Printing a Roblox Pencil Holder for My Kid — Print-in-Place Design
Date Published
School holiday project
It is school holiday week, and I wanted to make something fun for my kid. He loves Roblox, so I decided to 3D print a Roblox-themed pencil holder for his study desk. A small project, but it turned out great!
Why this model?
I chose this model because:
1. Roblox theme — my kid is obsessed with Roblox, so this instantly caught his attention
2. Functional — it holds pencils, pens, and other school supplies
3. Print-in-place design — the hinges are printed together with the main body in one go, no assembly needed
What is print-in-place?
Print-in-place is a 3D printing technique where moving parts (like hinges, joints, or lids) are printed as a single piece. The printer creates tiny gaps between the moving parts during printing, so when the print is done, the parts can move freely without any assembly.
For this pencil holder, the lid hinge is built right into the model. No screws, no glue, no snap-fit — just print and it works. This is one of my favorite things about 3D printing: you can create functional mechanisms in a single print.
Print settings
I used standard settings in Bambu Studio — nothing fancy:
Printer: Bambu Lab A1 Mini
Filament: PLA (basic)
Layer height: 0.2mm (standard)
Infill: default (15%)
No supports needed — the print-in-place design handles overhangs perfectly
The result
The print came out clean and functional. The hinge works smoothly right off the build plate — just give it a few test opens and closes to break in the tiny layer connections. My kid loved it, and it now sits proudly on his desk holding his pencils.
Tips for print-in-place models
1. Do not use supports — they can fuse with the moving parts and ruin the hinge
2. Make sure your printer is well-calibrated — the gaps between moving parts are tiny (usually 0.2-0.3mm), so over-extrusion can fuse them together
3. After printing, gently work the moving parts back and forth to break the initial layer adhesion. Be careful not to force it too hard.
4. PLA works great for print-in-place because it is rigid and holds fine details well. For parts that need more flexibility, PETG might be a better choice.
Here is the link to the model
https://makerworld.com/en/models/1830539-roblox-pencil-case-no-ams?from=search#profileId-1954691
Final thoughts
This was a quick and rewarding print. Print-in-place designs are perfect for beginners — they look impressive but are surprisingly easy to print. And seeing my kid excited about something I made? That is the best part of 3D printing.
If you have kids and a 3D printer, try printing something themed after their favorite game or character. It is a great way to make school supplies more fun!
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