale them down and reprint. Another warning is that the bottom of the balls will be slightly bulged because of how printers work so be prepared to sand them down to make them more circular.

The last fidget toy is a print-in-place joystick fidget. The ball on the inside of the fidget can spin freely and it is fun to fiddle with.

I would recommend printing the fidget toy holders with the slot for the belt to go through oriented against the print bed so it is lying flat then prints up. They will be much stronger this way.

Step 3: Attaching to Belt

Slide belt through first loop then slide fidget holders onto the belt. Continue putting on the belt. They may be placed all together or spread out on the belt, depending on personal preference.

Step 4: Enjoy

Next time you find yourself bored, just grab a fidget toy from your belt and your boredom will disappear!

Wear It Contest

Runner Up in the
Wear It Contest