(506) 2240-6804
3D printer file sites
The 4 Best Websites for Free 3D Printing Files
Having access to a 3D printer is a rather exciting privilege. Whether you're a seasoned 3D printing veteran or a beginner, free 3D printing models are always welcome. Designing 3D models from scratch can be time-consuming and requires special skills.
Luckily, there are lots of websites and libraries that offer free 3D models for download, but not all 3D models are printable. Here are four of the best websites for downloading 3D printable models.
Thingiverse is the ultimate 3D printing library. This website is entirely dedicated to 3D printers, and most 3D models are uploaded as STL files that can be easily 3D printed. Each model comes with a 3D preview, pictures of the printed product, and print settings.
Thingiverse allows users to post photos of their makes, and creators can remix other 3D files to create new designs. You can look through the different user-published makes to find the best print settings for a file, or to get some inspiration.
Thingiverse has become the go-to 3D printing library for makers thanks to its free access to designs and files. Every file that you see on Thingiverse, you can download and use for free. Although, if you're a creator, you cannot sell your designs on Thingiverse due to the platform's free nature.
Though you don't need to pay any money to use the free 3D models on these websites, it doesn't mean that they're not copyright protected. Do your research before using these files in commercial projects!
MyMiniFactory is a 3D printing library and community where you can find thousands of free and paid 3D models for download.
MyMiniFactory has a strong emphasis on role-playing games, such as D&D. Most of the models you'll find here are structures and characters designed for tabletop games.
If you're a fan of 3D-printed tabletop figures, then you know how much better they look when they're printed in multiple colors. To upgrade your printer and your prints, consider trying out duotone 3D printing.
Other than its library, MyMiniFactory has many engaging community elements. Makers can write their stories in Community Stories, and they can partake in designing and printing competitions to win prizes.
The site also hosts an ambitious project called Scan The World, whose goal is to offer art and heritage sculptures in the form of 3D printable files for free. So far, this project has cataloged 17,000 objects which you can download for free.
Cults is another 3D repository and community where you can download 3D models and print them. The site offers both free and paid models. If you're a maker, you can monetize and sell your 3D model on Cults.
Cults is the perfect place to find aesthetic and decorative 3D-printed models. It offers a wide array of jewelry, art, and fashion models. If you're looking to make your own 3D-printed jewelry, then Cults is the place to browse and download models.
Cults also hosts 3D printing contests where you can design a model according to the given guidelines to win a prize.
TurboSquid is a massive marketplace for 3D models. Unfortunately, while some of these models are designed to be 3D printed, most are not. However, you can still print them with a little tweak.
The website offers a wide selection of professional 3D models, both paid and free. Some of these models feature remarkable detail and realism, and they range from vehicles and people to animals.
You can find 3D printable models by searching for STL models. There are roughly 100,000 STL models available on TurboSquid. The website was acquired by Shutterstock in 2021.
From Bytes to the Real World
3D printing is an awesome technology that lets you bring 3D creations out of your computer and into the real world. With a 3D printer, you can print any 3D model in STL format, and now you know where to find such models.
Though you have to pay to download some models on these websites, there's still a good variety and quantity of free 3D models available.
Now all you need to do is to find the model you like most, and get to printing!
2022's Top 10 Sites For Free 3D Printing STL Files
by 3devo on Mar 17, 2022 11:34:00 AM
Have you decided to take the jump and buy a 3D printer? Or maybe you’ve been considering, and are looking for more details as to how it can benefit you?
Well, there comes a time where you have all the knowledge and resources for your 3D-printing activities, but no time when it comes to designing or redesigning your STL models. Luckily, you can download free STL files from a variety of great sites. Most are free while others offer their work for a price. Some even have the option to order the model to be printed and then get it sent straight to you!
The best part about these STL file downloads would be the sheer variety available as 3D-printing has gone mainstream. Below is a list featuring some great sites that we use to find free STL models.
Enjoy!
Our Top 10 Free STL File Sites
10. SketchfabSet up in 2012 to build up a community-based 3D model online repository, this French-based site has grown to offer both free and paid downloads. It was among the first to offer models created with any of the major 3D creation tools, further supporting VR and AR on compatible hardware. This site is easy to navigate using the search feature and to better navigate through the sheer volume of STL files available, they have been grouped into convenient categories. Be warned that you may end up spending more time at this Sketchfab site than you may have planned to as there are just too many choices offered.
9. GrabCAD
GrabCAD is not your typical place to just download free STL files for 3D printing. It has many CAD models, many of which are also available in STL format. You can download 3D models in other formats and also try to convert them into STL files for 3D printing, but you may experience trouble with more complex ones.
The Resource area is great, giving you access to tutorials, case studies, and even helpful e-books. It also features the useful GrabCAD Workbench tool. It’s a very popular site with many interesting models and resources available so do check the website out soon.
8. SketchUp’s 3D Warehouse
Once owned by Google, SketchUP 3D Warehouse is the go-to place for all your 3D model needs. Laying claim to being one of the largest 3D model online depositories, with over 4 million free downloads available, this site is easy to navigate using the search feature. To better navigate through the sheer volume of STL files available, they have been grouped into convenient categories. The site has also just released a handy feature that gives users the option to have the SketchUp models they upload automatically converted to STL. Be warned that you may end up spending more time at SketchUp’s site than you may have planned to as there are just too many choices offered.
7. Thingiverse
Operated by the popular Makerbot, one of the leaders in 3D printers, Thingiverse provides access to a huge variety of 3D models as well as a knowledgeable community. You can find many 3D models that you can download for free in STL format, and new models are added daily. The only drawback, though, is not all the models are available as STL files format, therefore not fully optimized for 3D printing (some editing may be needed). This doesn’t happen often, though, and the site is definitely worth a visit.
6. My Mini Factory
Don’t be put off by this pages clean UI and high prices on the homepage. The site is managed by iMakr, so you don’t have to worry about the lack of quality models that the site has to offer. All the objects are curated, meaning that “every object uploaded on MyMiniFactory has been test-printed on desktop 3D printers.
” Simply type “free” in the search box and you’ll get instant access to some rather impressive designs. Still going strong since its 2013 launch, MyMiniFactory aims to be the YouTube of 3D files.
5. 3DFindIT.com
3DfindIT.com is the next dimension visual search engine that crawls billions of 3D CAD & BIM models from hundreds of manufacturer catalogs for architecture, mechanical and electrical engineering. The platform allows users to search for digital engineering data provided by manufacturers worldwide. 3DfindIT.com reduces search times and increases efficiency in engineering and construction with intuitive search functions:
- Parametric Text Search
- 3D Shape Search
- 2D Sketch Search
- 2D Photo Search
- Color Search
- Feature/Topology Search
- Search by Category
The download and use of this CAD data is free of charge.
Many catalogs offer 150+ different neutraland native formats such as Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Inventor, SOLIDWORKS, and more!
4. Free3D
Being one of the smaller repositories, Free3D by TurboSquid has both free and paid models. It offers models created by various 3D software but the downloads aren’t in STL format and need to be converted before usage. Multiple language options make for easier navigation and searches. As one of the newer community-focused sites, while also aiming to grow into a marketplace, Free3D has some great potential.
3. PinshapeWhile this is technically a marketplace, Pinshape is a thriving community which make available quirkier models that range from Star Wars-inspired miniatures to jewelry. The free models are displayed along with clearly-marked paid pieces, so you can easily distinguish them or you can simply spend hours browsing and admiring the creativity which went into all these pieces.
This United States government agency for biomedical and public health research offers scientifically accurate or medically applicable models for download. The STL file collections include face shields and low-cost prosthetics, plus models of various human organs for education and research purposes. Especially interesting are the DNA molecules and virus models, so you can get a closer look at these microscopic objects.
1. NASAWhile this site may have the least number of 3D models available, it more than makes up in quality as STL files made available for free lets you fabricate landmark objects in the history of space exploration – like the Apollo 11 landing site, the Curiosity Rover or the Hubble Space Telescope. What makes this site really cool is that you also get to download models of spacesuits and rockets which had been deployed by America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Endless Possibilities with STL Files
We really appreciate that there are sites like these where you don’t have to spend large amounts of money to try out your much-loved hobby. Even though not all of these STL files are designed for 3D printers, some editing can make them suitable for your printer.
If you are unsure on the correct method of doing this conversion, we recommend you first do some research on some 3D-printing blogs before you start. It will save you a lot of time as well as money in the end.
Free STL files for 3D printers. Top 25 Sites
Top 25 Sites with Free STL Files for 3D Printers in 2021.
What is a 3D printer file?
1. Instructables.
2. Thingiverse.
3. Prusa Printers.
4. MyMiniFactory.
5. CGTrader.
6. Pin Shape.
7. TurboSquid.
8.3DExport.
9. YouMagine.
10. NIH 3D Print Exchange.
11. Threeding.com.
12. Free3D.
13.
GrabCAD.
14. Cults3D.
15. SketchFab.
16. 3DfindIT.
17. 3Dshook.
18. Zortrax Library.
19. Libre3D.
20.Fab365.
21. NASA 3D Resources.
22. Redpah.
23. Yeggi.
24. STLFinder.
25. Thangs
Conclusion.
Anyone can buy, install and turn on a 3D printer without any prior design skills, but what's next? Surely you need ideas to continue your 3D printing journey, right? Not everyone has the knowledge to come up with the perfect intricate 3D print design of their dreams.
It is for these purposes that sites providing free files for 3D printers are needed. And do you know what is the best thing about it? You can get a huge number of cool 3D printer models for FREE from the online repositories of these websites! But, before we introduce you to them, let's see what 3d print files are.
What is a 3D printer file?
Standard Triangle Language, Stereolithography or Standard Tessellation Language - abbreviated STL - is the name of a file format that describes the surface geometry of a 3D object.
Models for 3D printers are created using computer-aided design (CAD) programs with the .STL file extension. These files encode the surface geometry of 3D models using a process known as tessellation. Tessellation is the process of adding new convex polygons to a polygon mesh to increase detail without creating overlaps or gaps on the surface of the 3D model.
3D printer files mostly use binary or ASCII encoding to store each model information. Due to its compactness, the binary encoding of STL files is much more common than the ASCII text format.
STL files are widely used in:
- 3D scanning
- 3D printable
- Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
- Rapid prototyping
- And other areas…
Now that you have bought a 3D printer, all you have to do is buy materials, download or create digital models - and start creating a new world!
In this article, we'll take a look at the 25 most popular free STL file repositories.
1. Instructables.
What could be more fun than being able to create, explore and share things on one platform? As one of the best 3D printer file sites, Instructables can be seen as a community for professionals and hobbyists who use it to showcase their creations on the portal.
Instructables was launched in August 2005 by Eric Wilhelm and Saul Griffith. It is currently owned by Autodesk. Site users can upload slideshows and videos showing a project they have not yet documented. They also have the ability to submit requests related to a specific design.
Designers are always ready to help and kindly answer all questions individually. On top of that, special themed contests are held monthly to add fun to the community stream. You can team up with members to create many new projects through step-by-step collaboration and collaboration.
Instructables, or as the name suggests, not only provide the ability to download 3D printer files, but also provide tutorials and instructions related to 3D design.
2. Thingiverse.
Founded by Zach Smith as a companion site to MakerBot Industries, Thingiverse is another website dedicated to sharing digital design files created by users. Since this is not a niche community, you can find just about anything on this platform.
With so many options to choose from, Thingiverse has become extremely popular with 3D printing professionals for its amazing STL file repository. This website primarily provides free and open source projects that are licensed under the GNU licenses.
Members can even choose a user license type to share projects they have created. With over 1.6 million models available on thingiverse, you can find the perfect design for your 3D product.
Users can also like, comment and describe their projects, which encourages sharing of innovations and close collaboration. By posting your design, you can also see how other users remake, print, or use it.
3. Prusa Printers.
At PrusaPrinters you can 3D print amazing seasonal 3D designs, some of which are paid, while others are completely free.
Prusa Research, based in Prague, Czech Republic, is a 3D printing company founded by Josef Prusa in 2012, who was one of the main developers of RepRap. His PrusaPrinters website is widely known for its 24/7 customer support with email and live chat in many languages.
There are more than 41,000 free models available on this site that can be downloaded as STL files for 3D printers, and they are especially suitable for all FDM 3D printers. Here you can also interact with the community, provide technical support, showcase your printer, offer print-on-demand, read the latest articles, and more.
4. MyMiniFactory.
Are you a professional 3D printer expert and want to be part of a community of high-end designers?
Well, then welcome to MyMiniFactory where you can chat with some highly professional design experts and request an STL file of your choice if you can't find one that suits your requirements.
Such a case is quite rare, because, rummaging among the thousands of models tested by more than 120 professionals, you will surely find the right model.
MyMiniFactory is working to create the largest printing ecosystem where designers can share both paid and free projects with other users. MyMiniFactory also recently launched its Android app, through which you can download over 70,000 premium or free 3D printable models. These files are created by talented designers so you can easily view, select, download and print them at home or in the office.
5. CGTrader.
Here you will find 3D models and textures related to CG, AR/VR drawings, entertainment, games and 3D printing. On CGTrader where you can find both free and paid STL files of 3D models.
It also allows you to download certain plugins and scripts to further enhance your 3D model. Along with a state-of-the-art service, CGTraders allows you to hire a designer of your choice.
The 3D models presented there are of excellent quality and a high level of detail, meeting all the needs of users.
Backed by a strong community of professional 3D designers, CGTrader is the world's largest 3D model marketplace selling licensed content as well as custom 3D models.
It provides all types of AR and 3D visualization solutions, making it a powerful e-commerce platform.
6. Pin Shape.
Owned by 3D printer manufacturer FormLabs, PinShape is another amazing site where you can download both free and premium 3D printer files.
It was founded in 2013 by Lukas Matheson, Nick Schwinghamer and Andre Yanes to help designers showcase their amazing digital designs, but unfortunately the company closed and the website was later acquired by FormLabs in 2016.
PinShape invites you to sell or share your designs on this attractive platform and become part of its proud community of over 70,000 designers and makers from around the world.
This website will also help you learn more about 3D printing, including the basics to get you started. Pinshape features complex 3D printer files with miniatures, jewelry, household appliances, games, toys and artwork.
7. TurboSquid.
TurboSquid is one of the fastest growing STL file repositories.
It provides the best architectural models for games and graphics. One of the distinguishing features of this website is a quality control tool called CheckMate.
This tool helps you evaluate each 3D model in terms of its scaling, resolution and many other factors.
He also has an excellent customer support program who is always ready to help if there is a problem with any purchase. Here you can download free or paid STL file or share your file with others. You can also sell your file at your preferred price on this platform.
Model types on this website include 3DS Max Models, Maya Models, Cinema 4D Models, Blender Models, FBX Models, OBJ Models, Unity Models, Unreal Models, Animated Models, Rigged Models, and Low Poly Models.
The 3D models featured on this website are based on STEMCELL 3D models and Kraken models that provide consistent content and high quality results. Please note that not all models are 3D printable.
8.3DExport.
Launched in 2004, 3DExport is not just a website that provides 3D printer files for download, it is also a learning platform that provides over 290 tutorials related to 3D, VFX, game development and CAD for free.
With over 500,000 members, 3DExport is another thriving site on the internet.
In addition to 3DsMax and low poly 3D models, 3DExport offers a decent selection of over 28,000 3D printable designs.
If you filter your search, you can find a small collection of 3D printer STL files that focus more on decorations. 3DExport is very famous for providing high quality 3D content where designers can buy or sell their work.
9. YouMagine.
YouMagine can be described as the best open source print and design file platform that you can easily view, download and print in 3D. Like many of the websites above, YouMagine is also a community for those who love to design, remix, share, display, learn, and 3D print their designs.
Martijn Elserman, Siert Wijnia and Eric de Bruyne, who are the founders of Ultimaker, a leading manufacturer of 3D printers, also created this amazing website. There are over 18,000 free 3D printer models that can be printed from almost any FDM printer.
The latest Covid-19 related design trends professionally designed by Eric De Bruyne are also available on this platform. Models include an advanced face shield, mask filters and hands-free adapters.
10. NIH 3D Print Exchange.
NIH 3D Print Exchange, "3DPX" for short, is an online portal hosting 3D biomedical models for the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) community. It provides medically applicable and scientifically accurate 3D printer files that can be shared, downloaded or distributed.
EyeWire links its latest collections to the response to COVID-19 curated by e-NABLE, RCSB MOM, the Jump Simulation-sponsored Heart Library, and Neuroscience.
The website includes over 10,400 STL files that can be printed as 3D models for the biology community. NIH employees submit their 3D files through a self-service model where submission is done using the CataystEX software available on NIH computers.
11. Threeding.com.
Threeding.com is another fast growing marketplace and file sharing website with over 63,000 free and paid 3D print files and models. This site contains more than 9900 STL files to download.
Here businesses and individuals can exchange, share, buy or sell various 3D models. using Threeding.com you can print ancient artifacts in 3D for your home museum.
It can be called one of the strongest contenders in the field of 3D content. Media reports say that Threeding could help popularize synthetic animal parts such as horns and tusks.
Threeding.com was launched by a group of students from the Bulgarian National Academy of Arts in 2013 and quickly gained popularity among hobbyists, geeks and designers.
The site operates on a model similar to that of eBay. Users must register on the site, create a store and start selling their products. Uploading products to the website is free, but Threeding charges a fee when it comes to purchasing.
One of the great things about this website is that it even provides a 3D printing service so you can make a 3D model and send it home with just one click.
12. Free3D.
Free3D offers you the ability to share your files, instantly download any model you like. TF3DM is the place where you can view over 15,000 3D models along with a small collection of 3D printing files of about 7,400+.
However, if you are looking for a website where you can get free 3D models for your CAD or 3D game designs, then free3D is the place for you.
Model types provided by TF3DM include Cinema 4D, Lowpoly, ObJ, Rigged models, Animated models, FBX models, Maya models, and Blender models.
These models can be represented by almost anything, including vehicles, architecture, aircraft, characters, electronics, animals, plants, sports, food, weapons, and anatomy.
Free3D allows you to complete your projects in half the time it would take you to complete them. Of course, not all models are available for 3D printing, but the ones that are are sure to make your day unforgettable.
13. GrabCAD.
GrabCAD is the largest community of engineers, manufacturers, designers and students.
This community has over 9,250,000 members that you can connect with and learn from. You can even share your ideas and CAD models on the platform.
This website provides a free CAD library as well as tutorials and assignments to help you learn and become a competitive designer. You can even join certain groups and connect with people who have the same interests as you. The best part is that you can get answers to questions from experts in a wide variety of industries.
GrabCAD has even developed several 3D printing and CAD collaboration software products such as GrabCAD shop (3D print management software), GrabCAD Print (Stratasys 3D printing workflow simplification software) and GrabCAD Workbench (CAD collaboration software).
WorkBench is a free cloud-based collaboration solution that helps engineers and their teams manage, view and share CAD files and maintain a workflow. This software has raised the profile of the GrabCAD community.
14. Cults3D.
Are you a hobbyist and enjoy typing just for fun? Well, then Cults3D is the perfect place for you. Here you can find some well-defined and vibrant STL files of miniature models that will amaze you.
Cults3D is very similar to Thingiverse where you also get to interact with some experienced designers and creators. On this website, you can find collections from the simplest 3D models to the very intricate and complex ones.
Almost all designs are completely free on Cults, but if you're looking for the highest quality file to 3D print, the portal may charge you a small amount.
On Cults3D, you can request STL files for any subject, whether it's a model of your favorite artist or a cute miniature of Groot with his puppy eyes. All created by your favorite high end designers like Clerx, MaxLab, TOYMAKR3D, VanDragon_DE, 3DZipGuy or SimonRob.
SketchFab.
Who is not interested in complex miniatures and sculptures? Their passion will never fade.
Well, if you too are looking for a website that offers free STL and OBJ file models for them, then SketchFab is the place for you.
You can get the best quality drawings for your design, which can be downloaded directly from the resource. The website also has a collection of 3D models for experts. The designs offered here are practically compatible with all 3D printers.
SketchFab is a community of over a million creators on the cusp of becoming the world's largest platform for sharing, publishing and discovering 3D content. You'll be happy to know that the company behind the Fortnite and Unreal engines is SketchFab and was recently acquired by epic games.
Created in 2011, the SketchFab website uses no third-party plugins and has a WebGL JavaScript API that helps render 3D on web pages in all modern web browsers.
16. 3DfindIT.
3DfindIT contains billions of 3D CAM and BIM models from hundreds of thousands of manufacturers worldwide. It is a 3D visual search system for 3D component manufacturers.
You can find 3D parts based on their functionality, 3D objects using a parametric pattern, 3D components with a parametric text term, or 3D elements using a photo or sketch, or even by color.
It is considered a vital platform for engineers, architects, planners and designers. 3DfindIT is specifically designed for professional or semi-professional users. This search engine is undoubtedly a brand new revolution with amazing new methods for browsing your favorite designs.
17. 3Dshook.
3DShook gives you the ability to choose from 40+ categories and find the perfect gift or 3D design for your home decor. You can get a free file or buy a premium product from this site.
All products are 100% tested, useful, fully functional and professionally designed. You can also order 3D printing from 3Dshook using 3D printing services like 3DHub. They also provide a small sample gallery of free STL files to convince you to buy a subscription.
3DShook is a subscription-based service that offers weekly, monthly and yearly memberships to its users. You can even find here some useful and free tools created by the team to finally convince you to purchase a subscription. The founders of 3DShook like to call it the "Gift Maker" because they think of it as a personal production machine.
All of the designs available on 3DShook can be printed on consumer grade 3D printers, adding to the desire to explore this website. This site even has instructions on how to use the downloaded file and then print it on a 3D printer.
18. Zortrax Library.
The Zortrax Library is a collection of ready-made models uploaded by users of Zortrax printers. Here you can get free model files and download them along with your project management in one place.
The Zortrax Library is more of an application to help you complete your projects quickly and conveniently. You can download your preferred model from there, and the downloaded model will immediately appear in the Local Files tab.
The application also allows you to edit previous models and adjust their appearance whenever you want. Over 1100 3D printer models on this website are optimized for ABS filament, so manufacturers who are not yet familiar with this filament may want to give it a try.
The Zortrax Library includes a collection of clothing and accessories, games and cosplay, robotics, Zortrax parts, household items, medicine, art and design, aviation and architecture.
Libre3D.
Are you a committed supporter of the open source 3D movement? If yes, then Libre3D can be your second home. This is because the inventor of the RepRap project, Adrian Boyer, is on the board of directors of this website.
This website offers over 480 free STL files for download and also provides a great SCAD to STL file converter service. All files in this resource are open source, and the renderer can be used from Github.
20.Fab365.
South Korean company Fab365 is a place where users can view high-quality STL files, download and print them at any time.
This is an electronic marketplace for files for 3D printers.
There is a fairly small collection of 3D printer files that are available for free on this website, but most are subscription-based and require registration to purchase. His collections of 3D printer models include cartoon items, military collections and miniatures.
This website is partnered with Creality, Prusa Research, Fiberlogy, Anet 3D printer, Wham Bam, Tesla Filament, Two Trees, Wild Rose builds, Ev3DM, Noulei Tronxy, Biqu BIGTREETECH and Inov3D. This website even features composite robotic models to help create a new movement in 3D printing culture.
21. NASA 3D Resources.
You must be thinking how smart it is to name a website like that to fool web surfers, but you should be glad to know that this website actually provides files for NASA 3D printers! And the best part is that all of these resources are completely free to use and download. Here you can find a huge collection of 3D models, textures and images from NASA.
This may seem like a dark gray website with a very boring interface, but this website is actually heaven for those who are both interested in astronomy and 3D printing.
You can download STL files for educational purposes to make the Hubble Scape telescope, Landsat 9, the M2020 Perseverance rover, the Curiosity rover, or even amazing landmarks like the Apollo 11 landing site.
22. Redpah.
Redpah is a 3D printing file marketplace where you can download both premium and free STL files of various models such as jewelry, appliances, miniatures, toys, characters and more. Its repository contains 4800+ STL files for download.
An amazing feature is the website's ability to sort 3D printing projects based on the work of popular designers. It even offers a powerful security mechanism and takes strong action against any illegal activity such as piracy.
23. Yeggi.
Yeggi is a wonderful website where you can find deluxe 3D model files filtered from all over the internet and communities for your 3D printer.
It is also called Google for 3D printable models. Currently, he has collected about 3.1 million 3D models from sites such as Thingiverse, TF3DM, Pinshape, STLfinder, MyMiniFactory, GrabCAD, Cults and many more.
Among other things, it shows you the top 100 3D model files to find the most popular 3D printed materials on the web. Search queries aside, it provides interesting 3D printing related articles and has a fairly interactive home page.
24. STLFinder.
And again, as the name suggests, STL finder is a website where you can find almost any 3D printing STL file and get it in no time.
Immediately after logging in, you can view the millions of 3D model files indexed on the page. If you create an account on this website, you can bookmark your favorite searches to speed up future searches.
This website will help you get professional 3D models for your 3D project right away. You may need an architectural model, a new toy for a child, or a necklace model… Well, all you need is just a search in STLFinder.
25. Thangs.
Thangs is a 3D collaboration and sharing community. Here you can get many file upload options for your 3D printer.
This is the only platform or file search engine for 3D printers with a geometric search function. It is the world's largest database of 3D models and is used to analyze, search and compare models.
Conclusion.
So that ends our list, although it could actually be much longer. As the world evolves and people show an unprecedented interest in 3D printing, websites providing 3D printing files not only flourish, but new ones appear. This proves that this list can go on and on.
Several other websites such as 3Dwarehouse, Embodi3D, Cubify, SproutForm, AutoDesk 123D, Repables, CubeHero, Bld3r, Print me a Sheep, CGStudio, Shapeways, XYZ Printing, Tridimensiia, 3DaGoGo, 3DKToys, etc., no less waiting for your visit. These are all CAD and 3D modeling toolkits that provide free as well as premium file downloads.
So what's next? Go to any of the above mentioned websites, get inspired and enthusiastic and start your 3D printing. And remember, as we told you before, that when you get your 3D printer, all that's left is the material, the 3D models, and your passion! So, model, print and flaunt your creations by joining these communities and enjoy the free or premium STL files provided by these websites.
As usual, we wish you successful printing!
REC Wiki » Top Ten Sites for 3D Printing 3D Models
If you already have a 3D printer and 3D printing plastic, the only thing left to do is find digital models. Do-it-yourself 3D modeling is interesting, but mastering this skill will take a lot of time. In the meantime, we suggest looking for something interesting on the sites in our selection.
1. Thingiverse
The largest and most famous platform, Thingiverse is a project of the American company MakerBot, which has made a huge contribution to the development of amateur 3D printers.
In recent years, MakerBot has been operating under the wing of Stratasys Corporation and focuses more on the professional segment of the additive market, but this has not affected the work of Thingiverse in any way. The name of the platform is a play on words meaning "The Universe of Things" (Thing + Universe). The site remains the largest repository of exclusively free 3D models with a focus on 3D printing and continues to grow. Thingiverse currently offers over one and a half million 3D models.
Thingiverse website: www.thingiverse.com/
2. Instructables
Instructables is more than just an online warehouse of 3D models. This platform is primarily aimed at do-it-yourselfers, and therefore Instructables hosts not just 3D models, but complex projects - often using electronics, mostly hobby, but often quite serious. Scientists also use the site, posting useful open-source projects like smartphone-based 3D printed microscopes. The main feature of the site is that the projects are accompanied by detailed, step-by-step instructions - hence the name.
Of course, additive technologies play an important role in many of the published projects, and the projects themselves are offered free of charge.
Instructables website: www.instructables.com
3. Cults
A popular venue based in France. The platform works in a mixed way, offering both free and paid models. The paid section to a large extent influenced the rich assortment, since any user can make money on their creations. The site takes a commission, but approximately 80% of the cost of each 3D model sold goes into the authors' pocket. If you're not ready to pay for digital models, check out Cults anyway and browse the freebies - there are plenty of them. And don't let the name confuse you, it doesn't smell of any cultists there. Cults is just St. Luc is the opposite, while Saint Luke is considered the patron saint of artists.
Website: cults3d.com
4. MyMiniFactory
A London-based platform that also offers a mixture of free and paid 3D models.
Many of the paid works are posted by professional designers, and the administration often holds competitions among authors. The peculiarity of MyMiniFactory is that this site guarantees quality: the published 3D models are first tested for compatibility with 3D printers, then a trial 3D printing is carried out, and only then the model is placed in the public domain.
Jonathan Beck
One of the most famous MyMiniFactory-related endeavors is the Scan the World project. The author of this initiative was the British enthusiast Jonathan Beck, who in 2014 committed a major “robbery” of the London Museum. True, Jonathan took out not real exhibits, but about ten thousand photographs, on the basis of which he then recreated the appearance of the exhibits in digital form using photogrammetry. Since then, Beck has had many associates armed with cameras and 3D scanners and regularly adding 3D models of art and historical artifacts from around the world, including from some Russian museums.
All models in the Scan the World collection are offered free of charge.
MyMiniFactory website: www.myminifactory.com
5. Prusa Printers
Strictly speaking, this is not a repository of 3D models as such, but the home site of Prusa Research, an enterprise of the Czech engineer Josef Prusa, whose name is familiar to all enthusiasts additive technologies. True, on this site, Josef and his team offer not only 3D printers and consumables of their own production, but also 3D models, and for free. Since this company deals only with additive technologies, all models in the catalog are optimized for 3D printing. The main share of published models falls on the users of the site, and Prusha's team regularly stimulates the authors with various competitions. An interesting feature of this site is that it allows you to publish not only 3D models, but also ready-made machine code. On the one hand, this is good, because users can immediately send a model for 3D printing without fiddling with a slicer.
On the other hand, there is always a chance of incompatibility or outright sabotage, so be careful, and if in doubt, just download the STL files and prepare the code yourself.
Prusa Printers website: www.prusa3d.com
6. Pinshape
Another collection of 3D models, this time of Canadian origin. The first version of the site did not last long, only a couple of years, but immediately after the closure, the well-known American manufacturer of stereolithographic 3D printers Formlabs bought the resource. The platform continues to work to this day and contains tens of thousands of projects. Like most similar platforms, Pinshape offers both paid and free 3D models, and anyone can submit work.
Pinshape website: pinshape.com
7. YouMagine
Another project under the corporate umbrella. This site was founded by one of the co-founders of the Dutch company Ultimaker, which in turn is well known for a whole series of successful FDM 3D printers.
Although this is not the largest resource (only about twenty thousand projects), it has two pluses. Firstly, only free 3D models are offered here. Secondly, the site is structured in such a way that it is easier for designers to improve their own and other people's work, collaborate and receive feedback. As a result, you can find a lot of serious projects here, such as OpenBionics 3D printed prostheses, but there is also enough entertainment content.
YouMagine website: www.youmagine.com
8. CGTrader
This Lithuanian site initially had nothing to do with 3D printing, being a platform for the exchange of graphic models for computer games, virtual reality and the like. However, with the growing popularity of additive technologies, a specialized section appeared on CGTrader for publishing 3D models with polygonal meshes optimized for 3D printing. There are not so many models for 3D printing, only about thirteen thousand, in addition, this resource is focused on paid content, although there are also free offers.
On the other hand, this site is popular among professional designers, so you can find very interesting and high-quality work here.
CGTrader website: www.cgtrader.com
9. Sketchfab
Sketchfab, a Franco-American marketplace, is similar to CGTrader in that it publishes models for computer games, virtual reality and 3D printing, and also in terms of an abundance of professional work. With 3D printable models, things are a little more complicated: although there are many free models on the site, those optimized for 3D printing are in the paid section. On the other hand, nothing prevents you from downloading free options and using third-party mesh repair programs for 3D printing, such as Meshmixer or Netfabb.
Sketchfab website: sketchfab.com
10. 3Dtoday
Russian site and main portal for Russian-speaking 3D printing enthusiasts. 3Dtoday is designed as an all-in-one platform with user blogs, catalogs and a marketplace, as well as a collection of 3D models categorized into different categories.
