Youtube inventor 3D prints multi-purpose suitcase

Matty Benedetto, a Youtuber and self-made inventor who, in his words, “designs products to solve problems that don’t exist” has created a 3D printed suitcase that, frankly, puts other luggage to shame. On his channel Unnecessary Inventions, Benedetto recently showed his 5.4 million subscribers exactly how he made this 3D printed travel accessory and drew particular attention for the numerous extra features that he integrated into the DIY case.

For this project, Benedetto started out with a couple of goals: to create a suitcase that would make traveling easier for him and that would be accepted by the TSA as a carry-on and stand up to being in the hold. The first step was to measure a conventional hard suitcase with carry-on dimensions. He then mocked up a 3D model of the suitcase shell, which was segmented into pieces not only for printability but because he wanted the suitcase to have a distinctly 3D printed appearance. Using scrap filament, he printed the prototype pieces of the shell in different colors using his fleet of Bambu Lab 3D printers.

To facilitate assembly, the sections of the 3D printed suitcase shell integrate holes for dowels as well as a chamfer edge. Other critical functional elements, like the hinges and telescopic handle were purchased off-the-shelf rather than 3D printed for the prototype. This provided a suitable base for Benedetto to start exploring all the extra features he could integrate without adding too much weight.

After much tinkering (as seen in a montage in his Youtube video), Benedetto had an updated 3D model, full of fun and functional elements, that was ready to print. The first pieces to print were the suitcase wheels, made from a combination of TPU for the wheel and PLA for the inside rim (for this he used the BambuLab H2C multi-material 3D printer, which VoxelMatters recently reviewed). Midway through the print, he inserted ball bearings into the wheels for smoother rolling action.

In the final assembly of the suitcase, Benedetto used metal dowels and glue to secure all the shell pieces together and reinforced corners with TPU protectors. From there, he manually assembled all the more traditional features (like handles and wheels) as well as the more unconventional ones. Among these new accessories are a MagSafe phone holder, a flip-up table, a secret snack compartment, screw out feet that can hide an Airtag, and a gyroscopic coffee holder that keeps coffee from spilling even if you’re rushing for a flight. He also integrated a digital accessory that displays flight information, weather at the destination, and “If found” information in case the luggage is lost.

In his content, the inventor tests the suitcase out on a flight to New York from Burlington, Vermont. The bag passed through TSA security with no issues, however some challenges did arise on-board when the bag wouldn’t fit in the small plane’s overhead compartment and a wheel briefly fell off. On the way home, Benedetto removed the wheels and chose to check the bag to see how it would fare. After landing, he found the bag shell mostly held together but it had definitely incurred some damage, including fractures, scuffmarks, a missing snack compartment lid, and a broken coffee cup holder. As he says: “This one might just have to live in the archives as a project that was a great experiment and that shall never be repeated again.”

While the project can’t be considered an overall success, one does wonder whether a tougher material would have made for a more robust bag that could handle being thrown around in the hold. In any case though—pun intended—Benedetto has shown how some creativity and a 3D printer can lead to new ideas. Among his other viral projects has been an easy-bake-inspired 3D printed 3D printer, a candy 3D printer, and a mobile design studio equipped with 3D printer, generator, and various tools. You can watch the full experiment below: