The entirely useless Helmet Fan [Source: Matt Benedetto]
Matt Benedetto has a habit of designing unnecessary things.
US-based Benedetto has successfully designed many practical and useful consumer products, but in his spare time he prefers to invent ridiculous pieces that are entirely unnecessary, many of which appear to be 3D printed. He calls them “Unnecessary Inventions”.
We call them fun.
Here’s a selection of some of his more interesting — and totally unnecessary — inventions:
The Snack Tax Chute is a device that allows a passenger in the rear seat to easily supply candy to the driver [Source: Matt Benedetto] The Anywhere Hook provides an easy means of carrying items, like your suit jacket [Source: Matt Benedetto] The Condiment Fork extrudes condiments on your french fries. But what is that green stuff? [Source: Matt Benedetto] The Calf Scratch attaches to shoes and easily allows comfortable scratching [Source: Matt Benedetto] The Cuisine Curtain covers unsightly chewing, but can move aside for normal speech [Source: Matt Benedetto] The Facial Muscle Trainer trains facial muscles, obviously [Source: Matt Benedetto] The FingLonger extends your finger to allow deeper action or longer reach [Source: Matt Benedetto] The FurRoller lets you distribute fur on your clothes to pretend you own a pet [Source: Matt Benedetto] The HoverBrella follows you automatically and keeps you dry [Source: Matt Benedetto] Inferno knuckles offer both protection and lighting [Source: Matt Benedetto] No one will sneak up on you when wearing the LookBack [Source: Matt Benedetto] Avoid hearing GOT spoilers by wearing the Plug of Thrones [Source: Matt Benedetto] The Perfect Hogan guides your razor to the ultimate Hulk Hogan shave [Source: Matt Benedetto] The Sip & Curl generates and eliminates calories simultaneously [Source: Matt Benedetto]
Come to think about it, some of these may actually be useful. I happen to know someone that could stand some facial muscle exercise, and you do too.
What looked like twigs proved to be generatively-designed shapes, the output of generative design algorithms available in Autodesk’s Fusion 360, then cast in metal.
A young engineering student, Danielle Boyer, has developed an inexpensive robot targeted at educators and students, and soon there will be 150 of them heading to institutions.
Kerry Stevenson, aka "General Fabb" has written over 8,000 stories on 3D printing at Fabbaloo since he launched the venture in 2007, with an intention to promote and grow the incredible technology of 3D printing across the world. So far, it seems to be working!
![The entirely useless Helmet Fan [Source: Matt Benedetto]](https://fabbaloo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-asset_img_5eb09765de36c.jpg)
![The Snack Tax Chute is a device that allows a passenger in the rear seat to easily supply candy to the driver [Source: Matt Benedetto]](https://fabbaloo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/useless-3d-prints-snack-tax-chute_img_5eb0976635b5e.jpg)
![The Anywhere Hook provides an easy means of carrying items, like your suit jacket [Source: Matt Benedetto]](https://fabbaloo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/useless-3d-prints-anywhere-hook_img_5eb0976674db8.jpg)
![The Condiment Fork extrudes condiments on your french fries. But what is that green stuff? [Source: Matt Benedetto]](https://fabbaloo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/useless-3d-prints-condiment-fork_img_5eb09766c6ca2.jpg)
![The Calf Scratch attaches to shoes and easily allows comfortable scratching [Source: Matt Benedetto]](https://fabbaloo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/useless-3d-prints-calf-scratch_img_5eb0976714d48.jpg)
![The Cuisine Curtain covers unsightly chewing, but can move aside for normal speech [Source: Matt Benedetto]](https://fabbaloo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/useless-3d-prints-cuisine-curtain_img_5eb097675a52c.jpg)
![The Facial Muscle Trainer trains facial muscles, obviously [Source: Matt Benedetto]](https://fabbaloo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/useless-3d-prints-facial-muscle-trainer_img_5eb097679d6eb.jpg)
![The FingLonger extends your finger to allow deeper action or longer reach [Source: Matt Benedetto]](https://fabbaloo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/useless-3d-prints-finglonger_img_5eb09767e7022.jpg)
![The FurRoller lets you distribute fur on your clothes to pretend you own a pet [Source: Matt Benedetto]](https://fabbaloo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/useless-3d-prints-furroller_img_5eb0976833f6a.jpg)
![The HoverBrella follows you automatically and keeps you dry [Source: Matt Benedetto]](https://fabbaloo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/useless-3d-prints-hoverbrella_img_5eb0976876abe.jpg)
![Inferno knuckles offer both protection and lighting [Source: Matt Benedetto]](https://fabbaloo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/useless-3d-prints-inferno-knuckles_img_5eb09768b2b6f.jpg)
![No one will sneak up on you when wearing the LookBack [Source: Matt Benedetto]](https://fabbaloo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/useless-3d-prints-lookback_img_5eb097691a05d.jpg)
![Avoid hearing GOT spoilers by wearing the Plug of Thrones [Source: Matt Benedetto]](https://fabbaloo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/useless-3d-prints-plug-of-thrones_img_5eb097695a8ff.jpg)
![The Perfect Hogan guides your razor to the ultimate Hulk Hogan shave [Source: Matt Benedetto]](https://fabbaloo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/useless-3d-prints-perfect-hogan_img_5eb09769a4ec2.jpg)
![The Sip & Curl generates and eliminates calories simultaneously [Source: Matt Benedetto]](https://fabbaloo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/useless-3d-prints-sip-and-curl_img_5eb09769e31b1.jpg)
This week’s selection is a 3D printed Coronavirus!