November 3rd Is Around the Corner
It seems like 2016 was just a few days ago, doesn’t it? The last presidential election was nearly four years ago, and November 3rd will be here before we know it.
If you’re looking for something fun to print to get ready for the election, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re looking for a battle of wits or care deeply about getting more of us participating in democracy through voting, we’ve got the models for you!
If you see something you’d love to have printed on the list, but your 3D printer isn’t up to the task, try Craftcloud. With your choice of material and finish, you’ll get your dream print delivered right to your door.
And now, let’s get to that list!
Vote Sign
Regardless of who wins in 2020, we all want more participation in our democracy. Did you know that only about 60% of the eligible population votes? Considering all that’s happening in the world, we need everyone involved to come up with the best solutions to these challenges. What better way to encourage voting than to drop one of these at your favorite coffee shop or local grocery store?
It’s a straightforward print and the designer recommends printing in either PLA or PETG. No supports are required and it should take about four hours to print.
Who made it? timcel
Who printed it? These “vote!” signs have one confirmed Make.
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Electoral Map
If you’re trying to educate friends or younger potential voters about how the electoral college works, you might want to try printing out this electoral map of the USA. It visually demonstrates how electoral votes are distributed for each state based on the height of the printed state. (The taller a state is, the more electoral votes it has.)
Despite being differing heights, these pieces do not require supports and should be easy to print. The designer made the model initially in SketchUp in 2D, so feel free to use it to make a puzzle or rescale the map for another project.
Who made it? TheNewHobbyist
Who printed it? Currently, there are two confirmed Makes and eight Remixes of this model.
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Clinton vs. Trump Chess Set
Battle it out with red vs. blue in the comfort of your own home. This chess set features each piece with a superimposed face of Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump for the ultimate political battle and the most important chess game of your life. However, before you get started playing chess, you’ll definitely need to print out a chessboard in order to get full use of your new game.
The designer created the chest set in OpenSCAD. For settings, he used 0% infill and 10-12 perimeters so after printing, he could weigh down the bottom part. It’s also recommended to glue some felt on the bottom.
Who made it? cdr420
Who printed it? Two makers have printed this chess set, and there are also two Remixes.
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Lockable Voting Box
Keeping ballots safe and secure is critical for each election and one of the ways to do this is a lockable ballot box. This 3D printed lockable ballot box can be used for voting outside of the national election (for example, in a classroom) to teach young voters about the importance of election security and fairness.
The ballot box is a remix from a previous design that isn’t available on Thingiverse anymore. It should be a relatively easy print, not requiring any supports, and can be printed with low infill. Some work may be required including sanding the dovetailed joints before assembly. This ballot box can be printed in any standard filament like PLA.
Who made it? corben33
Who printed it? It’s been downloaded almost 800 times, but no known Makes have been posted yet.
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Biden Neon Sign
Anyone can order a plastic yard sign for political support. However, if you really want to show your support, try creating this neon sign!
It should be noted that if you plan on using this sign outside or in a place that gets a lot of sun, PLA may not be the best filament to use and a more UV- and weather-resistant filament may be in order, like ABS or PETG. Additionally, cord management is key to keeping this from becoming like a mess of Christmas lights.
This sign was printed in PLA and seems to be relatively straightforward other than the assembly and electronic components. In addition, this print has a Remix and a construction video, making it a doable project.
Who made it? PaulTKennedy
Who printed it? There’s been one Remix but no posted Makes on this one-month-old model.
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Trump Bust
Make Donald Trump’s hair great again! This bust of Donald Trump has printable, formable, hair to give him the best look for the upcoming election.
If you’ve never heard of this method of creating 3D printed hair before, essentially short strands of thin filament are printed that can then be heat treated in post-processing to be formed into a particular hairstyle. Don’t be afraid to print this model larger to create a full-size bust if you have the print volume. Note that the hair-forming process works similarly at different scales, though it may require more heat for bigger models.
Who made it? FiveNights
Who printed it? This Donald Trump bust has been downloaded 116 times and should be printable in a variety of filaments. Because of the hair, you’ll want to work with a filament that isn’t known for stringing.
Where to get it? Cults
No-Tangle Flag Holder
If you’re flying a flag this year, whether it’s the American flag or one in support of your preferred candidate or cause, this handy little kit is great to prevent your flag from getting tangled up as the wind blows. It’s made from two printable shaft collars that rotate so that they’ll simply spin around the pole itself, rather than getting the flag tangled up.
This kit comes with instructions, granted, they’re from a company that makes the original no-furl flag pole product, but they should work the same way. For assembly, you’ll need some zip ties. If you don’t have any, you could 3D print a cable tie instead.
Who made it? 2Robotguy
Who printed it? The flag collar kit has been downloaded 65 times and can be printed in multiple types of filaments. However, for optimal use, we’d recommend filaments resistant to the outdoor effects like PETG.
Where to get it? MyMiniFactory
USPS Support Heart
The USPS has never let us down, even through bad weather or natural disasters. This year, they’ll help us stay safe and let us have our voices heard. If you want to know more about how the eagle became the symbol of the USPS, check out USPS’ blog entry.
Despite the flatness of the print, the challenge is that it’s in two different colors. However, even if you don’t have a multicolor printer, you have several options to print in two colors such as in this video showing how to do it in Cura for your Ender 3.
Who made it? JBonasera
Who printed it? This USPS print may be a bit more difficult to create due to the multiple color layers. We recommend choosing colors in the same material in order to help ensure the final object sticks together.
Where to get it? MyMiniFactory
Trump Kitchen Knife Block
If you’re looking to keep your kitchen counter great this year, you should try this kitchen knife holder. It shows Trump protecting (or stepping on) America to keep your knives sharp and ready for use. So whether you love Trump or hate him, this may be the knife block for you.
It should be noted that while this knife block is not a surface that would be in contact with food directly, it’s a good idea to use food-safe filaments in order to avoid any potential contamination of your cutlery.
Who made it? crazyman2099
Who printed it? Viewed more than 1,100 times, this Trump knife holder can be made from various materials and is printed in three pieces with easy assembly.
Where to get it? Pinshape
Biden/Harris Coaster
Let’s be real, regardless of the outcome, we’re all going to need some kind of drink on the night of the election. Why not be prepared and print yourself some Biden/Harris coasters? These coasters are multicolored and meant to be produced with a multi-material printer. In addition, they have a small lip on the edge to prevent any liquid from coming in contact with your nice table during the long election night.
The designer printed it on a Prusa with an MMU (multi-material upgrade). The designer provides information on infill for the five printable files on the project page.
Who made it? sstjean
Who printed it? These coasters have been proven to be printable by the creator. Additionally, while they may be more complex to print due to their multicolor nature, the print itself isn’t difficult to create since it is mostly flat and requires no supports.
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Lead image source: Wikipedia
License: The text of "10 Political Prints to Get Ready for the 2020 Election" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.