Sunday, December 15, 2024

3D Model Repositories


If you’re a 3D printing hobbyist like me, you might enjoy downloading and printing 3D models that other people have painstakingly created. Whether your 3D prints have practical applications (e.g., containers, GoPro mounts, phone holders), are used for decorative display (e.g., art sculptures, HueForge prints, figurines), provide entertainment (e.g., games, puzzles), or other reasons, there is a chance that somebody has created a model that meets your criteria. There are many repositories where 3D models can be sold or even downloaded for free. Here are my 3 favorite model repositories.

Thingiverse is one of the early pioneers of open source 3D models and is one of my favorite repositories. It has a long history and is currently owned by a 3D printer manufacturer called Ultimaker. Ultimaker is also the developer of an open source slicer called Cura, and while Thingiverse features an “Open in Cura” button in its model download page, that is currently the full extent of its workflow integration with a slicer. However, I like Thingiverse because it features one of the largest libraries of 3D models around, and everything that you see on Thingiverse can be downloaded for free. Designers who upload 3D models to Thingiverse can connect their accounts to one of several donation platforms (PayPal, Ko-fi, Github, Patreon, or BuyMeACoffee) to accept tips, but beyond a relatively inconspicuous “Tip designer” button on each 3D model’s page, the central focus of Thingiverse is around sharing open source models rather than commerce.

MakerWorld is a newer 3d model repository that is owned by 3D printer manufacturer Bambu Lab. MakerWorld is another one of my favorite repositories because it has a very active designer community that uploads an extensive assortment of 3D models. All models in MakerWorld are free, and there is an unobtrusive incentive system for designers to earn points that can be redeemed for Bambu Lab merchandise. It features workflow integration with Bambu Labs’ default slicer, Bambu Studio, in the form of print profiles. Any 3D model may be linked with 1 or more print profiles which includes slicer settings such as layer height, wall loops, infill density, or other slicer settings that are uploaded by the original designer or other users who have downloaded and successfully printed the same 3D model. Simply clicking on a print profile on the MakerWorld website results in launching and loading the model into Bambu Studio, along with the relevant slicer settings in the chosen print profile. Despite this tight integration with the Bambu Lab ecosystem, models can be downloaded and sliced in other slicers and printed with 3D printers other than Bambu Lab.

Printables is owned by Prusa Research, the same company that manufactures open source Prusa 3D printers and develops PrusaSlicer. Most models in Printables are free, although Printables features a separate Store where designers can sell their models as well. I appreciate how the free models are shown by default, and a user must navigate to the Store section of the website to browse and purchase models that are sold for a fee. There is a reward system where designers and visitors can collect points in exchange for filament or other rewards. Models can be downloaded or opened in PrusaSlicer, although there do not appear to be any print profiles that accompany the model files.

In addition to my 3 favorite model repositories above, there are some honorable mentions that I’ll briefly discuss.

Creality Cloud is owned by—you guessed it—Creality. There are free and paid models mixed together, and there is print profile integration with Creality 3D printers. This appears to be a recent development, but I have not been able to test it because I no longer have a Creality printer. Much of the user experience centers around 3D model sales, so I generally don’t visit this repository regularly.

Cults 3D is an independent, self-financed site that is run by 4 guys in France who state in their “About” page that their advantage is they they not accountable to any investor or brand. Although there are both paid and free models, one thing I like about their search function is that the results page can be filtered to show only free models.

Thangs is registered to Physna, a company that advertises itself as providing the the world’s leading geometric search engine. It contains a lot of free models, and also has a marketplace for buying and selling models.

Are there other 3D model repositories that you like to use often? Feel free to leave a comment and describe your favorite 3D model repository.

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