The world of Nerf blasters has exploded in creativity and customization, and 3D printing is at the forefront of this revolution. Want to create your own unique Nerf gun designs or upgrade existing blasters with custom parts? A 3D printer is your gateway to endless possibilities. But with so many options available, choosing the right 3D printer for your Nerf gun projects can be daunting. This guide will walk you through the best 3D printers, software, and resources to get you started in the exciting world of 3d Printed Nerf Guns.
Top 3D Printer Recommendations for Nerf Gun Enthusiasts
Selecting the right 3D printer is crucial for bringing your Nerf gun visions to life. Here are our top recommendations, balancing performance, ease of use, and value, perfect for creating everything from simple accessories to complex blaster designs.
Bambu Lab A1: The Best Entry-Level 3D Printer for 3D Printed Nerf Guns
For those just starting their 3D printing journey, especially for crafting 3D printed Nerf guns, the Bambu Lab A1 is our top pick. This printer redefines the “appliance-type” experience, offering unparalleled speed, exceptional print quality, and a user-friendly interface, all at a surprisingly affordable price point. If you’re eager to dive into 3D printing Nerf gun parts and accessories without a steep learning curve, the A1 is currently the best option available. Its reliability and ease of setup mean you’ll spend less time troubleshooting and more time creating custom grips, stocks, and internal components for your Nerf blasters.
Bambu Lab X1 Carbon: High-Performance 3D Printing for Advanced Nerf Gun Builds
The Bambu Lab X1 Carbon made a significant impact in the 3D printing world with its release. As a high-end Core XY printer available at a phenomenal price, it’s an excellent choice for Nerf enthusiasts looking to push the boundaries of 3D printed Nerf guns. We utilize two X1 Carbons specifically for printing polycarbonate and other temperature-sensitive materials, which are ideal for creating incredibly durable and high-performance Nerf blaster parts. After nearly two years of continuous operation, these printers have proven to be incredibly reliable. The advanced features of the X1 Carbon allow for intricate and robust Nerf gun designs that can withstand rigorous use, making it perfect for competitive play or serious modding.
Prusa i3 MK3s: The Reliable Workhorse for Your Nerf Armory
The Prusa i3 MK3s (affiliate link) is a true workhorse 3D printer, having powered our operations for years. At our peak, we ran over 80 of these bed-slingers. While not the cheapest option, the Prusa i3 MK3s is renowned for its exceptional reliability and ease of repair. The strong community and readily available first-party and third-party support make it a dependable choice, especially if you can find one on the used market at a good price. For Nerf gun enthusiasts, the Prusa i3 MK3s offers consistent performance and the robustness needed for printing large batches of parts or tackling ambitious, long-duration prints for complex blaster projects.
Essential Slicing Software for 3D Printed Nerf Guns
3D printers aren’t inherently intelligent; they require instructions from a slicer program to understand what to print. Slicing software translates your 3D model into G-code, a machine-readable language that dictates every aspect of the printing process. This includes the movement of the print head, extruder settings, bed temperature, and much more. Choosing the right slicer is crucial for achieving optimal results when 3D printing Nerf guns.
While numerous slicer programs are available, we highly recommend using the software developed by your 3D printer’s manufacturer. These slicers are specifically fine-tuned for their printers, ensuring the best compatibility and performance for your 3D printed Nerf gun parts.
For Bambu Lab printers, we recommend Bambu Studio. For Prusa printers, PrusaSlicer is the ideal choice. We’ve relied on these slicers for years with our respective printer fleets, experiencing minimal issues and achieving consistent, high-quality prints for a wide range of Nerf blaster components.
Choosing the Right Filament for Your 3D Printed Nerf Guns
The quality of your 3D printed Nerf gun is directly tied to the quality of the filament you use. Using premium filament ensures durability, performance, and a better overall finish for your Nerf blaster parts.
We partner with Proto-Pasta as our exclusive PLA filament supplier. Proto-Pasta is a US-based premium filament manufacturer located in Vancouver, Washington. They provide us with high-quality, reusable, and recyclable cardboard spools in a wide array of vibrant colors, perfect for creating visually striking and robust 3D printed Nerf guns.
If you’re aiming to match the colors of your 3D prints to existing Nerf blaster parts or accessories from us, our current selection of Proto-Pasta colors is available right here at Out of Darts!
Inspiring Nerf Gun Designers to Follow
The Nerf blaster 3D printing community is rich with talented designers creating innovative and exciting blasters. For beginners venturing into 3D printed Nerf guns, we suggest starting with springer blasters. They are typically easier to assemble, often requiring no soldering or specialized skills, making them as straightforward as building with Lego bricks.
Captain Slug is a legendary figure in the hobby. He began by crafting homemade blasters from PVC pipe and evolved into designing the iconic Caliburn and Talon Claw series of 3D printed Nerf blasters. Captain Slug’s pioneering work was a significant inspiration for the creation of Out of Darts almost a decade ago!
Sillybutts is renowned for his exceptional Computer-Aided Design (CAD) skills. Despite his relative youth, he has amassed an impressive collection of blaster designs that continues to grow. Stay updated on his latest projects and designs by following him on YouTube.
Taffy of Charamile Designs is another highly respected designer who recently achieved a significant milestone by being awarded a design patent. He collaborated with Buzz Bee to produce a licensed, injection-molded version of his Skewer blaster, showcasing the growing recognition of 3D printed Nerf gun designs in the mainstream market.
Important Note: While many 3D printing files for Nerf guns are available online under open-source licenses, many are also protected by Creative Commons or other limited-use licenses. Always review and adhere to the license agreements before downloading 3D printing files to respect the designers’ work and the community’s design ecosystem.
Learn More: Top 3D Printing YouTube Channels for Nerf Gun Builders
Expanding your knowledge through educational YouTube channels is invaluable in the world of 3D printed Nerf guns.
The 3D Printing Nerd: Joel, the host, is a friend of Out of Darts and has visited our headquarters on multiple occasions. His channel features a wide variety of printers, designs, and makers in the 3D printing space, offering valuable insights for Nerf gun enthusiasts.
Makers Muse: Angus is an educational YouTuber who explores fascinating mechanisms, puzzle boxes, and designs. His channel aims to “empower creativity through technology,” and he consistently delivers engaging and informative content relevant to 3D printing Nerf guns and related projects.
Free CAD Programs to Design Your Own Nerf Gun Parts
For those feeling adventurous and wanting to design their own custom Nerf gun parts and accessories, several free CAD (Computer-Aided Design) programs are available. Numerous free tutorials on YouTube can guide you through learning any new software.
Autodesk Fusion 360 is considered a gold standard software for hobbyists and professionals alike. While it has a learning curve, and the free version has limitations (such as ten editable files), its robust functionality is unmatched. Most of the Out of Darts team and our licensed designers utilize Fusion 360 for creating Nerf gun designs and components.
TinkerCAD is Autodesk’s entry-level software designed for beginners and younger users. Its simplicity makes it easy to learn for quick Nerf project modifications, but it can be limiting for more complex designs. We still recommend it for simple Nerf accessory designs and for teaching younger hobbyists the basics of 3D design.
Onshape is a cloud-based CAD program related to the industry-standard SolidWorks. Being cloud-based, it can run on almost any computer with a decent internet connection. The free version’s primary limitation is model privacy, but for casual hobbyists and open-source Nerf design creators, it remains a fantastic option.
Blender is primarily known as 3D modeling software for animation and game design. However, with the CAD Sketcher plug-in, it becomes surprisingly capable for dimensioned 3D design. If you’re already familiar with Blender, this plug-in provides an accessible way to get into precision 3D design for 3D printing Nerf gun parts.
With the right 3D printer, software, and resources, you’re well-equipped to start creating your own amazing 3D printed Nerf guns and accessories. Dive in, explore the community, and unleash your creativity!
