Websites for 3d printing models
The 6 Best Places to Search for 3D Printing Models
As 3D printing patents expired, the industry exploded into the home.
An endless number of 3D models are now available on the internet, with everything from D&D characters to replacements parts for your washing machine.
With a host of design-sharing sites that exist, both paid and free, here’s what you need to know about where to look for the best models for 3D printing.
What to Look For: 3D Models, File Format, Slicers, and G-code
There are hundreds of thousands of 3D models online and it can get a little confusing.
Websites that cater to 3D printing models are particularly useful because the files available for download will be in the right format. Some sites will even check the designs of contributors, making sure that they are in fact printable.
As lots of these websites are community-based, you can read the comments or check out the photos of the completed project by other people.
Files need to be in the STL or OBJ format, so check this first before downloading. Once you have the files, use a ‘slicer’ software to convert your file to G-code.
Related link: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to 3D Printing
All you need to do then is copy the G-code file to your SD card and insert the card into your 3D printer. Good to go, right?
One thing to note is whether the 3D model has a creative license.
On the website Thingiverse, for example, the creative license is displayed under the heading License on the left-hand side of the model’s home page (below the tags), such as for the classic Benchy model.
Clicking on Creative Commons – Attribution – No Derivatives will open a link explaining what the condition of reproduction is, including for commercial use.
A lot of hours go into designing a 3D model. So making sure to attribute the designer, if you share your work publicly, is a good way to support them.
Depending on the site, the designer might include a link to where you can donate, or in some cases this option is built into the website. For sites that feature payment options, you can either pay directly for designs, or for a subscription to the website for further discounts.
Each site is different, so check the percentage of profits that go to the designer if you choose to support them.
Now that you have an overview of what you are looking for, delve into the websites below for some of the best 3D printing models out there.
A popular and well-established site, Thingiverse began as a companion site for a DIY 3D printer kit-making company.
What is awesome about this site is its education section. Here you can find 3D printing projects related to a class subject (think T-Rex skeleton or Lego Renaissance figures).
Under the model page, you can then find complete lesson plans, activities, and background information on the subject. If you are a classroom teacher, this could be a great way to introduce 3D printing technology to young people.
Besides manufacturing 3D printers, Prusa Printers also hosts a website for design sharing.
Under a section called Makes, people can submit photos when they have completed the project, which is very useful if you want to check the quality of the design first.
A unique feature of this site is a map that indicates where world events, workshops, or printing labs are located globally.
On YouMagine, designs can be gathered into collections, which is another way that you can search for new projects.
Collections range from 3D printing machine mods to models for medical masks.
Hitting the Download button is all you need to do to get a design. When you do, a popup will display giving you the option to donate to the designer if you choose.
Related link: Useful 3D Printing Ideas and Projects for Your Home
For something a little bit different, on Thangs you can search for models based on similar geometric shapes. To do this, upload a previous STL file you have to the search box, or simply type a shape into the search engine; e. g., cube.
On each model page, neat viewing options can be changed to display the model from different angles, and with render modes and colors, before downloading the files.
Interestingly, this website also allows you to limit your search for models only to the Thangs website, or else open the search to other sites on the internet.
Alongside a free STL file library, MyMiniFactory guarantees that each file is printable by checking it with software and making sure that it has been test-printed by its community.
In MyMiniFactory’s store, you can purchase designs to support artists, or opt for a paid subscription to the website to get discounts on designs, among other things like its in-house printing materials.
Image Credit: Creative Tools/flickrAnother site that allows you to pay for designs is Cults. It has both free and paid designs with added functions for donating to designers.
When browsing through the community designs, you will notice a lot of people using GIFs to display the 3D object in the library, which will help you to get a quick overview of the 3D model.
Cults also claims that the files available on its site are guaranteed to print, so you can at the least expect the correct file format.
Did you know that NASA has a resource page dedicated to 3D printable models of space-related artifacts?
You can find models for famous robots like the Curiosity Rover and Perseverance, or detailed models of supernova remnants.
If you have a child who loves space, or you yourself want to combine two of your favorite hobbies, check out what’s in this NASA resource.
A Universe of 3D Models to Explore
Every design-sharing website is a little different from the next, but you are guaranteed to find a design you like on one of them.
Whether you find a model for free or paid, checking the creative license and uploading an image of your printed model will help to support the growing community of 3D printing enthusiasts.
And who knows, maybe one day you will be designing and uploading your own models? Competitions are becoming popular, so check your favorite website to see what you could win by building your own 3D model.
Cults・Download free 3D printer models・STL, OBJ, 3MF, CAD
Top design
By FlexiFactory
This "Kangaroo and Joey" is an articulated Print-in-Place model that requires no supports, what an amazing modeling job! The included Joey is also print-in-place and unsupported, and can be printed with his mom, or separately if you want him in a different color.
Download 3D model
01
Nightmare before Christmas cup and ball game
Free
02Cable holder, cable clip, cable management, audio cable, storage
Free
03Propagation station, Table Stand Propagation Station, Propagating Plant Cuttings in Water, Hydroponics, XMASCULTS
Free
04PRINT-IN-PLACE TELESCOPIC AND ARTICULATED YETI
€2. 82 -30% €1.98
ADDIMP 3D - DH-98 Mosquito - 1350mm
€28 -25% €21
3D Sock Knitting Machine
€28.67 -25% €21.50
Cute Flexi Print-In-Place-Crocodile
€3.19 -20% €2.55
SAUSAGE DOG
€3.36
09Racing truck Rally Dakar - print in place
€1. 79
10Pocket Dungeon (Board Game)
€5.94
11Avatar Ikran Flying Mobile
€2.82
12Print-In-Place Alien APC
€2.50 -50% €1.25
Santa Express - HotRod Version
€3.44 -20% €2.75
Ruben 🎅🎄 Christmas Decoration
Free
15Treasure Chest Print in Place
€1.25
16RENO BABY
€1. 21
17Lego boxes x 48 variations!
€3
18MobyBook
€7 -50% €3.50
Wednesday Addams
€12 -30% €8.40
Sea dragon
€1.50
01
Hobbit Hole Fronts
€5
02Cute Hairy Shaky Santa print in place without supports
€2.35
03G17- DD17 Rails Frame
€7. 50
04Wall shelf “Oyster fungus”
€2.40
05DJI AVATA GoPro Mount
€2.50
06Viserys Targaryen Crown - Show Accurate: House of the Dragon - Game of Thrones
€9.40
07Skull Keychain
€1.22
08Enourmous Imperial Heavy Tank
€10
01
Air Vent Phone Holder for Car PRINT-IN-PLACE
€2 -30% €1.40
Magic screw/ Vis magique
Free
03Bender Helmet
Free
04CHRISTMAS TREE CANDLE HOLDER VORONOI COMPLETELY 3D PRINTED
Free
05Pegaso 2020 1/18
€9. 90
06Galleone Ship
Free
07STAR WARS ADVENT CALENDAR 2022 DAY #23, A CHRISTMAS STORY EWOK FIGURE, 3.75", 1/18 KENNER, HASBRO
€2.81
08Hedgehog Toothpick Holder
€1
09Mechanical flowers
€0.62
10Pochita Easy Assemble (no supports)
€1.60
11CROWN FOR QUEEN IDEAL FOR THE EPIPHANY
€1.25
12Christmas Trees
Free
13Cute smiling toothbrush holders
€1 -30% €0. 70
Minifig Hexagons - Extended Edition
Free
15A 3D Printed Kinetic Marble Machine.
Free
16Lootbox Raise Buckle [Kamen Rider Geats] - A Desire Driver Hacking Tool
Free
17Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro
€7.50
18Aki Devil Gun Mask - Chainsawman Cosplay
€30
19Champagne With Legs
€1.49
20Concrete mixer toy
€1.99
01
World Cup
Free
02Syrax dragon fan art - pre supported - FREE model
Free
03Trophy - FIFA World Cup
Free
04Thing
Free
05Thing Addams (Fingers)
Free
06flexi turtle
Free
07Cute Mini Octopus
Free
08Wacky Flame Frisbee
Free
🔁 Updated
polymer clay cutter
€1. 75
ARTICULATED WEDNESDAY ADDAMS-POSEABLE FIGURE (DISCOUNT UNTIL CHRISTMAS)
€7.50 -47% €3.98
Dibu martinez
€9.74
Set Matero Argentina Selection
€2.43
Shake, Battle and Roll Christmas Bauble
The Ultimate Radical Centrist
Christmas star
Amy Rose Confectioner | Sonic The Hedgehog
polymer clay cutter 4size
€1.85
The Mandalorian Collector's Case
€20
FLSUN Q5 Fan Duct replacement
Free
FLSUN Q5 Replacement Spool Holder
Free
Valve Index HMD stand
Free
FLSUN Q5 Toolbox
Free
Wednesday Addams Merlina
€6. 49 -10% €5.85
Baby Finn Adventure Time
€0.61
See all 3D models
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%
- Banking fees 5%
Upload a 3D model
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. nine0003
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. nine0003
Instructables website: www.instructables.com
3. Cults
Popular site 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. nine0003
Website: cults3d.com
4. MyMiniFactory
A London-based platform that also offers a mix 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. nine0003
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. nine0003
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. nine0003
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. nine0003
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 quite a few serious projects here, such as OpenBionics 3D printed prostheses, but there is also enough entertainment content. nine0003
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. nine0003
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, as well as 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. nine0003
Sketchfab website: sketchfab.com
10. 3Dtoday
Russian website 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. Most of the 3D models are offered free of charge, however, there is also a paid section, replenished by portal users.
3Dtoday website: 3dtoday.ru
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.
- Yeggi
- Yobi 3D
- 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. nine0003
→ 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. nine0003
→ 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. nine0003
→ youmagine.com
YouMagine catalog for 3D Systems Cube series consumer 3D printers. 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. nine0003
→ 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. nine0003
→ 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, its recommendations will be better for the body. nine0003
→ 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. nine0003
→ 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. nine0003
→ pinshape.com
Pinshape, a marketplace for 3D models, is similar in style (layout, appearance, 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. nine0003
→ 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. nine0003
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 look at some popular searches to get an idea of what the community is currently interested in. nine0003
→ 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.