![]() Indeed, the site itself is almost totally free of MakerBot branding, so it’s clear that it’s a community venture rather than one aimed at existing MakerBot customers.Īs with all repositories, it’s possible to upload your designs, as well as download other people’s. An Android app allows users to converse with other enthusiasts, which is a feature you won’t find in many, if any, other repositories, and the site has a built-in customiser, so registered users can modify designs before they’re downloaded.Īlthough it’s run by MakerBot, the designs aren’t proprietary in any way and can be used with any compatible 3D printer. Set up by MakerBot, a company that produces its own popular range of ‘Replicator’ 3D printers, Thingiverse has a large range of free downloadable items, with the best grouped into featured collections. Errors are possible (if not necessarily common), and compatibility with certain devices might be less assured, but for the price, it’s hard to complain. A few good pieces and you might start to make a dent in the price of the printer itself! It’s a great place to see what’s possible with 3D printers, even if you haven’t actually bought one yet!Distinguished from marketplaces simply because all their content is free, model repositories generally have a larger but slightly less high-quality selection of models. While it’s not much use for people who want to print their own 3D items, it’s worth knowing about Shapeways if you’re planning to make any designs yourself. Inc to sell user-created models of My Little Pony characters. Shapeways’ legitimacy is such that it’s even partnered with Hasbro. Models can be created in a variety of materials, from plastic to metal to ceramics, and it’s even possible for users to edit the models using an online tool before they actually buy their goods. The important thing to note is that Shapeways doesn’t sell the designs, only the models themselves, printing them to order whenever a user purchases one. It’s a bit like Etsy, only it involves 3D printing. One of the leading 3D printing marketplaces, Shapeways allows you to buy user-created 3D models or upload and sell your own designs. You can support the site directly via Paypal donations ☕. TNR earns Amazon affiliate commissions from qualifying purchases.Whatever you download, you’ll know that the only thing you’re sacrificing is your time. The site is also one of the first to make strategic partnerships with manufacturers and companies, having formed links with Royal Mail and Cel Robox, which have integrated the library into their 3D printer software.Īlthough its library isn’t the biggest, the curated nature of it does mean that all of the items are high quality, and the considerable amount of free downloads makes it a good place for beginners. Most are fully open-source, meaning you’re free to edit and even re-upload any free designs you download. Launched in 2013, the site now contains a database of several hundred items at various costs, some of which are available to download for free. MyMiniFactory is a fully curated site, which means that all its designs have previously been tested on a genuine 3D printer to make sure they work, so there’s effectively zero chance of you getting anything that doesn’t work – as long as your 3D printer meets the minimum requirements for the design. ![]() Many marketplaces also allow you to upload and sell designs you’ve created yourself. The best place to look for 3D models is in dedicated marketplaces, where they’ve usually been vetted and community-tested, if not tested by the stores themselves. So that you’re not left completely adrift when your hardware is assembled, we’ve put together this guide to explain how you can make your own 3D-printable designs and where you can get designs that other people have made. ![]() ![]() While most consumer 3D printers come with a selection of model designs for you to print as test pieces, a printer doesn’t come into its own until you’ve printed something for your own entertainment, enjoyment or use.īut unless you have a 3D scanner or a degree in computer arts, actually creating 3D models is a difficult process. Your 3D printer needs something to actually print, but what?Once you have a 3D printer, you’ll need something to actually print with it. ![]()
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