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There are many fidget toys out there, as well as fun models that can be used when you’re restless, from articulated 3D prints to print-in-place designs.

In the harrowing task of trying to find this turn’s Thing of the Week, we came across these cuties that are both adorable to look at and are also fun to bop. Also, if you’ve got a cat at home and they’ve ever woken you up at 5 am to demand food, they’ve thrown things off your counter just because they could, or they’ve taken a nap on your computer, forbidding you to work, well, pressing one of these models can feel therapeutic.

Were we going to stop at just the one? Of course not, especially since the designer uploaded a version of the files that lets you swap plates and cups, to have as many combinations as you want.

How popular were these in the office? When we started showing them off because they’re too cute, someone immediately piped up asking for them. They didn’t even make it to the end of the day at our desks.

Printing Tips

Image of: — The parts that make the whole (Source: All3DP)

Printing was, for the most part, a breeze. After reviewing the different profiles and files that the designer shared, we opted for the “Full 3D Printed V2.1”, as we wanted to avoid the hassle of looking for a spring, a keyboard switch, a magnet, or any additional hardware at all. The setup included slicing in Bambu Studio for the A1 with the exact settings from the profile. These included the “0.20mm Standard” profile, although the layer height was decreased by the designer to 0.16 mm. While the default profile also includes supports, we opted out of them and faced no issues whatsoever – in this regard.

An issue we did face? The spring wasn’t interested in adhering to the print bed, so we took the easy way out and opted for a brim. Plus, whenever we tried to print both the cat itself and the paws together, maybe because the small parts cooled down too fast, there were a couple of failures. The solution? 3D printing the paws together in one go, then 3D printing the cats. Two drops of super glue did the trick for the paws on the edge of the cup, and everything fit perfectly, although you’ll want to check the designer’s guide on which way to place the spring.

Filaments of choice were Polymaker’s Mint PolyTerra PLA, Bambu Lab’s lilac Dynamic PLA (which has been discontinued but could be replaced with Sunlu or Yousu), and Creality’s white HP Ultra PLA. There may be some improvements warranted for the storage of Bambu Lab’s PLA, given that it’s now become permanently pink and purple, no matter what the temperature is. Still looks cool, though.

And yet a final word of advice: Check the width and ink of the marker or pen you use before adding some color to the kitten’s eyes. There was some unexpected spread of ink, so now the cat in the green cup has stunning eyelashes.

Who’s the Creator?

Maker Cloud Sea has shared 65 models (at time of writing), with many of them having a variety of printing profiles for ease of use. They seem to be Mario Bros. fans, as shown by their themed tissue box, fidget toy, and desktop pen holder clock. Additional useful models include a yes/no decision coin, a magnetic cable organizer, and a towel and cloth storage plug, among others. Plus Year of the Snake and Christmas designs!

In addition to following them at MakerWorld, you can also join a Standard or Advanced Commercial Membership for $10 or $15 respectively, which will allow you to support them and maybe have a venture of your own as well.