When it comes to making cosplay props and armor, you probably hear a lot of people talk about materials like Worbla and EVA foam. These aren’t your only options though. This raises the question, can you make cosplay with a 3D printer? The short answer is of course yes. But let’s dive into this a bit more.
You absolutely can make cosplays with a 3D printer. There’s a few pros and cons to keep in mind though when choosing this route. I’d also like to note, 3D printed cosplays are acceptable for competing. It’s a valid technique that requires a lot of skills and thus you won’t be disqualified from a cosplay competition if you 3D print pieces of it.
Can You 3D Print Cosplay Armor?
So let’s talk about the pros and cons. As I said, you can 3D print cosplay armor but there are things you want to keep in mind if you choose this route
Cons of 3D Printing Cosplays
- Weight – 3D printed cosplay props and armor tend to be far heavier than Worbla or EVA foam. So if you want to wear the costume for long periods of time or carry a prop across the con floor for the day, you might want to evaluate if printing is the right choice or if you’re comfortable with the added heaviness.
- Cost – A 3D printer can be an expensive up front cost. However if you already own one or have a local library or makerspace with one, the filament is actually not that expensive. Thus 3D printing can be done on a budget whereas foam and Worbla themselves can be expensive, excluding the tools you need for them.
- Time – All cosplay projects take time. 3D printing can take days just for one piece. However so can assembling pieces from foam and Worbla. If you have a tight con crunch you’ll want to keep this in mind. A work around would be having multiple machines going at once to print parts.
These cons are not a reason to completely rule out 3D printing cosplays. They are just things to be aware of during your cosplay planning stages so you can ensure you build something you love to wear.
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