A few years ago, 3D printers were all the rage. Everywhere you looked, there were articles and news stories about the wonders of 3D printing.
The sex toy world was no exception. Many companies wanted to use this unique technology to produce 3D printed sex toys, including dildos, vibrators, and other sex products faster than ever before.
However, some unanticipated obstacles were associated with creating sex toys with a 3D printer, which may be why this industry never really took off on a grand scale.
One of the most significant challenges is trying to make 3D sex toys that are safe for insertion.
While 3D printers are fantastic for making external sex toys and prototypes, they’re not suitable for creating insertable products like 3D printed dildos or anal plugs since they’re porous, meaning they have tiny holes in them that can harbor bacteria.
I’ll go through the two main types of 3D printers used to create sex toys and explain why they are not ideal. Then, I’ll tell you about a couple of techniques you can use to create a safe 3D-printed sex toy. Lastly, I’ll let you know where you can buy a safe 3D-printed sex toy today!
Contents
Sex Toys Made From FDM Printers
One of the most common types of 3D printers is the FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling). These printers contain long strings of filament, which are melted onto the printer bed during use. They continue melting the filaments in layers until the object, in this case, a sex toy, is formed.
The filaments used in these machines are generally food-safe. However, they are rarely approved for body contact. So, there is no assurance that the materials used to make these sex toys are safe for insertion.
Another problem is that microscopic spaces form between the layers during the creation process. These openings can harbor harmful bacteria, which can be dangerous for your body.
Even worst, these sex toys can’t be boiled or put in the dishwasher since the plastic filaments can’t handle extreme temperatures, so there is no good way to clean them before or after use.
Even putting a condom over the toy isn’t a viable option since 3D printed objects tend to have rough surfaces. So, your sex toys may cut tiny holes into your condom, rendering it useless.
Therefore, using insertable sex toys created by FDM printers is a big no-no since they are porous and can’t be properly sterilized.
However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t use non-insertable toys! It’s perfectly fine to use nipple clamps, flogs, whips, and other external toys that are created by FDM printers.
However, remember that you can never fully get these toys clean. So, you should try to avoid getting bodily fluids like blood and semen on them at all costs.
Sex Toys Made From Resin Printers
Resin printers use UV lasers to change resin from a liquid to a solid-state. The resin only hardens in the areas that the printer indicates, creating the object. It does this layer by layer until the entire resin model is complete.
Although resin printers form layers to create 3D printed objects, they don’t leave spaces between the layers as FDM printers do. So, they are safer for developing sex toys.
However, not all resin sex toys are created equal. While some resins are body-safe and non-toxic, others are procured by individual retailers, meaning they can have any number of toxic substances in them.
Since the resins used to create 3D sex toys are not regulated, you’ll never be 100% certain if you are getting the good stuff or low-quality junk that may be harmful to your body.
Additionally, the resin needs to be cured after it is printed for safety reasons. However, some manufacturers skip this step because it is expensive and time-consuming.
Uncured resin products are toxic and incredibly harmful to your body. So, if your sex toy dealer doesn’t take this final step, your 3D toys may cause you some serious harm.
Techniques To Make 3D Sex Toys Safe for Insertion
There are two main ways you can make 3D printed sex toys safe for insertion. I’ll go over these methods in detail below.
Sand and Top With a Silicone Spray
After you receive a 3D printed sex toy, you can sand it with 240 grit sandpaper. This will help you to remove any rough surfaces that were acquired during the printing process.
Once you’ve sanded the entire surface, spray it with a silicone coating to seal it off from harmful bacteria. You’ll need to spray it three or four times to ensure that it is completely covered.
While this method is pretty effective, it isn’t 100% foolproof. If you miss a spot during the sanding or coating process, your sex toy won’t be safe. So, make sure you are really careful!
Use Your 3D Printer To Create a Mold
One of the best ways to make 3D toys safe for insertion is to make a mold of the sex toy with a 3D printer. Then, you fill that mold with 100% platinum-catalyzed silicone to create your final product.
You can use this process to create non-motorized toys like dildos. However, you can also use it to produce motorized devices, like vibrators and g-spot stimulators.
In my opinion, this is the best way to use a 3D printer to create a sex toy since your final product will be made entirely of silicone, so you won’t have to worry about it harboring bacteria or having any rough surfaces.
While it requires some extra steps since you have to create the mold, it’s worth it in the end since you’ll know that you are using something safe and reliable!
Where Can I Get a 3D Printed Sex Toy?
You can’t just head over to your local sex shop to find a 3D sex toy. So, where can you get one?
The best place to find reliable 3D sex toys is Etsy. You can message the store owners to find out how they create their 3D products to ensure they are 100% safe.
Some Etsy shop owners are even willing to create custom molds, so you can get a specially designed 3D printed sex toy built with your body and preferences in mind!
One shop is called NerdClimax. They use 3D printers to create silicone molds of several unique sex toys. Some of my favorites are their fantasy dildos!
Another great option is LeLuv, which is a company that creates gorgeous textured dildos and other sex-related gadgets.
If you’re interested in non-insertable toys, check out the TerribleToyShop. They use 3D printers to create unique BDSM gadgets, such as vagina and penis clamps, breast vices, and so much more!
Where Else Can I Get a Safe 3D Sex Toy?
As of right now, most big brand manufacturers don’t use 3D printers to create their sex toys. However, some large companies like Dame Products use 3D printers to create prototypes of their products, which helps them develop new advancements more quickly.
So, your only real option for getting a 3D printed dildo is to make it yourself, get one on Etsy, or scour the web for a small manufacturer. However, 3D sex toy production could always pick up in the future!
Final Thoughts
Whether or not 3D-printed sex toys are safe depends on how they are made.
Sex toys made from an FDM printer are not safe since they are porous. Dildos made from resin printers tend to be a little safer. However, you have to ensure the resin used to make the sex toy is non-toxic.
The safest way to make a 3D printed sex toy is to create a mold that you fill with silicone to make the final product. Currently, you can get products made this way on Etsy. While most large sex toy manufacturers don’t use 3D printers, this could always change in the future!
