Free 3D models: where to find them and how to print them

Where to look for free 3D models

• Printables is a large community with models from regular makers and from printer brands.
• Thingiverse is one of the oldest libraries, with a huge choice of older models.
• MakerWorld is a platform with models that are also prepared for multicolour printing.
• Cults3D offers some models for free and some for a fee.

For every model, read the author's description, look at photos of real prints and read the comments. A model that someone has printed successfully is a safer choice than a nice render with no photos.

Tip: search for a specific item, for example a stand, a holder or an organiser. Sorting the results by popularity or downloads helps you find a model that already works for many people.

Ready-made models are a good start. They save time and often show what is possible to print. Just remember that an author can change or remove a model at any time, so save the file.

How to pick a model that prints well

• Format: STL or 3MF. 3MF can also carry colours and settings, and STL is the most widespread.
• Size: the maximum size of a print with us is 246 × 246 × 256 mm. A larger model has to be split into parts.
• Wall thickness: walls that are too thin and tiny details may not print with FDM, so avoid walls under about 1 mm.
• Overhangs and bridges: models without large overhangs print cleaner and cost less.

Licences: what you may and may not do

Free does not mean without rules. Most authors use Creative Commons licences, and the terms are part of the model.

The CC BY licence allows commercial use if you credit the author, link to the licence and say whether you changed the model. The CC BY-NC licence (NC means NonCommercial) forbids commercial use. According to its summary, commercial use is use that is primarily intended for commercial advantage or monetary compensation.

So the rule is simple. If it is for sale, a corporate gift or merch, you cannot use a model with a BY-NC licence. We do not check licences, so the responsibility is yours. Check it before you order. If you print for yourself, for personal use, that is fine under the terms of the licence. If you are not sure, write to the author, as many give permission. Always read the exact terms of a platform on the platform itself, we do not summarise them here.

What to check before you download

Not every nice model prints well. Look at photos of real prints, not only at renders. If people write under the model that it printed without problems, that is a good sign. If they complain about thin parts that break, look for another one.

Also notice how many parts the model has. Some are split into several pieces that have to be glued together. That is extra work, and you can avoid it by choosing a model in one piece.

Scale matters too. Many models are in millimetres, but now and then you meet a file in another unit, and after upload it looks huge or tiny. The calculator shows the dimensions at once, so you see it before you order.

How to download a model and upload it to the calculator

1. On the model page, download the STL or 3MF file (often in a ZIP folder, so unpack it).
2. Check the licence and the size of the model.
3. Open the calculator and upload the file.
4. Choose PLA or PETG, the colours and the number of pieces.
5. You see the price at once, payment is by bank transfer with a QR code and you get an invoice from the EU.

We are happy to help with the choice too. Send us a link to the model and we will tell you whether it can be printed and what could be changed.

When a ready-made model is not enough

If you want an item with your own logo, a ready-made model from the internet is often not suitable, mainly because of the licence. A custom relief is the better way, for example for custom fridge magnets or corporate gifts. You will find an overview of the service on the home page.

Slicers and your own settings

You may have heard of a slicer. It is a program that prepares a model for printing layer by layer. With us you do not need one. You upload a finished STL or 3MF file and we take care of the print preparation.

If you edit a model yourself, for example by scaling it up or adding text, save the result again as STL or 3MF. While editing, make sure the walls do not get too thin.

Not sure whether a model can be printed? Upload it to the calculator or write to us. It is better to ask before you order than to find the problem on a finished part.