By Trilby
Looking for a beginner-friendly way to bring 3D printing into your classroom? A custom keychain is the perfect place to start. It’s small, personal, and packed with opportunities to build creativity and design thinking. Whether you’re brand new to 3D printing or looking to expand your maker activities, learning how to 3D print a keychain is a fun, low-prep way to get students excited about creating.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my links at no cost to you.
Why Start with a 3D Printed Keychain?
When it comes to classroom 3D printing projects, keychains are the sweet spot. Here’s why:
They’re fast to print – Most small keychain designs take 10 to 40 minutes to print, making them ideal for class periods or rotation schedules.
They’re easy to customize – Students can add their name, initials, favorite shapes, or school colors to create something uniquely theirs.
They build essential skills – From CAD basics to spatial reasoning, this project helps students develop technical and creative confidence.
They make great keepsakes and gifts – Whether it’s for a backpack zipper pull or a take-home keepsake, students love walking away with something they designed themselves.
What You Need to 3D Print a Keychain
- Access to 3D design software (I recommend Tinkercad—it’s free and student-friendly)
- A 3D printer and filament
- Key ring loops
- Optional: Permanent markers or paint pens for decorating
Need help teaching students how to actually use the 3D printer? Check out my complete 3D Printing Unit, which walks students through printer safety, slicing files, sending jobs to the printer, and more. It includes three beginner-friendly projects, including this keychain challenge!
What Students Will Do in This Project
This activity focuses on design skills and creative problem-solving. Students will:
- Use basic CAD tools to create a keychain design.
- Sketch and plan their ideas before jumping into digital modeling.
- Customize their work to reflect their interests and personality.
- Watch their designs come to life as physical objects they can take home.
Try This Classroom-Ready Keychain Design Project
If you’re looking for a project that’s easy to implement and fun for students, my 3D Printing Keychain Project has you covered. It includes:
- Printable and digital student worksheets
- Detailed teacher notes and a slideshow to guide the project
- An easy-to-use grading rubric
- End of project certificates to celebrate your students work
Whether you’re using this as part of your 3D printing unit, an end-of-year project, or a STEM elective, this project makes it easy to get students creating and problem-solving with purpose.
Final Thoughts
Designing and 3D printing a keychain is a small project that makes a big impact. Students feel ownership, pride, and excitement as they bring their ideas to life—plus, they walk away with something tangible they’re proud to show off.
If you’re ready to bring more creativity and hands-on design into your classroom, grab the 3D Printed Keychain Project here or take a look at the Complete 3D Printing Unit if you want everything you need to teach the entire process from start to finish.
