You can make some really cool things with an Arduino. And you can make some really cool things with a 3D printer. What do you get when you use them both? Some extremely cool things!

Here are seven projects that you can 3D print and power with an Arduino (and, as a bonus, a 3D printer that you can make with an Arduino).

1. 3D Printed Quadruped Robot

A screenshot of an Instructables page showing a four legged black robot

With 3D printing, you can take your robot builds to the next level. Take, for example, this quadruped robot that looks like something from a sci-fi movie.

It’s built from 38 3D printed parts and is controlled using an old PlayStation controller. Each leg is equipped with three servos, giving it three degrees of movement: forward and back, up and down, and a bend at the joint. What this all means is that this four-legged robot can move in any direction.

With most of the hard coding work done for you, it’s just a matter of assembling the robot and uploading the correct files. But of course, this is easier said than done—luckily, the project guide (linked above) has everything that you need to build this awesome creation.

2. Cyborg Prosthetic Hand

3D printing Arduino projects have pushed electronic hobby makers to make even more amazing designs and this cyborg prosthetic hand is one of them.

The 3D-printed arm has quite a nice design. On the outside, it looks like prosthetic arms that we’ve seen in real life, while on the inside its hollow body allows room for electronics. The Arduino Uno powers this creation and following the assembly of the 3D printed parts, you just need to upload the code from the project page.

Other parts you will need to include are some servos, wires, and nylon string. The latter is used in this case to move the fingers. It’s these kinds of projects that might just make a difference in the world!

3. 3D Printed Artificial Muscles

Inspired by the human body, this creator set out to design the ultimate 3D printed muscle and bones set. When slotted together, these artificial muscles and supporting bone structures can move with incredible flexibility. Because it's designed to be modular too, you can create whatever robot you can imagine out of these parts!

Each 3D printed muscle is shaped like the omega symbol and can easily slot together with identical shapes, supported by 3D printed bone structures. Running through all these shapes are thin plastic tubes, essentially creating a pneumatic system that can be controlled with a microcontroller.

Included in the project guide is a tutorial for an air pressure controller. Use this alongside your Arduino to build a robot with up to 90 degrees of rotation. With a little creativity, it's a project that has a lot of possibilities!

4. Open-Source Arduino Drone

Two of the most popular things in the geek world right now are 3D printing and drones. Why not combine the two to make a 3D-printed quadcopter drone?

By using an Arduino Nano, several affordable PCPs, a NRF24 for radio transmission, alongside motors, propellers, and a number of other parts, you can build your own little quadcopter. You might have some of the parts you need hanging around if you have an Arduino starter kit, but the rest can be bought online with ease.

You'll need to do a lot of wiring to get everything attached to the frame, but creator Yue Beifong will walk you through it with pretty clear explanations of what you need to do. The project includes the 3D printer files, so you'll just need a printer to get everything to work.

5. DNA Lamp

For this project, you'll need more parts than the previous two, including a bunch of LEDs, capacitors, an oscillator, transistors, and an AC mains switch and connector.

The result, however, is one of the coolest lamps that we have seen.

Once you've collected the various parts, you'll need to use some basic electronics skills to wire up the 3D printed double-helix to a rotating motor, like one from a microwave. The full guide (linked above) takes you through each step in detail. When you're done, you’ll have a rotating strand of glowing DNA!

A word of caution: because this one involves mains power, be extra careful when you're working on it!

6. Pip-Boy from Fallout

Pip-Boy from Fallout 4 has been a popular DIY build ever since fans got a first look at it!

It requires quite a few unique parts, including a gyroscope, power pack, a capacitive display with driver board, flashlight, pressure sensor, methane sensor, and a multi-part 3D printed case.

You'll need to make a custom I/O board to get this project working, but in the detailed guide (linked above), the steps for making it are very clear. If you are after a later version of the Pip-Boy, you can also have a look at this YouTube video which covers a beautiful 3D printed design with great painted details.

It's a pretty involved project, but it absolutely can't be beaten as a Halloween costume, cosplay accessory, or conversation piece!

7. CNC Mill

If you're trying to build your own personal makerspace, a CNC mill is a great addition. The project page notes that it's accurate enough to cut and drill circuit boards, so it should be good for any milling project you want to take on. It requires a large number of 3D printed parts, so you may want to consider using a printing service, but it wouldn't be too difficult to print your own.

You'll also need quite a large selection of parts, including a lot of fasteners, some bearings, a relay module, and DC connector, some metal parts for the surface, and an Arduino to run everything. It's quite a project, but then again, having your own CNC mill is quite a handy thing!

Don't Have a 3D Printer? Build One!

If you don't have a 3D printer, there are still a few options for getting the 3D printed parts you'll need for these projects. You could borrow a 3D printer, use one at a local makerspace, or use a 3D printing service. Alternatively, you can even build an Arduino-powered 3D printer for $60!

The EWaste 3D Printer is a micro printer and might not be big enough to print the parts for some of the larger projects above. But it's a really great home project that is affordable and environmentally conscious, as it uses mostly recycled computer parts.

You'll need a couple of old CD or DVD drives, a floppy disk drive, a small stepper motor, a power supply, an extruder, and a few extras, but overall it’s a surprisingly simple project.

You'll need to do quite a bit of calibrating and basic electronics work, but the end product is fantastically functional for what it's made out of.

Build Your Next Arduino Project with 3D Printing

Combining 3D printing and Arduino is a no-brainer, and the projects above should give you a good idea of the limitless potential that it provides. Whether you have your own 3D printer, you use someone else's, or you use a 3D printing service, you can build your own project from start to finish.