3D Print World
by Bob

Rope making machines and glow-in-the-dark wall art, designed and printed by Bob.

I design every piece myself and print it in my home workshop in Massachusetts. Everything here is for sale in my Etsy shop.

Make your own rope at home

A hand-cranked rope making machine for macramé, crafts, boat projects, and anyone who likes making things the old way.

Rope machine
The 3D printed rope making machine kit laid out: winder head, tensioner, clamps and cord
Winder head with its gears and clamp brackets
Black, natural, and red-white-blue rope made on the machine

3D Printed Rope Making Machine

My own design, printed in tough PLA+ and built with precision sealed bearings, so it turns smoothly and lasts.

Strands
Twists 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 strands in one pass, and up to 12 with doubled cords. Most rope makers only do 3.
Fibers
Cotton twine, hemp, jute, paracord, yarn, and leather lacing. Gentle enough for embroidery thread, silk, and fine floss.
Build
Sealed ball bearings, all stainless steel hardware, brass threaded inserts in the plastic.
In the box
The machine, three adjustable weights, and a quick start guide. Attaching the clamp brackets takes about two minutes with a Phillips screwdriver.
$129.99 Buy it on Etsy
Rope machine tensioner and guide clamped to a counter, holding finished rope

Tensioner & Guide

Already have a winder? The tensioner and guide on its own, with the same bearings and stainless hardware.

On the workbench: a 3D printed braiding machine

I'm building a Maypole-style braiding machine from scratch, one test at a time. Follow the build on YouTube.

Watch the build videos

Glow-in-the-dark wall art

Raised 3D details by day, a soft glow at night. They charge under a lamp or daylight and glow after the lights go out.

Free US shipping on all Glow Buddies, Glow Buddy Pets, and Zodiac Constellations.

3D Glow Buddies
All sixteen 3D Glow Buddies designs, including an astronaut, unicorn, dinosaur, and owl

3D Glow Buddies

A glow-in-the-dark character plus six stars for a bedroom wall. Sixteen designs to pick from, for kids, pet lovers, and the young at heart.

3D Glow Buddy Pets
Dog photos next to the Glow Buddy Pets made from them

3D Glow Buddy Pets

Your own dog, modeled from your photos and printed in glow filament, with six stars.

Glow Zodiac Constellations
All twelve Glow Zodiac Constellations with their medallions

Glow Zodiac Constellations

Each sign comes with a matching medallion. Star sizes follow the real stars' brightness.

$19.99 a signView on Etsy

Favorite designs, sold one at a time

Astronaut
Astronaut Glow Buddy with six stars

Astronaut

A smiling astronaut holding a star, for a space-themed room.

Cat & Fiddle
Cat and Fiddle Glow Buddy with six stars

Cat & Fiddle

The nursery rhyme kitten and her fiddle.

Bunny on the Moon
Bunny on the Moon Glow Buddy with six stars

Bunny on the Moon

A sleepy bunny curled on a crescent moon.

Cow Over the Moon
Cow Over the Moon Glow Buddy with six stars

Cow Over the Moon

The cow that jumped over the moon, straight from the rhyme.

More for the bedroom wall

Catholic Glow Buddies
Catholic Glow Buddies: Sacred Heart, Mary and Baby Jesus, praying angel, cross with dove

Catholic Glow Buddies

Mary and Baby Jesus, the Sacred Heart, a praying angel, and a cross with a dove.

Stars & Moon Set
Sixteen-piece glow-in-the-dark stars and moon set

Stars & Moon Set

Sixteen glow stars and a crescent moon, with mounting putty included.

Glow Name Plates
Glow name plate reading Estelle on a white door

Glow Name Plates

Any name in raised glow letters on a white plate, up to 20 letters.

From $19.99View on Etsy
Galaxy Nameplates
Galaxy Nameplates reading Alice's Galaxy and Your Name Here's Galaxy

Galaxy Nameplates

A personalized “Your Name’s Galaxy” sign to go with the Glow Buddies.

From $16.99View on Etsy

How a Glow Buddy Pet gets made

Every pet is modeled by hand, so no two are the same.

  1. Order on EtsySend up to three photos of your dog. A head-on seated photo works best, plus one from the side.
  2. I model your dogI build your dog in 3D and send it to you to check. One revision is included, and extra revisions are $5.
  3. Printed and shippedYour Glow Buddy Pet is printed in glow filament and mailed with six stars, free in the US.

More from the workshop

Small useful pieces, including the doll flags that started this shop.

Silver star backplate behind a dresser knob

Star Drawer Knob Plates

Starburst backplates for dresser and cabinet knobs. Two sizes, in white, black, glow blue, or glow yellow, sold individually.

From $1.50View on Etsy
Twelve replacement Polly Pocket flags in a 3D printed storage holder

Polly Pocket Replacement Flags

A set of 12 flags in six colors for vintage 90s Polly Pocket compacts, with a storage holder.

Bob in his workshop

Hi, I'm Bob

I've spent most of my summers on the water around New England, which is where the anchor in my logo comes from. I've always been the guy who fixes things himself: boats, engines, the house.

I got into 3D printing because of my grandkids. First it was little flags for my granddaughter's dolls, then glow stars for my grandson's ceiling. Other people wanted them too, and that turned into this shop.

Every piece is my own design, printed and checked by me before it ships. If you have an idea for something custom, send me a message on Etsy or email me at .

Bob