3D-printed suitcase includes foldout table, cup holder, and a secret snack compartment

Air travel can be notoriously headache-inducing, even on the best of days. While there’s little any single traveler can do to reduce exorbitant airport snack prices or unnecessarily delay security lines, Matty Benedetto recently considered a few ways to improve his own jet-setting experience. On his YouTube page, Unnecessary Inventions, Benedetto highlights an absolutely wild, 3D-printed suitcase adorned with multiple creative additions designed to make life at the airport at least a little more enjoyable. But as the inventor discovered when he first tested the suitcase, there is a price to pay for prioritizing form over function.

“With all these growing problems at airports, it seems to me that the only logical thing to do is to work on a project solely dedicated to [traveling]”, he explained during his introductory video.

I 3D printed my own suitcase

Benedetto decided to 3D print the exterior of the suitcase in several sections, then connect them together like Legos using metal dowels and adhesive glue. Of course, no each The component is 3D printed. Benedetto relied on standard parts such as metal hinges to ensure a sturdier design, as well as stock wheels and a luggage handle extension. The dimensions and weight of the suitcase were major considerations throughout the process, requiring him to balance accessories with airline limitations.

“Finally, I need some kind of useless tech feature. Because it seems like every product these days has to be ‘smart,'” he added.

At first glance, the final product is honestly quite enviable. Exterior add-ons include a hinged flip-up table, a MagSafe phone holder, a snack pot, and even secret compartments in the legs to store an AirTag in case the luggage goes missing. There’s even a self-balancing three-axis gimbal coffee cup holder designed to withstand all the bumps and sudden stops that often accompany running between airport terminal gates. As for “unnecessary technical functionality,” Benedetto opted for a small device displaying travel information such as flight schedules, weather information and personal contact details on the screen.

Ironically, it wasn’t Benedetto’s personalized suitcase that the TSA flagged for additional screening: it was his everyday backpack. But for all the thought Benedetto put into the overall design, the suitcase found a home in the overhead compartment of the small commuter plane. Fortunately, a flight attendant managed to find a place for it in a cabin trunk.

However, none of the flashy accessories mean much if the suitcase can’t handle being tossed around by baggage handlers – and that’s where it unfortunately fails. During a short flight from New York to Burlington, Vermont, the bag suffered multiple cracks along the exterior, while external accessories such as the snack compartment lid and coffee holder were nowhere to be found. On the plus side, the AirTag stayed snug and secure inside the screw-in foot. So while the overall idea is thoughtful and intriguing, it’ll take a little more than 3D printing and dowel rods to achieve a truly sturdy iteration.

“This one may just have to live in the archives as a project that was a great experience that will never be repeated again,” Benedetto concluded.

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