3D printed save icon


Why is this floppy disk joke still haunting the internet?

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The ‘3D-printed save icon’ gag continues unabated — and celebrated

By Megan Farokhmanesh / @Megan_Nicolett

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There’s a joke that circulates online every few years. It’s a picture of a floppy disk, accompanied by the claim that a kid thought it was a real-life version of the “save” icon. Every time it pops up, people laugh, hit “like,” and marvel both at their own age and the cluelessness of kids today.

Over the last week, this gag has been making the rounds on Twitter yet again, thanks to a user under the name Bill Gross. His tweet went viral, with more than 174K retweets to date. The catch? There is no smart-mouthed kid in this equation. Gross was just repeating a laugh he’d once enjoyed.

Gross, the founder of a tech incubator, was watching a talk by Michael Wolf at the WSJ D.Live Conference, when he started pondering the progression of technology. While he was live-tweeting the event, the disk image drifted through his timeline. “I looked at it, and it brought back memories for me of my first floppies, multimedia PCs, and it made me feel a bit old,” he tells The Verge. He grabbed a new picture of a floppy disk, added his own spin, and hit Tweet.

Gross considered his message as more of a meme than a literal report of something that happened to him, though he admits he has no idea how this goof got started. Old iterations of the floppy disk meme are not hard to find. The oldest instance I’ve been able to dig up, circa a forum post in January 2014, comes from an unidentified web comic.

Since then, brands on Twitter have co-opted it in their usual attempt to be trendy. Tech bros have gleefully shared it with #humor hashtags. It’s even made its way into PowerPoint presentations, which of course have then been recycled for Twitter content. It’s appeared online in spaces like Reddit or Imgur. It even got a shoutout in a textbook.

The world is not full of clueless children repeating the same awed observation, though. It’s more likely that adults are just regurgitating an old joke. Floppy disks are dead technology; that’s hardly a new revelation. “I’m not sure why this meme resonates so much,” Gross says, “but I think it’s maybe because people have nostalgia about this time, and also it’s funny how the icon on the desktop survived so long after the floppy died.”

There’s a well-established fascination with antiquated tech and other bygones of people’s youth. From media outlets to daytime TV shows, people love to examine the passé things these darn kids today “don’t understand”: broken records, typewriters, landlines and telephone booths, the dial-up sound on the first modems, and so forth. YouTuber channels like FBE (formerly The Fine Bros) have built entire followings off this curiosity with their “Kids React” series.

There’s comfort in laughing at what kids today don’t know, because it suggests that those of us old enough to remember such marvels are not obsolete after all. There’s little reason for a kid to recognize a floppy disk for what it actually is, but we can pass our aging awareness off as intellectual superiority and rich life experience. Gross may be the latest, most popular example of the joke, but it’s doubtful he’ll be the last. The floppy disk lives on as technical shorthand instead of a physical object — that is, until everyone rightfully adopts the “ctrl/command + S” shortcut.

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BIG, ICON, and Lennar Announce Community of 3D-printed Homes in Texas, USA

BIG, ICON, and Lennar Announce Community of 3D-printed Homes in Texas, USA

Concept Renders. Image Courtesy of ICON Build
  • Written by Paula Cano

Pioneer in large-scale 3D printing, ICON announced the construction of a 3D-printed 100-Home Community co-designed by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group and developed by Lennar. Located north of Austin, in the city of Georgetown, "The Genesis Collection at Wolf Ranch" will become the first and largest house estate in the world built by a fleet of robots integrating additive construction techniques.

Combining the digital possibilities of 3d printing with sustainable features at an affordable price, the project aims to support the housing crisis in Austin, one of the U.S.A's most dynamic and growing cities, home to the new Tesla Gigafactory and other giants such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Oracle.

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Printed using ICON's Vulcan construction system, the houses will incorporate a type of 3D-printed wall comprising a cementitious-based material known as Lavacrete. Creating the walls layer by layer through a nozzle, the structure is built up with no need for extra support or finishes, representing less waste and time. Based on previous prototypes, the construction timeframe of a house ranging from 90 to 200 square meters is around 5-7 days of printing, a significant schedule reduction compared to traditional techniques such as timber frame, which can take 16 weeks for the same area.


Related Article

BIG, Lennar, and ICON are Building the World's Largest Neighborhood of 3D-Printed Homes


The upgraded expression of the contemporary Texas ranch style is complemented by generous double-height living spaces and a material palette consisting of natural and high-quality materials, featuring the printed wall texture, polished concrete floors, 7' windows, and built-in furniture options. The robust 3D-printed walls will offer superior energy performance with integrated services and are topped with metal roofs and photovoltaics, improving the sustainability and resiliency of the complex. The community will offer eight floorplans ranging from 150 to 200 square meters with 24 elevations.

Site. Image Courtesy of ICON BuildSite. Image Courtesy of ICON Build

In the future, I believe robots and drones will build entire neighborhoods, towns, and cities, and we’ll look back at Lennar’s Wolf Ranch community as the place where robotic construction at scale began. We still have a long way to go, but I believe this marks a very exciting and hopeful turn in the way we address housing issues in the world.” Jason Ballard, co-founder and CEO, ICON

Concept Renders. Image Courtesy of ICON Build

Selected as ArchDaily's Best New Practices of 2021 and featured as one of the 100 emerging leaders, according to the Times, ICON embodies a new generation of creators, entrepreneurs, and designers that are shifting the paradigm of the homebuilding industry and beyond. Their vision of construction-scale 3D printing delivers higher-quality housing alternatives and has opened the possibility of imagining humanity's home in outer space. In partnership with BIG and SEArch+ (Space Exploration Architecture), the Texas-based company is working on a space-in-situ construction system that could support future NASA's exploration of the Moon.

Cite: Paula Cano. "BIG, ICON, and Lennar Announce Community of 3D-printed Homes in Texas, USA" 11 Nov 2022. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/992081/big-icon-and-lennar-announce-community-of-3d-printed-homes-in-texas-usa&gt ISSN 0719-8884

The Forgotten Roots of Popular Icons / Sudo Null IT News

A popular joke claims that our children will perceive a 3.5-inch floppy disk as a 3D-printed save icon. Indeed, a generation is growing that does not know the object from which this pictogram was copied.

But the forgotten data storage format is far from the only symbol whose origin we lose memory of. Symbols don't just originate in vanishing objects of reality: some of them originated in obsolete standards, and sometimes a new object or phenomenon needs a memorable icon, the author of which does not receive the deserved fame. Gradually, icons enter our lives, and we ourselves can no longer say where they are rooted.

In this post we will try to trace the etymology of the simplest icons that have become part of our graphic language.

Playback control today does not raise questions: these are the icons of play, pause, stop playback and rewind that have become the norm. Anyone can predict the player's behavior when clicking on a square or two parallel vertical lines.

This character set is so versatile that we use it even outside the context of audiovisual content. For example, an isosceles triangle pointing to the right is placed on some washing machines, where it symbolizes the beginning of the work cycle.

The history of the origin of these icons is primarily related to the playback devices themselves. A typical media player has graphic buttons with rewind symbols built into it, as if we were still reading a magnetic tape. It would be more convenient to have buttons to go 10 seconds forward or backward, rather than rewind. But the mental analogy with magnetic tape was so successful that the images outlived the format itself.


Control panel of the German AEG FT4 tape recorder, which has been produced since 1939 to 1941. No icons, just short captions. Photograph of the Museum of Audio Magnetic Recording in Austin, Texas

As with sound-on-wire devices, early tape recorders had keys and levers labeled with text. At that time, no standard was thought of.


Ampex AG-440 Tape Recorder Control Panel, Model 1967. The professional segment and the appointment only for the US domestic market eliminated the need to translate the inscriptions. Photo of Audiofanzine 9 website0019

Attempts to create a pictogram that is intuitive to the user led to results that are unusual for our gaze, which perceives only modern standards.


Swiss Revox F36 tape recorder from 1962. Perhaps, due to the bilingual nature of the country of origin, the manufacturer decided to put graphic symbols on the case, rather than text inscriptions. Reverb website photo

By the seventies, globalization and the conquest of the world market finally forced us to think about a single standard. At 19In 73, the International Electrotechnical Commission issued the IEC 417 document. The standard fixed graphic symbols, many of which were widely used even before that.

It's impossible to track down one genius designer who made media player icons look like this today. The contributions of individuals have been lost among the innovations of the recording industry.

There are attempts. Several websites erroneously claim that the non-existent Swedish designer Philip Olsson came up with the icons during an internship in Japan following his graduation from the Royal Institute of Technology. In fact, this is a piece of information from Wikipedia, which in 2012 added a wiki vandal under the name Phlopydisk. Judging by his online accounts, Philip put his name in the article for some reason.

Playback triangle points to the right. The tape also moves there when the sound is played. If we are talking about a reel-to-reel tape recorder with auto-reverse, then sometimes there are two playback buttons. On a magnetic tape in this case, 2 (mono) or 4 (stereo) tracks. Only one version of the play button is ingrained in the design: the one pointing from left to right.


The advanced Pioneer RT-909 reel has been on sale since 1978 in the decline of the tape era. Photo Walkman Archive

The pause button is similar to the caesura character "||" used in text to indicate a pause. It also resembles the character り, the last character in the Japanese word 句切り (kugiri), meaning "place to rest" or "punctuation mark."

An anonymous user has been found on the Straight Dope forums who claims to have worked at Ampex in the sixties, where he reduced the square of the stop button by removing the top and bottom edges - otherwise it would have been an equals sign. But there is no other evidence for this.

The color of the circle of the record button was dictated by tradition: the red indicator denoted live broadcast.


Grundig TK46 control buttons, tape recorder produced from 1962 to 1964. The red circle is already used here, although the rest of the corpus is heavily speckled with English verbs. The model for the German market was produced with inscriptions in German. Photo Relics & Rarities

Symbols from the IEC 417 standard (also known as IEC 60417:1973) have gradually spread around the world. It took more than one decade, and often icons and letters side by side. But the simplicity of the icons won.

Drawing intuitive pictograms is not easy. In the same IEC 417 document, the familiar triangles, square and circle have an analogue that depicts the actions with the tape and the coils themselves. For example, Soviet technology resorted to this analogue: instead of the 5107B icon on the play button, there was a 5096 similar to glasses, instead of two parallel vertical stripes 5111B - a magic rune 5111A and so on.


The Soviet cassette tape recorder "Kvazar-303" was produced from 1985 years, when simple triangles, squares and circles for pictograms were already established in the West. Photo of the "Virtual Museum of Russian Radio Engineering of the XX century"

The ⌘ symbol on macOS represents the Command key. As with many other features of the Apple interface, the history of this icon goes back to designer Susan Kare.

In August 1983, the Apple Macintosh software development team noticed that a special key was needed to invoke commands from the menu bar. The developers decided to put the company's icon - a small apple. This has already been done with the Lisa keyboard.


Apple Lisa computer keyboard. Image from the Bitsavers archive

Next to each menu item was a key combination to call it. This meant that the screen was covered with many tiny bitten apples.

Steve Jobs, who was in charge of the work, suddenly rebelled. Perhaps he saw the program MacDraw, in which there were really a lot of menu items. He broke into the office building and demanded to stop using the Apple logo in vain.

To all exhortations that it is necessary to show at least some symbol, Jobs said: change the icon. Since this applied both to the deadlines for assembling a physical keyboard and the timing of printing a user manual, there were only a few days left to search for a replacement.

It didn't take long to come up with something good. Artist Susan Kare trawled through the international character dictionary, trying to find something catchy, attractive, and suitable for a menu button.

Kare reached the Swedish landmark symbol, which is used to mark places of cultural interest. This symbol appeared in the fifties in Finland and quickly spread throughout the rest of Scandinavia.

Hinged square in 16×16 resolution has been approved by the whole department. After 37 years, every Mac still has a pagan symbol, which was drawn in the millennium before last to scare away evil spirits.


Apple M0110 keyboard from original Macintosh. Photo Deksthority

Jobs himself left Apple in 1985 and founded his own company, NeXT Computer. On NeXT keyboards, the command key is labeled Command in green.

Already in 1986, the Apple IIGS added the company logo to the key next to the landmark symbol. This was done to maintain compatibility with previous generations of the Apple II. In 2007, the company logo disappeared again. At that time, NeXT had been part of Apple for ten years, and Jobs again influenced any processes.

Another symbol of proto-Nordic culture that has made its way into our devices is Bluetooth. Once upon a time, the protocol website even had a special page explaining the choice of name and symbolism.

The composite rune in the wireless data communication standard logo combines the hagalaz (“ᚼ”) junior futhark symbol and the berkana (“ᛒ”) character. Together they form the initials HB [Harald Blåtand] of the king of Denmark and Norway, Harald I Gormsson "Bluetooth", after whom the standard was named. Like the Bluetooth protocol that links devices from warring manufacturers, this 10th-century ruler united the rival principalities of Scandinavia.

But Haralds received the nickname “Blue-toothed”, probably not for blue, but for darkened teeth. But the Bluetooth logo takes the color literally.

The era of the global use of touch interfaces presented new requirements. On the screen of a tiny smartphone and even a tablet, large controls do not always fit. You have to hide the unnecessary behind the menus, which are called up by clicking on a special hamburger icon.

For all the novelty of the demands of the 4-inch smartphone boom, the symbol was born long before Jobs showed the iPhone to reporters in Cupertino. As with windowed interfaces, the hamburger icon was born at Xerox in the early days of the personal computer.

The author of the three stripes is Norm Cox, one of the developers of the world's first Xerox Star GUI. According to the creator of the element, in his work he was guided by the limitations of displays. A well-recognised and memorable icon was required, which would mimic the look of the opened list of elements. And in a square of 16 × 16 pixels with grayscale, you can’t really clear up.


Screenshot from the video. Video edited in 1990, but date indicates Xerox 19 internal demo81 years old. The word "hamburger" doesn't sound right: the element is called the "menu button"

As Cox admits, one of the most insignificant and poorly considered elements of the Star system has received the most legacy. They even wanted to put an arrow pointing down on this button, a “+” or “…” icon - any symbol that meant “miscellaneous”, “additional” would fit.

The original name of the icon was different: as a joke, Xerox employees told customers that it was a fan grill that cools the interface elements.

It is easy to track the further distribution of the icon. The hamburger appeared on the smartphones themselves on June 17, 2009 in the Voice Memos app in iOS.

A possible third-party application candidate is Tweetie, the first Twitter client handed by renowned iOS developer Lauren Brichter. Tweetie was released in 2008, and at that time Brichter worked at Apple

The search for a hamburger was on the path of simplification. Facebook added a 2x3 grid icon in 2008, but changed it to 3x3 a year later. In 2010, nine squares were changed to three stripes in the application interface.


Facebook app interface for iOS, 2008

The rising pace of modernity is erasing history not only from the invention of 40 years ago. Web interfaces do not have a standardized content sharing icon, although candidates are found. Three points connected by lines, as if illustrating a graph, have become noticeably widespread.

Its creator is web developer Alex King, creator of the ShareThis plugin for WordPress. In November 2006, King wondered if the add-on needed a special icon. On December 4, 2006, a web developer publishes the first version, which then only slightly modifies - thickens the "edges of the graph" so that they can be better seen in a small size.

King successfully foresaw the need for a new symbol. By the end of 2006, Alex opened the Share Icon Project website, which encouraged the use of this logo to indicate the action of the share, and posted an image archive. Alex announced that he licenses the icon under 4 free licenses at once: GPL, LGPL, BSD and Creative Commons Attribution 2.5.

The pictogram has spread: less than a year later, Google began to use it in its interface. In September 2007, Alex King announced that he was selling ShareThis logos to a social media widget company of the same name.

In a mirrored (to avoid claims for a trademark) form, the share icon is ubiquitous in mobile applications and the Android operating system. The pictogram of three connected dots loses ground to the bent arrow, but still remains one of the popular symbols, the authorship of which we do not think about.


Without the history of the development of the standard, the Ethernet logo is hard to understand: these are some kind of squares that, for some reason, communicate over one cable. Real twisted pair goes from device to device.


Ethernet port and its logo

But everything will fall into place if you remember that in 10BASE5, the first Ethernet standard, up to 100 nodes were connected to a common coaxial cable by “vampires”.


The logo probably has something from the sketches of the author of the Ethernet standard, Robert Metcalf

Modern Ethernet has gone far from 10-megabit speeds. We consider a gigabit Internet connection to be the norm and think about a ten-gigabit local network in an apartment. It is unlikely that anyone will remember coaxial cable when enthusiasts are abandoning copper in favor of optical cables for organizing networking in the house. But the logo remains the same.

Exactly the same fate awaits the floppy disk icon. The need for a save button is unlikely to disappear, even if the speed of writing to disk today allows saving any changes almost in real time.

Although designers resent the disconnection of the symbol from the era, and children see the vending machine on the icon, the visual metaphor for saving data will remain the same. When a standard is accepted globally, the chances of it moving away are minimal. If that weren't true, we'd have long gone to the Dvorak layout and call spam "junk".



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Frequently Asked Questions・Cults


What is 3D printing?

This is a 3D printing process that creates a real object from a 3D digital file. There are several ways to achieve this goal, all based on depositing and solidifying the material layer by layer.

How to print in 3D?

3D printing is very easy. Just download the digital model for 3D printing (for example, on Cults). Typically, a 3D file is in the .STL or .OBJ format. When you restore the file to your computer, you must import it into your 3D printer software called a cutter. You enter into the cutter all the necessary settings for preparing the print (size, temperature, infill, etc.). When your 3D model is ready, you just need to convert it to gCode from your cutter. You will then place the gCode on an SD card or USB drive to connect it to your 3D printer and start 3D printing. You can also use our Maker Tools which lists all the necessary 3D printing software.

What is an STL file?

An STL file is a common file format for 3D printing. It stands for Stereolithography and was invented in the 1980s by one of the founders of the 3D system. An STL file for a 3D printer allows you to create mosaics from triangles. These triangles share edges, which means that the machine can know their location and location. This format does not include information about color, texture, or other common CAD model parameters. You can also use the OBJ format for 3D printing. You can learn about different formats of 3D printable files here.

How to create a 3D model?

To model an object in 3D, you will need special 3D software. The software should also allow you to export your creation to a 3D printable format such as STL or OBJ. There are several solutions for creating 3D files, but if you are a beginner, we recommend the free online 3D modeling software Tinkercad. Depending on your level, you can use more professional software such as ZBrush, Solidworks or Blender. A complete list of 3D modeling software can be found in this article which lists the best 3D modeling software. You can also use our Maker Tools which lists all the necessary 3D printing software.

Can I print in color?

Some 3D printers can print in color. In this case, the information must be reported in a 3D file. The cheapest printers so far only print in one color.

What material can I print?

It depends on your 3D printer, the most common material is plastic (ABS or PLA), but you can print metal, silver or wood. For more information, you can read our article 3D Printing: An Introduction to Various Technologies.

What is the maximum object size??

Again, this depends on your 3D printer. More precisely, it depends on the size of its printing plate.

What is 3D streaming?

This is a process where models are sent directly to a 3D printer without having to download them first. It is a solution that offers the ability to secure and control the exchange of 3D files.

How to fix 3D printing problems?

Personal 3D printers are still at the stage where not all 3D printed objects turn out well the first time. You will have to do this several times, and start printing again and again, changing some parameters. It is learning and knowledge that will be gained over time. The more you create in 3D, the more you will know your 3D printer and create more and more successful objects. We have listed an entire guide to Cults that will allow you to troubleshoot and fix 3D printing problems. A very good document for all beginners! You can also view our Maker Tools which lists all the necessary 3D printing software.

How do you recycle your 3D prints?

As we all know, 3D printing can take a long time from now on and take over all your drawers and cabinets quickly! This is a very good sign because it means you are fully using your 3D printer. To make the most of this, we have listed a few tips that will allow you to reuse items. For example, in this article we explain how to recycle or reuse your empty fiber spools and in this article we explain how to recycle or reuse your failed prints. Useful and original tips that will make your hobby 100% enjoyable!

Is 3D printing compatible with food contact?

This concern is often expressed in the manufacturing community. Indeed, some fibers are not recommended for use in foods. But today there are many harmless materials that can be eaten or drunk. For example, PLA filament, RepRap PP or PETG plastic.


How do I join the community and register for Cults?

Create an account by clicking Community. By filling out a short form, you will officially become a Cults user. Alternatively, you can also go to this page https://cults3d.com/en/polzovateli/vhod and enter your email address, username and password, or use one of the social network login buttons.

How do I upload my 3D models to Cults?

To upload one or more of your 3D files, simply click the Upload button in the upper left corner of the horizontal menu. After that, you will be taken to this page: https://cults3d.com/ru/zagruzhat. Then you will need to click on the "Add 3D Model" block. If you are not yet registered on the platform, you will need to create an account, otherwise you will just need to log into your Cults account. Then you only need to fill out a form with the name of your creation, its description, 3D files, images, etc. Then on the second page, you will need to select the price and license applicable to your 3D model. When all these steps are completed, your creation will be online! If you're still undecided about publishing your models on Cults, feel free to read this article Why publish your designs on Cults? List of advantages and benefits to get an idea.

How can I share my Makes (photographs of 3D printed objects) on Cults?

To share photos of your 3D prints made from files uploaded to Cults, simply click the Upload button in the top left corner of the horizontal menu. After that, you will be taken to this page: https://cults3d.com/ru/zagruzhat. Then you will need to click on the "Add brand" block. If you are not yet registered on the platform, you will need to create an account, otherwise you will just need to log into your Cults account. Then you only need to fill out the form by first selecting the appropriate 3D file from the drop-down menu, a description of your 3D print, settings used, photos, etc. When all these steps are completed, your make will be online!

How can I download 3D files?

Downloading some STL files is very easy. You just need to click on the purple "Download" button in the top right corner of each page of creations. Then click the "Upload Files" button on the last page. Your downloads will start after clicking on "Download Files" and will appear in a special download folder defined by your internet browser. Please note that you must be logged into your Cults account before doing so, or register if you are a new member.

How to buy 3D files for 3D printing?

To buy 3D files, you just need to click the purple "Download" button in the upper right corner of each creation page. Then you need to go to the shopping cart and confirm it by clicking the purple "Proceed to download" button. And choose your favorite payment method. You can choose to pay by credit card or PayPal. Finally, on the last page, click the Upload Files button. Please note that you must first log into your Cults account or register if you are a new member.

How can I find downloaded files?

It is very easy to download the file you have already downloaded. Connect to Cults with your login, go to your personal account to see all your orders: https://cults3d.com/ru/zakazy. Click the purple Download button on each row on the right side of the page and download your ZIP files by clicking the Get Your Models button.

How can I create a collection on the site from my designs or my favorite designs?

  • To create a collection, simply click on the "New Collection" button on this page, and then click on the "Add to" button located below the "Upload" button on each design page you wish to add to the collection. You can also create a collection directly from the suggested options after clicking the "Add to" button by selecting the "New Collection" option.
  • To remove a design from a collection, you can uncheck the collection from the drop-down menu after clicking the Add To button.
  • By clicking on the three small dots of each collection you have created, you can select:
    1. switch the collection to "private" mode: it will be visible only to you in your personal account
    2. or share it in "public" mode: then it will be visible to everyone and available in the "Community Collections" section and on your Cults profile in the "Collections" tab.
  • If you're a designer and want to organize a lot of your work on your profile, it's very easy. Just create a public collection, but choose only your own designs. This way, your themed "Featured" designs will appear right above your designs on your profile, in the "3D Models" tab. They will also appear in the Community Collections section, on your Cults profile under the Collections tab, and of course in your personal account.
  • Collections are displayed in chronological order of creation.

How do I organize my collections?

It's quite simple. You can go to your Design Collection Page, click on the three-dot menu, and select the Climb option. This will move your collection higher in your listing.

How to save creations on the site?

It's very easy to save a 3D file for later use. Just click on the "Add to" button below the "Upload" button. You can then click on the "Collection" you want or create a "New Collection". After that, you can find all the saved files in the collection in your personal account. To cancel saving, you can simply click on the "Add to" button again and uncheck the collection where the design is already saved.

What if I don't have a 3D printer?

With Cults you can get a 3D printed object even if you don't have a 3D printer. It is very easy to do this. Select the desired 3D model, upload it and at the end of the upload process you will be able to select the "Compare Craftcloud 3D Printing Prices" option. This will give you the opportunity to get multiple quotes based on the materials you choose; then order professional 3D printing and have it delivered to your home.
You can also check out our list of online 3D printing services here to choose the right 3D printer for you.

How do I edit my profile?

To change your username or profile picture, or edit your entire profile, you can go to your personal account at this address: https://cults3d.com/en/profil/redaktirovat and edit the relevant fields.

How do I change my account URL?

Your URL was chosen based on your alias, unfortunately it is not possible to change it at this time.

What if I forgot my password?

In the login form you can request a new one by e-mail. If you have forgotten your email, there is nothing we can do for you.

How to become a seller?

By default, your account is configured as a community member. When you upload your first creation, you are officially a Cults seller. To do this, just click "Download" (yes, we thought of everything).

How to get money from sales?

To withdraw money, go to your personal account in the Sales section. Payment threshold is 10 € . Transfers are made manually via PayPal after you have activated the "Request Payment" button located in your personal account.

What if I don't have PayPal access to earn money from sales?

PayPal is restricted in some countries. In addition, in exceptional cases, we may use an alternative payment method to send you money from your sales. Alternatively, we use the Payoneer solution. In order to get a refund on your sales through Payoneer, you must register with Payoneer and make a Payoneer "Request for Payment" sent to hello@cults3d. com. This payment request must match the exact amount of your unlisted threshold or it will be rejected. The minimum threshold at which Payoneer will be able to send a "payment request" is 300 euros.

How can I increase the popularity of my 3D models?

Do you want to make your creations more visible? Check out our Cults tips to increase downloads and sales of your 3D files. By following these tips, you will definitely reach the maximum number of people who will be interested in your creations. To enable you to take full advantage of our platform.

What are the payment methods for purchasing 3D files?

Cults offers the option to pay via PayPal or credit card. Your purchases are 100% secure. For PayPal, you can pay from your PayPal balance or use your credit card through PayPal. Otherwise, our Stripe online payment system allows you to use your credit card directly. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, JCB, Discover, American Express, Diners Club International and UnionPay. If you are unable to pay for your purchases online, please contact us via our contact form.

My upload didn't work!

Don't worry, you also received a download link in your email. You can download your files later. All purchased files are also available in your personal account here: https://cults3d.com/en/zakazy, you can download them whenever you want.

Why do I get a message that the 3D file is corrupted when I unzip the file?

The problem is probably that you haven't installed any 3D software to open the STL file on your computer. When you extract the downloaded ZIP file on your computer (you also need a file extractor), we recommend that you install the free Meshmixer software to open the STL file. You can download Meshmixer here, it's a very good software and it's free. This will allow you to edit and modify the STL in the future. Or you can just open the STL files in your 3D cutter and it will work without any problems.
Otherwise, the problem is with the unzipped software. We recommend that you download your order again (for free) here: https://cults3d.com/en/zakazy. Then unzip files downloaded online through this website: https://unzip-online.com/en or use other software such as The Unarchiver.

Finally, another source of the problem could be a connection problem during boot. This means that the file was not loaded correctly. This can happen if the files are large and contain multiple 3D models. So make sure you have a good connection and don't get interrupted during your new trial downloads.

You can also check out our Maker Tools, which lists all the major 3D printing programs, they might be helpful!

How to use the RAR file?

When you unzip your ZIP file, it may also contain a RAR file inside. It is also an archive file (like a ZIP file) that you will need to unzip. To do this, you will need a suitable program capable of unpacking RAR files. You can visit this page: https://cults3d.com/en/stranitsy/maker-toolbox in the "UNZIP/UNRAR" section you will find free software that can be useful for decompressing archives of this type.

What licenses can I apply to the 3D models I have uploaded?

The 3D models available on Cults are subject to licensing and not all are free from copyright. These licenses define what you can and cannot do with the 3D model. You can read the full license documentation for a better understanding of how they work.

The Cults - Private Use license is used by default. This means that the 3D models under this license are for private use only:

  • You can print them at home for your own use;
  • You may not modify or adapt digital 3D model files and share them;
  • You cannot sell digital files of 3D models;
  • You may not sell 3D prints of models or any 3D prints derived from these models for economic or financial gain.

Only 3D models licensed for commercial use may be licensed for sale. For free models, you can refer to free licenses for commercial use. For paid designs, you can refer to Cult Licenses for Commercial Use.

If you are not sure what you are allowed to do, it is best to ask your questions directly to the designer(s). You can use the comments section below each design, or click "Message" when you're on the Cult's profile to contact them.

Can you print and deliver the goods?

Cults is a platform specialized in 3D modeling, we do not do 3D printing. You can only upload digital 3D files. To order a 3D print, simply upload the STL files of your choice and send those STL files to 3D printers such as Sculptéo, iMaterialise or Shapeways. You send them a 3D file and they give you a quote for 3D printing and shipping to your home. You can also check out our list of online 3D printing services here to choose the right 3D printer for you.

Why are my pictures purple?

Have you just uploaded a creation and your images are not showing right away? Don't worry, this means that Cults analyzes the image and saves it before publishing. It may take some time (depending on concurrent traffic, disk space, image weight, etc. ) but it will be online soon. If it does not work out, you will probably have to redo your image. To do this, you can use the utilities listed in our Maker Tools, which will allow you to optimize the weight of your images.

Why are my images misdirected?

The problem is most likely due to the fact that you have blocked the automatic rotation of the phone when taking a photo. To resolve this issue, open the image on your computer and rotate it fully, then save again. Then all you have to do is upload it to your page again and delete the old photo.

I have downloaded a 3D file, but I can't find it on my computer...

The files may be in a different folder on your computer. You can check in your browser's advanced settings where your downloads are located by default.

How can I contact the designer or manufacturer?

Sending a message to a community member is easy. All you have to do is go to his profile, for example by clicking on his/her avatar. When you are on his/her public profile page, you just need to click on the "Message" tab located on the right side of the navigation submenu. Posts on Cults are not private messages, but a public discussion. It is a place of exchange, thanks to courtesy and respect. Any commercial or malicious calls will be removed. Happy discussion!

The 3D file has been updated, do I need to buy the model again to access this new version?

When a 3D file is updated by its designer, anyone who has purchased or downloaded it for free will have access to the new version directly from their personal Cults space. So there is no need to re-purchase it to get the new version. Just go to the Downloads section of your personal account and click the Download button next to the desired order. After that, you can download the latest version.

Why is my file sold at a higher price than I set?

Cults is a French company subject to VAT (Value Added Tax). Therefore, for legal reasons, VAT must be added to the selling price of your creation. Cults is a transparent intermediary, so VAT is calculated only from the platform commission. This VAT applies only to residents of the European Union. If you live outside the European Union, prices will be without VAT. This tax is collected by Cults and paid in full to the government authorities. Cults receive no commission on this tax. For more information, you can refer to the Wikipedia page.

What currencies does Cults accept?

On the platform, we can display prices in 24 types of currencies. You can select them in the upper right corner of the site in the purple bar next to the language selection.

Here is the list of currencies available on Cults:

  • ARS: Argentine Peso.
  • AUD: Australian dollar.
  • BGN: Bulgarian lev.
  • BRL: Brazilian real.
  • CAD: Canadian dollar.
  • CHF
  • : Swiss franc.
  • CNY: Chinese yuan.
  • CZK: Czech crown.
  • DKK: Danish crown.
  • EUR: euro.
  • GBP: British pound.
  • HUF
  • : Hungarian forint.
  • INR: Indian rupee.
  • JPY: Japanese yen.
  • KRW: Korean won.
  • MXN
  • : Mexican peso.
  • NOK: Norwegian crown.
  • NZD: New Zealand dollar.
  • PLN: Polish zloty.
  • RON: Romanian leu.
  • RUB: Russian ruble.
  • SEK: Swedish krona.
  • UD: American dollar.

What is "dark mode"?

Dark Mode is a special display that brings you a darker Cults interface. What is it used for? This type of appearance potentially has several benefits: reduced eye fatigue, reduced power consumption and thus battery savings to do something for the planet (technically dark pixels consume less power) and finally improved readability (from an ergonomic point of view , some colors are better seen on a black background). You can set up this display from your personal account here. Please note that the "Automatic" mode defaults to the appearance mode you have selected for your computer, tablet or phone.

Why do I only see a shadow on my 3D cutter plate?

You just see a shadow because the designer didn't center the model correctly. The design is not aligned with the printed form. Therefore, you need to completely zoom out and return the design to the printing plate. You can set all XYZ position measurements to 0 so that the file appears properly centered on the plate.

How can I get a refund for my order?

In order to receive a refund, you must first contact the seller on their Cults profile via the messages page or as a comment on the page of the purchased 3D file. If the designer agrees to refund your money, he will have to go to the "Sales" section and click on the "Refund" button corresponding to your order. The refund will then be credited directly to the bank account you used to pay for the order within 1-2 business days. You will receive a confirmation email that will confirm the refund.

What is the Cults refund policy?

Our refund policy is as follows:

  • The customer may dispute the purchase within 30 days of download.
  • The buyer must first contact the seller by sending a message on their Cults profile or leaving a message in the Comments section of the 3D file page.
  • If the buyer does not receive a response from the designer within 7 days, or the seller is unable to resolve the issue, the buyer is requested to contact Cults.
  • Cults will then take over the case and refund the money if the problem is indeed proven and has not been resolved by the seller. Pursuant to Article L 121-20 of the Consumer Code applicable to digital goods, buyers do not enjoy the right of withdrawal if the digital work is fully consistent with its description and function. The refund policy can be found on this page.

How do I download an invoice related to my order?

The invoice can be downloaded from your personal account on the Downloads tab or directly on the order confirmation page using the "Invoice" button. Before doing so, please complete the various details related to your identity in the Account tab. This information will remain private and only visible to you, but is required for the preparation of your invoices.

How do I publish a design in secret mode?

Secret designs are hidden but visible to everyone you share the link with. This can be useful if, for example, you want to share your design with a specific group of people so that only they can access and download the exclusive design.
To change the visibility of your design:
- Select "Make Secret" from the three-dot menu on the current page or on your template page.
- Select "Make Public" to return to public mode.
- On the Edit Price/License page, you can also select the visibility mode: public, secret, or disabled.

How do I create a promotion on my paid projects?

You can add a percentage discount to the price of your designs by clicking the Add Discount button when you are on the pricing page. You can then choose the duration of the promotion, knowing that the maximum duration of the discount is 30 days. You cannot change the price of a discounted design.

How do I delete one (or more) of my designs?

  • Alternatively, go to each page of your designs in the top right corner and click on the 3 small dots icon, then select the Deactivate option.
  • Or go to the "Designs" menu in your personal space and click on the "Deactivate" option, accessible through the icon depicting 3 small dots at the end of each line.

Does Cults 3D have an app for smartphones and tablets?

Cults is a website with responsive web design, which means it is readable and accessible on any smartphone or tablet screen. Just go to your device's internet browser and access the platform through your favorite search engine or by typing in the website's URL. To make it easier to access Cults on mobile and tablets, you can create an icon on your home screen to open Cults directly. Here are some manipulations you need to do, it's very simple.

On iPhone:

  1. Open the Safari browser on iPhone or iPad
  2. Enter URL in the address bar: https://cults3d. com
  3. Click the share icon (square with up arrow)
  4. Scroll to the right of the newly appeared menu
  5. Press the button On the main screen
  6. Give your shortcut a name like "Cults 3D" (as original :))
  7. Click the Add button in the upper right corner of the screen to save your changes

On Android:

  1. Open the Google Chrome app
  2. Enter the URL in the address bar: https://cults3d.com
  3. Click on the three small dots in the menu on the top right
  4. Select "Add to Home Screen"
  5. Give your shortcut a name, such as "Cults 3D" "or My favorite site I love so much!"
  6. Click "Add" and the Cults shortcut will appear on your home screen.

How can I protect my Cults account?

If you want to further secure your account, you can easily enable two-factor authentication in your account settings. Note that two-factor authentication only works for accounts that sign up with an email address and password; it does not work for accounts using Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc. To activate this protection, you can use third party apps such as Google Authenticator, Authy by Twilio, 2FAS Auth or a password manager on your smartphone.

The procedure is very simple:

  • Open the application
  • Scan QR code
  • Enter the one-time code that appears on your application in the field provided on the Cults website
  • And that's all!

How do badges work on Cults?

Badges are awards given to all active and dedicated members of the community. They are small pictograms illustrating some kind of success and come in different colors/materials depending on the level reached (chrome, copper, gold and neon). They are visible in the profile of each user and appear when certain milestones are reached. Discover all the badges you can unlock on Cults on this page and find out how many people were able to get each badge. If you like some of the icons feel free to get the icons in .svg format for 3d modeling and 3d printing.


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