Product design with 3D modelling

I thought I could 3D print a cover to securely hold the pens, as this would be my first time using 3D modeling for product design. I researched different types of pen holders and clips, and since I wasn't sure which size would fit best, I actually printed a cover with 3 different sized clips to test.

The 3D printed material was finer and sturdier than I expected, and the first two clip sizes were able to grip the pens I use firmly. I was pretty happy with the initial result.

However, after a while I found that the clips started to lose their grip - the material seemed to be losing strength after extended use, and the pens would slide off. So while the initial 3D printed solution worked well, it didn't hold up over time as I had hoped.

I also wanted to make my own paper holder and color palette, to have a fully integrated product solution. I researched hinge designs on 3D modeling sites and sent my initial design to a printing vendor. However, they weren't sure about the design and suggested I change it. I ended up designing my own hinge and sent that for printing.

When the hinge pieces arrived, I realized they were still too small and couldn't properly fit together. I ended up breaking the hinges trying to assemble them. In the end, I resorted to using duct tape to hold the pieces together, and surprisingly, the duct tape is actually doing a decent job.