If you’ve ever watched a highlighter roll off your desk for the fifth time in an afternoon, you understand. Now imagine your desk is set up for a left-hander — everything mirrored from what the rest of the world expects — and the problem gets about twice as annoying.

That was my situation. My highlighters kept disappearing into the chaos, and I got tired of it. So I did what any reasonable person with a 3D printer and too much CAD experience does: I designed my way out of the problem.

Start With What Already Exists

The first thing I did was look for an existing model online. No point reinventing something if someone already figured it out. I found a hexagonal design built around Expo whiteboard markers — great snug fit, solid concept — but it wasn’t quite right for my setup.

So I used it as a starting point and made it my own.

The clip on the original model had to go. Instead of clipping to something, I redesigned the back to match the exact width of two-sided tape so it could mount flat against a desk surface — no hardware, no fuss, just stick it and done.

That was version one. Functional. Clean. Gets the job done.

Version Two: Designed for a Metal Desk

Here’s where it got more interesting.

My desk is metal, which means magnets are an option. And magnets are almost always a better option. So I went back into Fusion 360 and built a second version from scratch — this one designed to hold magnets directly in the body of the print.

The key decision here was making it parametric. That means instead of hardcoding magnet hole sizes into the model, you just input your magnet’s diameter and depth, and the geometry updates automatically. Swap to a different magnet? Change two numbers. Done.

This is the version I actually use. It snaps onto the desk with a satisfying click, holds the markers exactly where I need them, and doesn’t go anywhere.

The Build

Print time on the final version comes in at about 38 minutes — fast enough that you could knock this off on a lunch break. Nothing exotic required: standard settings, no supports needed.

The hexagonal geometry gives each marker its own snug pocket, which is the detail that makes this actually work day-to-day. No rattling, no tipping, no hunting for a cap.

Get the Files

Both versions — the tape-mount and the magnet version — are available on MakerWorld. Link is in the description of the build video. The parametric model is ready to go; just dial in your magnet dimensions and print.

If you’re dealing with a messy desk, a weird left-handed workflow, or just a specific problem that off-the-shelf organizers don’t solve — this is exactly the kind of thing 3D printing is for. A real solution, designed for your real situation, in under an hour of print time.

That’s the whole point.

Tenacious Creations is a CAD/CAM design and fabrication studio based in Saskatoon, SK. We design custom parts, prep files for CNC and 3D printing, and help bring product ideas from concept to prototype. Get in touch →