How to Make a 3D Printed NFC Business Card That People Will Remember
When you’re at events, shows, or conventions, standing out from the crowd can be tough. Handing over the same boring paper business card just doesn’t leave a lasting impression anymore.
That’s why I decided to 3D print my own NFC business card—something unique, functional, and unforgettable. In this post, I’ll walk you through how I made mine, and how you can do the same with just a 3D printer, an NFC tag, and a bit of creativity.
Why Make a 3D Printed NFC Business Card?
Most people give out the same standard business cards. Some upgrade to plastic cards or QR codes, but very few hand over something that feels custom-made and interactive.
With an NFC business card, the person just taps it with their phone and it takes them straight to your website, YouTube channel, or social profile. No typing. No searching. Just tap and go.
And when it’s 3D printed with your own design? It becomes a talking point, not just a contact card.
What You’ll Need
A 3D printer (I used a single-nozzle, single-colour printer)
An NFC tag sticker (I used round NTAG213 tags)
Fusion 360 (for design)
PrusaSlicer (for preparing your print)
NFC Tools app (for programming your tag – Android or iOS)
Superglue (optional, for assembly)
Step 1: Choose Your NFC Option
There are two main ways to get started with NFC:
✅ Buy an NFC card
You can buy pre-made NFC cards online that just need to be programmed. Some offer basic customisation.
✅ Use NFC stickers (like I did)
They’re small, affordable, and can be embedded into almost anything—including 3D prints!
Step 2: Design Your Card in Fusion 360
I wanted my card to do more than just share my details. I wanted it to promote my YouTube channel, so I designed a YouTube play button on one side and my channel initials on the other.
Key Design Elements:
Card shape: 40x40mm square with a hole for a keyring.
Pocket for NFC tag: I created a recessed area inside the card, 0.36mm deep, to hold the tag securely during printing.
Multicolour look: Even though I only had a single-colour printer, I used some clever modelling to simulate a multicolour print (more on that below).
Step 3: Simulate a Multicolour Print (Single-Nozzle Hack)
Because I only had a single extruder, I had to get creative.
Here’s how I did it:
I printed the play button arrow and channel initials separately.
Then I printed the main body of the card around those parts, using slicer tricks to make it all line up perfectly.
To make this work:
Add alignment squares outside your model so multiple STLs line up in PrusaSlicer.
Use Z-hop to avoid knocking into pre-printed text.
Use the color change function in PrusaSlicer to pause the printer when it’s time to embed the NFC tag.
Step 4: Embed the NFC Tag Mid-Print
Using the color change function in PrusaSlicer, I was able to pause the print at just the right layer height, drop the tag into its pocket, and then let the printer finish building over it.
This makes your card robust, sleek, and functional—with no visible sticker.
Step 5: Program Your NFC Tag
Once printed and assembled, it’s time to make the tag work.
How to program your NFC tag (Android):
Open the NFC Tools app.
Go to Write → Add a Record → URL.
Enter your website, YouTube channel, Linktree, etc.
Tap Write and hold your tag near the phone.
✅ Done! Now anyone can tap your card and go straight to your link.
🔒 Optional: You can “lock” the tag to prevent future editing. Just make sure you’re happy with the URL first—locking is permanent!
Why This Works
A 3D printed NFC business card:
Stands out from regular cards
Sparks conversations
Is interactive and useful
Reflects your maker mindset and creativity
Whether you’re showcasing your work, promoting a channel, or just want to make a killer first impression, this is a great project to try.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a fancy printer or complex tools to make something that gets remembered. With a bit of planning and some free tools, your next event could be the one where people say:
“Whoa! That’s a business card?”