Welcome to our latest contest with a focus on comfort and efficiency! This time we merge 3D printing with the science of ergonomics with the theme “Ergonomic Workshop Aids“.

Ergonomics is about making our work environment adapt to us, leading to less strain and more productivity. So this time the challenge is clear: design 3D printed aids that are adjustable and bring ergonomic benefits into any workshop. Whether you’re crafting an adjustable stand, a tool holder, or another type of aid designed to make the work process more comfortable and efficient, your creation needs to stand out in its adaptability. A valid entry can change its slope, height, or distance.

Adjustable PCB Holder Tool model by squinn

For this special contest, we will collaborate with the
Czech Ergonomic Association. Their expertise in ergonomic principles will play an important role in helping us select the winners, ensuring that the winning designs truly make a difference in promoting healthier work practices.

We emphasize the importance of adjustability in your submissions—your designs must offer flexibility, whether in slope, height, distance, or a combination, to truly align with ergonomic standards and ensure user safety.

Bonus points will be awarded for designs incorporating a rotatable base with a secure locking mechanism, highlighting the fusion of adaptability with safety.

To keep our contest focused, there are a few guidelines on what doesn’t qualify as a valid entry. We’re looking for innovations that directly enhance ergonomic comfort and functionality in the workspace. So, let’s clarify what we’re not looking for:

• No General Holders: This means holders designed for phones, tablets, drinks, foods, headphones, cameras, books, bags, toys, gaming consoles, glasses, or watches, unless they’re specifically for mounting or repairing these items.
• Avoid Spool Holders and Lamps: While useful, these don’t fit our contest’s ergonomic focus.
• Skip the Organizers: We love a tidy workspace, but today we’re focusing on ergonomic improvements.
• Specific Adjustability: Designs must offer flexibility in terms of the user’s interaction with the tool or aid (height, slope, distance, or orientation adjustments). Simply accommodating different sizes of items doesn’t quite fit the bill.
• No Standalone Components: If it doesn’t offer a direct ergonomic benefit without being part of a larger assembly (like loose joints, screws, or furniture legs), it’s not what we’re looking for this time around.

Remember, we’re aiming to enhance how makers interact with their environments, focusing on solutions that make significant ergonomic improvements. Let’s keep these guidelines in mind and create something that makes work easier and the joints and backs of all makers healthier (or at least pain-free)!

Looking for some inspiration? 

Adjustable Project Holder	Adjustable Soldering Station
Multifunctional Adjustable Desk Mount	PCB holder – metric
Adjustable Soldering Stand	Adjustable Lab Stand with Clamp
ft Table 130×100 (Photo by PrimoMemeo)	Panavise Jr. Base Mount Bracket

Prizes

First place

The first-place winner will unwrap a brand new Original Prusa MK4 Kit!

Second place

Second place will be rewarded with 1050 Prusameters – which is just right for grabbing
3 spools of Prusament or choosing from other selected products including Prusa Merch!

Representative images of what you can exchange your Prusameters prize for.
Starring: Mikoláš Zuza & Pepa’s head

Third place

For third place, you’ll get 700 Prusameters , perfect for picking out 2 spools of Prusament or exploring other products.

Representative images of what you can exchange your Prusameters prize for.
Starring: Mikoláš Zuza & Pepa’s head

Community’s Picks

As always you all have a chance to help award some prizes too. We want to see your makes of these designs and the five entries with the most makes (who are not also main prize winners) will each receive 350 Prusameters.

Judging Criteria

• The overall quality of the model.
• Printability – Whether the model has an optimal orientation, whether it is divided into multiple parts so it can be printed more easily (without supports) etc.
• Originality – If you create something truly unique, it will be rated better than a slightly altered existing model.
• Popularity – Share your model to increase its popularity, and prove that users appreciate such a model.
• Your other works – In case we can’t decide between two favorite designs, we often check your other models to see what you can do.
• Assembly instructions – If your model consists of multiple parts, we check how easy it is to assemble the final product.
• Photo quality – Well-lit, in-focus, and clear photos help show off your work and help us pick the best designs.

How to participate?

It’s easy to participate in this competition. Just follow these simple instructions.

• Design and create a model or improve an already existing one (“remix”) so that the result fits the theme of this contest. The model has to be printable on an FFF/FDM or SLA 3D printer (any manufacturer and model). This also means that you don’t need to own a 3D printer to participate. When creating the model, keep in mind the pros and cons of various types of 3D printing technologies and what can and can’t be actually done.
• Upload the model to Printables.com and make sure it contains:
  1. Model in .3MF or .STL file format (print files are optional)
  2. Photo or render of the model (ideally both)
  3. Model description
• Add the model to the contest. You will find the new competition button just below the download button on the print’s page after you publish your print. Click the Compete medal and select the “Ergonomic Workshop Aids” contest. After that, your print will be shown on the contest page and you will be in the running.

Of course, you can share your model on social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest,…), and don’t forget to add @printablescom. This can help increase the popularity of the model.

Terms and conditions

• The contest runs from March 20, 2024, to April 21, 2024.
• You can submit up to 5 unique models to the competition and increase your chances of winning.
• Models submitted to the contest must be models that have been uploaded on or after the March 01 2024.
• The model must contain at least one printed part.
• By entering the contest, you agree to keep your model posted to Printables.com for a minimum of one year. The Prusa team reserves the right to repost your design if it is removed before the end of that year.
• You must be the original creator of the model you upload, please do not repost other people’s models from other sites.
• We reserve the right to terminate the competition or change the conditions of the competition at any time. In case of violation of the terms and conditions or attempted fraud, the competitor will be disqualified.
• Submitting entries that do not fit the contest criteria will result in disqualification and repeated offenses may disqualify you from future contests.
• Results are at the judge’s discretion and all results are final.