Which sign type?
| Type | How it's used | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Desk nameplate | Stands on a desk, counter or reception | Sign + separate stand base with a leaning slot |
| Door sign | Flush on a door: rooms, offices, "Please knock" | Thin plate with countersunk screw holes or a flat back for tape |
| Wall plaque | House names, family signs, gifts | Thicker rectangle, arch or oval with hidden keyhole hangers |
How to make a 3D-printed sign
- Choose the type. The size, thickness and mounting switch to suit it.
- Type your text. Line 1 is the main text; line 2 is optional and set smaller (a job title, room number or date).
- Pick a font and alignment, and add the raised frame line if you like.
- Adjust the size and mounting: the stand's lean for a desk sign, screws or tape for a door sign, shape and hangers for a plaque.
- Download one STL, or the 2-colour ZIP for AMS / MMU printers.
Recommended print settings
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Material | PLA indoors · PETG or ASA outdoors and in bathrooms |
| Layer height | 0.2 mm · 0.12–0.16 mm if the letters are under 8 mm tall |
| Walls | 3–4 |
| Infill | 15–20% |
| Orientation | As downloaded: flat, letters up. No supports – keyhole pockets bridge cleanly. |
| Two colours | Filament change at the height shown under the preview, or the 2-colour ZIP |
| Bed adhesion | Brim for large, thin signs |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the three sign types?
A desk nameplate is a flat sign with a separate stand base: push the sign into the slot and it leans back slightly on a desk or counter. A door sign is thin and mounts flush, with two countersunk screw holes or a flat back for mounting tape. A wall plaque is thicker, comes as a rectangle, arch or oval, and hangs on a screw or nail by hidden keyhole slots on the back (or a hole at the top).
How do I print it in two colours?
Every sign prints flat with the letters on top. On a single-colour printer, add a filament change in your slicer at the height shown under the preview (the base thickness): the plate prints in one colour, the letters and frame in another. On AMS, MMU or tool-changer printers, download the 2-colour ZIP and load the files as one object with a filament for each part.
How does the desk nameplate stand up?
It comes as two parts in one file: the sign, with a plain strip at the bottom, and a stand base with a slot. Print both flat, then push the strip into the slot. The slot holds the sign at the lean angle you choose (15° back by default). The fit is snug; a drop of glue makes it permanent.
How do the keyhole hangers on a wall plaque work?
The keyholes are pockets on the back, so nothing shows from the front. Drive a screw or nail into the wall, leaving the head about 3 mm out, then put the round part of the keyhole over the head and slide the plaque down: the head locks behind a lip. They suit heads up to about 9 mm across and shanks up to 4 mm. Plaques 140 mm and wider get two keyholes so they hang level; measure the distance between them on the print.
What screws do I need for a door sign?
The holes are countersunk for 3–3.5 mm wood screws (for example 3.5 × 16 mm), so the screw heads sit flush with the face. For glass or metal doors, or if you would rather not drill, choose "Mounting tape" to get a flat back and use double-sided foam tape.
What filament should I use?
PLA is fine for indoor signs. For outdoors, in sunlight or in a humid bathroom, use PETG or ASA. A matte or wood-fill filament for the plate with a contrasting colour for the letters gives a very clean look.
Can I add a logo or icon?
The Sign Bench is for text. For a sign or tag with your own logo, use the NFC Bench, which takes an uploaded logo image (and works fine without an NFC sticker).
How long can the text be?
Up to 32 characters per line. The letters grow as large as the sign allows, and line 2 is set smaller than line 1, like a name and a job title. If the letters come out under 4 mm tall, a warning appears: make the sign bigger, reduce the border or shorten the text.
Want your name on a keyring instead? The Name Keychain Generator makes raised-letter tags, and the Flip Text Generator makes a 3D name illusion for a desk.