Well, here’s some good news, there have been some folks designing and sharing accessories for Surface tablets over at Thingiverse and you can download those accessories for free!
So, warm up the print heads, check your print material, and take a look at these 3D-printable objects…
For your convenience, I split the objects up into sections based on the model of Surface tablet they were designed for.
Make these accessories for Surface Tablets: Surface RT/Surface 2
- Amplifying Ears: These ears clip on your Surface RT/2 and redirect the sound forward, making it easier to hear when you’re using your tablet.
- Wall-mount: This is a simple wall-mount for your Surface RT/2. You’ll need to print off two of them, though. One for each side.
Make these accessories for Surface Tablets: Surface Pro/Surface Pro 2
- Amplifying Ears: Like the set for the Surface RT but, updated to fit the SP and SP2.
- Horizontal Stand: This accessory is a pretty handy way to use your SP or SP2 on your desk in portrait orientation.
- Xbox 360 Controller Dock: If you didn’t know, some games you can run on your SP or SP2 support Xbox game controllers. This accessory lets you turn your SP or SP2 into a pretty cool gaming setup.
- Wall-mount: If you want to hang a SP or SP2 on the wall as digital signage or just as a cool way to store it out of the way, this accessory is exactly what you’re looking for.
Make these accessories for Surface Tablets: Surface Pro 3
- Privacy Shield: This simple accessory lets you conveniently cover the webcam on your SP3 so you don’t have to worry about accidentally leaving it on and people watching you.
- Surface Pro 3 Clip: This is another simple one. This accessory is designed to help hold your type cover closed and give you an extra place to store your Surface Pro 3 Pen.
- Surface Pro 3 Pen Holder: Speaking of the SP3 pen, this cool desktop holder is a convenient way to keep your pen handy when using your SP3 on a desk.
Make these accessories for Surface Tablets: Where can I get a 3D printer?
So, maybe you don’t have a 3D printer and want to get one but don’t know where to look. It turns out that Microsoft sells Makerbot 3D printers right from their online store. I listed what they have to offer in order of cheapest to most expensive.
- Makerbot Replicator Mini: This is a small hobby printer. It is (relatively) inexpensive and provides decent print quality but don’t expect it to deliver a smooth finish to your printed objects.
- Makerbot Replicator 2: This one is a “baseline” 3D printer. It offers a good blend of affordability, print size, and quality.
- Makerbot Replicator 2X: This is, essentially, the same thing as a Makerbot Replicator 2 but has two print heads so you can print in different colors or materials.
- Makerbot Replicator Z18: This model is more on an industrial 3D printer than a home 3D printer. It allows for the creation of fairly large objects (up to 18″ tall).
Yes, I know these printers are expensive. I wouldn’t recommend getting one just to print out an accessory or two. However if you’ve been on the fence about getting one for another reason, maybe the ability to create custom accessories for your Surface will help you decide to make the leap.
Remember, new accessories are being designed by folks all the time so, I’m sure I’ve missed some (or they weren’t there when I wrote this article).
So, take a look for yourself. If you happen to find (or design) some cool accessories for Surface tablets, feel free to pop a link in the comments to let your fellow readers know about them.
Tim
