Design them online and print them at home.

Online design applications and templates that can be printed at home have become the next stage in the evolution of 3D-printed sex toys.

Dildo Generator and similar websites do exactly what the title suggests. Users can scroll and click to specify the length, girth, and shape of their desired custom 3D-printed sex toys.

As an optional extra, buyers can add a slot for a bullet vibrator. Producers then print out the personalized toy for delivery (in an unmarked box).

The market for 3D-printed sex toys has existed for a few years now, but buyers previously had to visit a store or email a supplier.

The do-it-yourself programs could potentially limit any embarrassment and encourage more people to get exactly what they want.

Comparison website Aniwaa, which covers all sorts of 3D-printed products, has a page devoted to sex toys, comparing Dildo Generator with competitors.

Design and print 3D-printed sex toys at home

With 3D printers on the cusp of everyday use, people can also design and create their own toys from home. A small 3D printer may cost only $100, although one big enough for standard-sized sex toys may cost closer to $1000.

MakerLove.com, Cults 3D, and similar websites allow users to download sex toy designs to print at home, including dildos based on famous adult male performers.

However, health and safety issues still hang over 3D-printed dildos and plugs.

Printed objects can be porous, allowing germs and grit to infect them. Rough surfaces can also cause chafing or internal scratching.

Health and safety around 3D-printed sex toys

In January, Sex Shop 3D released a video covering safety concerns and helpful hints for DIY dildo designers.

The video highlights the specific process of 3D printing, which involves adding layer upon layer of plastic, resulting in uncomfortable and dangerous grooves between individual layers.

Sex Shop 3D advises home-based designers smooth their toys with sandpaper before spraying them with a silicone coating. The silicone should be reapplied three or four times, with the toy resting for about 20 minutes between sprays.

Industry advocates hope the ability for traditional consumers to design sex toys will create a boom in homegrown design talent.

Buyers who might be embarrassed about visiting an adult shop can avoid that trip, while designers can contribute to the industry without working directly for sex toy producers.

In the future, owners of 3D printers could regularly upload their custom designs for 3D-printed sex toys to a company’s website, to be downloaded and reused by others.

Image source: Sex Shop 3D