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Cults, the 3D printing platform

Welcome to Cults, the world’s leading independent website for 3D printer files. Discover and download the best 3D models for all your 3D printing & DIY projects.

Cults is a digital marketplace for 3D printing and design. Use our 3D model library to discover everything you can do with a 3D printer (FDM, SLA, DLP, SLS) event with CNC machining and laser cutting. You don’t know how to make a 3D file but you want to 3D print objects? Cults is for you! Browse our different categories and download the best 3D printer models for free, open-source or paid mode. The formats you can download are in STL, OBJ, 3MF, CAD, STEP, SCAD or DXF, DWG, SVG format, they are all 3D printable guaranteed or CNC compatible.

We are connecting 3D print files makers with people who want to use their 3D printer. Our 3D model repository acts as a real source of inspiration since the best designers share their best STL files daily to offer you their latest inventions!

On Cults you can also find a 3D printer nearby, get voucher codes to buy cheap 3D printers or filaments at best prices and also a whole series of 3D printing contests. Cults is a joyful community that brings together all 3D printing fans to dialogue and create together.

Commission system

You are a designer and you want to sell your 3D models optimized for 3D printing? Thanks to Cults you can earn money with your files STL, OBJ, CAD, 3MF, etc. ! For each download, you will receive 80% of the net selling price (excluding VAT) via PayPal. Cults keeps 20% of commission which is used to finance bank fees (about 5%) and then all the costs related to the technical maintenance of the platform: hosting, bandwidth, accounting, email communications, translations, etc. There is no subscription system or fixed fee to pay. You sell, you win!

If you are still hesitating to share your models on Cults, feel free to read this article Why publish my designs on Cults? List of advantages and benefits to get an idea.

• Designers 80%
• Cults 15%
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The 4 Best Websites for Free 3D Printing Files

By Amir M. Bohlooli

Published Mar 24, 2022

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Explore these 3D printing websites to find the best 3D models to download for free.

Having access to a 3D printer is a rather exciting privilege. Whether you've only just got your hands on one or a 3D printing veteran, free 3D printing models are always welcome. Designing a 3D model from scratch requires time and skill that you might not have.

There are lots of websites and libraries where you can download free 3D models, but not every 3D model is 3D printable. Below, you will find the four best websites for downloading free 3D printer files.

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 and 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.

One major point which makes Thingiverse the most popular 3D printing library among makers is that it is entirely free. Every file that you see on Thingiverse, you can download and use for free. On the other hand, if you're a creator, you cannot monetize your models on Thingiverse.

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 community and library 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 into printing tabletop figures, then you must have noticed by now that they look drastically better when printed in more than one color. Learn to bring more life to your prints by creating duotone prints.

MyMiniFactory has many 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 contains both free and paid models, and if you're a maker you can monetize your 3D model on Cults.

If you take a quick look at Cults, you'll realize that it's more oriented towards aesthetic and decorative models, rather than functional ones. Cults has a wide array of jewelry, art, and fashion models. If you're looking to make your own 3D printed jewelry, it's a good 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. While some of these models are designed to be 3D printed, most are not. However, that doesn't mean that you can't print them with a little tweak.

TurboSquid contains paid and free professional 3D models. You can find some extremely detailed and realistic models available on the site, such as vehicle models, people, and animals.

You can find 3D printable models by searching for STL models. There are roughly 80,000 STL models available on TurboSquid, which 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 STL model, and you can get these STL models from the websites mentioned in this article.

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!

3D printer models

Looking for 3D printer models? The Internet is filled with sites that offer them for free. We have collected the TOP 10 catalogs that you can use to search and download free models in STL format. We hope you can find what you are looking for.

1. Yeggi
2. Yobi 3D
3. STLfinder

→ myminifactory.com

My Mini Factory is a 3D model depository operated by iMakr, an online store that sells 3D printers and accessories. It also has one of the biggest 3D printer shops in Central London. The site contains 3D models designed by professionals, and all models stored on it are checked for quality. You can also make a request for the desired model, which their designers will create and put in the public domain. Billing itself as a 3D printing social network, MyMiniFactory is a thriving community of makers who love to showcase their creations. Users vote for the best models, which allows popular creations to rise to the top of the list and gain popularity. The site presents models that are stored on its social network, as well as outside it, for example, on the Thingiverse and YouMagine sites.

→ thingiverse.com

The most popular and famous site among 3D printer users, Thingiverse is owned by MakerBot Industries, the creator of the popular Replicator 3D printer series. The site allows users to store and share 3D model files that are used with 3D printers. It's a very popular site and has a large community of people hosting various categories of files on it. So if you're looking for "cool" printable stuff, Thingiverse is worth a visit. It is a portal designed to provide its users with ways to share their designs and to help print 3D creations. The site has a system that tries to find out what you like. The more you interact with the site, downloading and evaluating various developments, the better its recommendations will be.

→ 3dshook.com

Another online community for 3D printing hobbyists showcasing interesting 3D printer accessories, electronics and most importantly 3D models. The site contains many very interesting models of cars and buildings, as well as various add-ons and spare parts for your 3D printer. A huge catalog of paid and free models for a 3D printer. There are original unique products. Convenient search, navigation, rubricator. 3DShook has over 40 categories and adds over 100 new models to its collection every month. On 3DShook you can always find something for your home, animals, kids or something special for yourself.

→ youmagine.com

YouMagine catalog for Cube series consumer 3D printers manufactured by 3D Systems. The site mainly offers various ways to buy 3D printer supplies and files, but it also has a number of cool free items available, mostly in the Kids section. Some of these elements can be customized by children using an online application. The company offers 3D modeling and publishing tools on its website for both hobbyists and professionals. The site offers a content warehouse where the community hosts and shares models. Registration is required to download files.

→ 123dapp.com

Autodesk 123D is a suite of computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D modeling tools aimed specifically at hobbyists. Along with the toolkit, Autodesk also has a website where users can record their designs and share them with other users. Many of these models can be downloaded and printed using Autodesk as a utility to interface with the MakerBot 3D printer. The goal of the Autodesk website is to "help engineers build products faster." The site offers tools to help them collaborate on their files. For the casual 3D printing enthusiast, the best part of the site is the large library of free files created by a community of over a million engineers. Registration on the site is required, but the number of files that are then available is worth it.

→ cgtrader.com

Being primarily a place to buy and sell a variety of 3D models (not necessarily just those designed for 3D printers), CGTrader does offer a selection of free models that can be used on 3D printers. The site has a system that tries to find out what you like. The more you interact with the site, downloading and evaluating various developments, the body will have better recommendations.

→ cults3d.com

A French community and marketplace where developers can share or sell their creations. The site has a collection of high quality models that you can download. Users can follow the work of the designers they like and get instant updates when a new creation is posted on the site. The site's name, Cults, is a backwards spelling of St. Luc, the patron saint of artists. The site also supports English. This is a relatively new community, so the number of its users is not very large yet.

→ instructables. com

The Instructables website is a community where users can share their DIY projects. This also includes products obtained using 3D printers. The site also provides explanations and instructions describing how to build 3D elements, and some designers take the time to answer questions from site members. Instructables allows users to store and organize their 3D printing projects. This is done to help them work together in the future. You can think of this site as a GitHub 3D printing site where users can share their files, discuss projects, and participate in them. The site also offers the ability to make a request, so if you can't find what you're looking for, you can ask the site's community about it.

→ pinshape.com

Pinshape, a marketplace for 3D models, is similar in style (layout, look, and ability to capture likes) to the well-known site Pinterest. You can buy models from designers, or download them for printing yourself if they are offered for free. Pinshape allows users to host and share 3D model files on it. Basically, this site acts as an online store where you can buy 3D printed parts, or order your own 3D model to be printed. But if you look closely enough, you can find people who sell their products and also offer the files you need so you can print them yourself.

→ 3dfilemarket.com

A new and growing repository of 3D File Market models. All models are tested for suitability for 3D printing. You can download as many models as you like without registration, although you must provide your email address to access the 3D model files. This is a very simple site aimed at being a repository of model files for 3D printers, and nothing more. The basic design of the site allows users to put files on it for public access, and download files that they would like to use. The site contains many small, simple 3D models ready to be printed, as well as a good selection of everyday items and even spare parts for 3D printers.

Search engines for 3D models in various formats, including STL for a 3D printer. Use queries in English, these search services collect information about models from all over the Internet.

→ yeggi.com

Yeggi is a search engine that will browse major 3D printing sites to find files compatible with 3D printers. You can also browse some popular searches to get an idea of ​​what the community is currently interested in.

→ yobi3d.com

When in doubt, use yobi3D to search for files that match the desired 3D printer. This tool is useful if you want to search for one thing across all sites at once. A very convenient format filter, fast search, high-quality previews and stl models prepared for 3D printing for printing.

→ stlfinder.com

This is another STLfinder that surfs the web looking for 3D printing. To select files compatible with 3D printers, he goes through many 3D modeling sites.

creating figures, models, how to make sketches stl file, draw a detail

Before creating any product on a 3D printer, you will first need to make a digital sketch of it. To do this, you should develop a model or layout of the product in a specialized program. Consider which 3D models are most popular for layer-by-layer printing, the nuances and step-by-step instructions for creating them.

What are 3D printer sketches and why are they needed?

Sketches (also have the name of the model, layouts, blanks) for a 3D printer are digital files made in STL format using specialized programs. They schematically describe the geometry of the surface of a three-dimensional object, without taking into account its texture and color.

To print an STL sketch, you will need the 3D printer control code compiled by the slicer. In simple terms, the model will need to be pre-cut in the slicer program into layers that will be sequentially printed by the printer. Typically, such a file has a gcode extension.

Which layouts are in demand?

3D printing is a versatile tool that can be used to print a wide variety of products. Most often, ten types of layouts are used to create various types of products:

1. Auto parts - plastic washer nozzles, latches, plugs, fasteners, manifolds and other expensive or scarce parts.
2. Souvenir products - caskets, figurines, figurines, emblems, badges, pens, key chains, covers, toys, icons, jewelry, game sets (checkers, chess, backgammon), coasters and organizers.
3. Personal protective equipment - plastic face shield, disposable mask clip, hands-free door opener.
4. Educational and advertising layouts for visual display.
5. Surgical and dental models of bones, organs, teeth, prostheses.
6. Fishing products - reels, nods of various thicknesses and stiffness, sequins for tying flies.
7. Holders for phones, cups, cameras and other items for bicycles or car interiors.
8. Accessories and decorative elements for clothes.
9. Parts for household appliances - handles for washing machines, microwave ovens and various kitchen utensils, plastic control buttons, small plastic parts from blenders, coffee makers and kettles.
10. Musical instruments (guitars, flutes, violins, drums, pianos, banjos) and parts for them.

How to make a drawing yourself?

A drawing to create a 3D product on a printer must first be made schematically, and then transferred as a three-dimensional model to a special 3D modeling program. A schematic drawing of an object with a display of all sizes and spatial arrangement is performed on a sheet of paper using measuring tools (ruler, compass, caliper).

What programs are needed to create a model?

You can create a 3D model using a full featured 3D modeling editor. Here is a short list of the most convenient programs for work:

1. Free - Blender, Sculptris, Daz Studio, Softimage Mod Tool, Vue, OpenSCAD, FreeCAD, TinkerCAD.
2. Paid - AutoCad, Houdini, 3DS Max, Cinema 4D, Meshmixer, Modo, SolidWorks, Sculptris, Maya, Rhinoceros, 3D, ZBrush, SketchUp.

Preparatory steps

For the convenience of working in any of the 3D modeling programs, it is recommended that the user first set up the working environment for layouts for 3D printers.

Then, in the units of measurement settings block, you should set the metric system of measurements and set the scale. After that, you can start creating the object.

Creating a 3D object

The steps involved in creating a 3D layout directly will depend on the functionality of the program being used. If we consider the process in general, without being tied to a specific editor, then the creation of an object will be performed in the following order:0003

1. Selection of model appearance options. At this stage, one of the templates preinstalled in the program can be taken as a basis.
2. After adding a shape to the workspace, you can use levers and various modifiers (extrusions, roundings, indentations) that will make the model unique.
3. In parallel with the creation of the model, its dimensions and dimensions of individual parts should be adjusted.
4. The final step is choosing colors and textures for the shape.

Checking the design against the general guidelines

Before finalizing the creation of a 3D object, consider the most important aspects that will affect the quality of the finished product and optimize the project. For correct printing of the model on a 3D printer, it is recommended that the surfaces of the figure in the project do not overlap. This should not be allowed, as a failure may occur during printing, which will lead to problems with the quality of the figure itself. Therefore, all surfaces of a three-dimensional object should only touch, forming a single model.

Exporting a project

Exporting a finished project in STL format is the final step in preparing a 3D model for printing. It is carried out in the following order:

1. In the "File" tab menu, select the item "Export", "Save as . .." or "Save project"
2. or removable media.
3. After saving the project, it is transferred to a USB flash drive or SD card that can be inserted into a printer, or printed directly from a computer if it is connected to a 3D printer.

What to consider in order to create a 3D model without errors?

You can prevent defective or inferior parts from printing when creating a 3D model. To do this, it is worth considering the most common user errors in the process of creating a layout, such as:

1. Lack of support.
2. Creates features that are too thin.

Adding support

When creating a complex 3D object with several transitions, it is imperative to provide supports (supports) in the project that will support the parts of the model hanging in the air. The supports are printed with the model and can be easily removed after printing is complete.

Wall thickness and hole diameter

The lines created in the project should not be too thin. Since elements that are very tiny in thickness can turn out to be very fragile or not printed due to the characteristics of the extruder nozzle.

When using an FDM printer for printing, it is recommended to simulate the walls of objects with a thickness that is equal to at least two diameters of the printer's extruder nozzle. When printing on a photopolymer 3D printer, the thickness of the thinnest part should not exceed 0.5 mm.

Therefore, if there are thin parts, it is worth getting rid of them. And if this is not possible, then you should either increase them or add support.

Creating a 3D sketch, drawing or model for 3D printing is an easy process that you can learn on your own. To print simple objects, you will need to learn the basics of 3D modeling, which will be easy to reflect on a specific printer. But to create more complex models, you will need deeper knowledge, training materials and video tutorials that can be easily found on the Internet in the public domain.

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