Most of my recent print queue has been Tesla accessories. There's a particular satisfaction in printing parts you'll then use every day — the design gets evaluated by daily wear, road heat, sun exposure, and an honest read on whether it was worth the spool. Tighter feedback loop than most hobby printing.

A few of the recent prints, all in ASA:

Adapter locking rings. A small ring that secures your charging adapter to the J-1772 cable such that it can't be disconnected while you're inside the store. The first time you print one and use it, you wonder how the adapters ever shipped without integrated locks. Tiny part, real-world utility, and an obvious example of the community closing a gap a vendor left open.

EDC-themed console trays. Center-console organizers laid out for the items I actually carry: rechargeable LED light slot, mint-tin (with custom 3D printed TPU inserts - so meta) for multi-tool, Field Notes book and pen, sunglasses. The benefit isn't really the organization, it's that the things you reach for end up in repeatable positions, which lowers the cognitive cost of finding them while driving. Stock Tesla interiors are deliberately minimal; printable accessories are where you get the customization back.

Protective camera covers. Slip-on covers for the exterior cameras that keep road grime, salt, bug spatter, and paint-shop overspray off the lenses when the cameras don't need to be active. Trivial to print, instantly useful, the kind of part that gets less attention than it deserves. Finding or designing one that fits the new Model Y ("Juniper" refresh) is it's own story.

ASA is what most of these are printed in, and for in-car or on-car parts it's the right answer almost every time. The reasons are dull but matter:

  • UV stability. PLA degrades in sun exposure within months. PETG holds up better than PLA but isn't really a long-term answer in a heat-soaked dashboard. ASA was designed for this load case.
  • Heat tolerance. A car interior in summer sun will deform PLA reliably and PETG occasionally. ASA's glass-transition temperature gives you real headroom.
  • Surface and color stability. ASA holds dye well and stays close to the printed color over time.

The tradeoff: ASA is fussier to print. It needs an enclosure, prefers higher chamber temperatures, and emits more VOCs and ultrafine particles than PLA — which deserves a dedicated post. The BentoBox V2 build for my X1C, which I put together specifically to absorb the VOCs I'm now generating regularly, is up next.

I've also REALLY enjoyed some fun puzzles lately, printing extras to hand out to family and friends. What's YOUR favorite recent 3D print?