Fully 3D Printed Functional Stool Without Any Screws and Glue

I have always wanted to use my desktop 3D printer for a furniture piece that's easy to print and strong enough to hold.

With this project I explored using 3D printed parts to create a stool that doesn't need any glue or screws, but to use the benefits of 3D modeling and 3D printing for creating parts that can be assembled together in a strong way.

The end result is a fully stool that comes in 2 sizes and can be seated. The default size is approximately 45 cm tall, the other size is approximately 50 cm tall. The seat is 30 cm in all versions.

Another benefit is that with 3D printing you can customize it with any color you want to. In the photos you can see a black red checkered one and a fully black one.

Now let's get started to create the stool in four simple steps. Enjoy!

The tools and materials you will need:

• 3D printer

• Filament for the 3D printer (I used PLA filament, you can use ABS or PETG for even more strength)

• 3D slicer (I used Bambu Studio)

• Four metal rods that are 120 mm long and have a diameter of 8.5 mm

The parts are designed in Fusion 360. You can download the STL files below.

The stool comes in 2 sizes, a default size and a tall size. For one stool there are 5 STL parts:

1. 4x_seat.stl
2. 4x_leg_01.stl
3. 4x_leg_02.stl
4. 4x_leg_03.stl
5. 1x_disk.stl

The seat and leg parts need to printed four times, and the disk needs to be printed once. So you end up with 16 parts for one stool in total.

The difference between the default and tall size is the 4x_leg_01_default vs. 4x_leg_01_tall part. All other parts are the same for both stool sizes.

Download the STL files and open them in your 3D slicer. The STL models are in the correct orientation, so you don't need to adjust the orientation in your 3D slicer.

All 3D printed parts in my version are printed in different PLA colors. However, feel free to choose whatever color/material you prefer. If you want to make the parts stronger, you can use either ABS or PETG.

I used Bambu Studio with a 0.8 mm nozzle in the printer. With the 0.8 mm nozzle, I used the following settings:

• Nozzle size: 0.8 mm

• Layer height: 0.4 mm

• Wall thickness: 1.64 mm

• Top/bottom thickness: 1.2 mm

• Printing temperature: 210ºC (this depends on the material you use, please make sure to check the settings of your material)

• Infill: 15% (you can use more infill for even more strength)

• Infill pattern: Grid (you can use the honeycomb pattern for even more strength)

• The 4x_seat.stl part will need some support for the opening, but no support for the holes

• The other parts need no support

For this step you need the following tools and parts:

• Four times the 4x_seat.stl

• One 1x_disk.stl

• Four metal rods with a diameter of 8.5 mm and length of 120 mm

After printing you need to remove the support from each seat part. Then, use two seat parts to create half of the seat by simply connecting them with a metal rod in the middle.

Once you have the two halves, you can connect them by using two more metal rods and the disk. You need no glue or screws, you just need to push them together.

For the legs you only need the 3D printed legs:

• Four 4x_leg_01_default.stl or 4x_leg_01_tall.stl depending on the size you want to make

• Four 4x_leg_02.stl

• Four 4x_leg_03.stl

Once you have printed all leg parts four times, you only need to screw each part together to create 4 legs. One leg exists of 1x leg_01, 1x leg_02 and 1x leg_03.

When you have the seat and the legs ready, you only need to attach the legs to the seat. Again, you need no glue or screws, the 'screw' is already 3D printed for you.

Now you can take a seat and rest from all this assembling :) And remember, there are two sizes, so your tall or short friend can also sit comfortably. And as a bonus, they stack very well as well.

Have fun!