  A key element in the study of cold atoms, and their use in emerging quantum
technologies, is trapping the atoms in an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) chamber. Many
methods have been used to trap atoms including atom chips and magneto-optical
traps (MOTs). However, the bulky apparatus, and current-carrying coils, used so
far in most MOTs restrict the reduction of power and physical size, as required
for quantum technology applications. The advent of 3D printing technology now
offers a new route to making MOTs with current paths that can be freely shaped
and shrunk to several centimetres, thereby helping to reduce the power
consumption and simplify the production of the MOT itself. In this paper, we
present designs for 3D printed MOTs and analyse their performance by using
COMSOL simulations. We predict that the 3D-printed conductors can create
magnetic fields with gradients around 15 G/cm and passing through zero, as
required for atom trapping, with Joule heating as low as 0.2 W.
