Thingiverse Service - Universe for 3d printing

When it comes to 3D printers and 3D printing, the following questions usually arise:

1. Where is free download 3d model for printing?
2. Why do they use 3D printing at all , what can be useful and interesting to do with it?
3. With what programs, preferably free, you can create a 3D model ?

These questions can be answered using the service directory of 3D models - Thingiverse .
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In this post we will do a small review of 3D models from Thingiverse (grouped by the programs with the help of which they were created). As an example, the header provides a designer from 3D printed parts, created using 123D Design . More details about this constructor, and other examples of 3D models from Sketchup , OpenSCAD , Blender3d , FreeCAD - under the cut.

In the beginning, a little about the service itself, and the specifics associated with 3D printing.



Thingiverse is a free service opened in 2008, developed and maintained by MakerBot (which in turn creates and sells a well-known 3D printer), anyone can register on this service and upload a 3d model for downloading. A key feature of the service is that all downloaded models are published under the Creative Commons license , which means that you can freely and freely download and also freely change.

The generally accepted format for 3D printing is STL (short for STereoLithography), this format contains only the shape of an object, without color, texture information, in fact it is a surface composed of triangles. It is in this format that you need to export 3D models if you plan to print them on a 3D printer.

We proceed to the review of 3D programs.

123D Design

AutoDesk is seriously entering the 3D printing market - it provides a good service for preparing 3D models, in particular, you can download the free 123D Design program. Available for PC and Mac.

Pixil Bits Constructor

3D printed designer Pixil Bits consists of several elements, on the basis of which you can collect a variety of shapes:






All files can be downloaded here , also provided the source code for changes in 123D Designer.

Birds mobile

Want to make sitting and spinning birds? (a good example for the basics of mathematics :))



Here is the Joseph's “Birds Mobile” project .

The build process and the final result can be viewed here .

Here's what you need to print:


And of course, different layout options are possible:

The original 123D Design files can be downloaded from the project page .

Sketchup3d

Perhaps one of the most famous programs will be Sketchup3d , originally it was developed under the wing of Google, but later the search giant transferred this program to Trimpble.

Pros - a convenient interface for work, there is scripting on Ruby. Cons - not open-source version for Windows and Mac only.

Mini sumo robot

3D printed platform for a mini-sumo robot, contains a frame and a ladle blade.




Files for 3D printing, and original Sketchup files can be downloaded here .

3D Logo or name

Want to print a logo or name?



Here is the project How To Make A 3D Logo Or Name , where you can download instructions on how to do this in Sketchup.

Marblevator

The Marblevator project is an example of a “railroad” using 3D printed rails and an iron ball.





Assembly instructions , and here you can download all the elements and original files in Sketchup.

Openscad

OpenSCAD is a free open-source, cross-platform program for creating 3D models using a special modeling language.

You can create graphic primitives, perform operations on the union, subtraction, cloning, etc. To get the object you want. And after - export it to STL ( recently there was a small tutorial on OpenSCAD on Habré)

Glasses case

Need a case for glasses? You can download and print from here .



The original format in OpenSCAD - that is, you can edit for your points.

Pet bowl

Is the bowl for your cat still not signed?



It is easy to eliminate using 3D printing. In the files section - the original OpenSCAD file for customization is provided (extension scad).

Gearbox

Want to print mechanics? Please - Tiny Planetary Gears Set .



All the details of the mechanism can be downloaded here , and here is the link to the archive with all OpenSCAD original files.

Gears

If you need to print a variety of gears, then you can see this project: Public Domain Involute Parameterized Gears , which contains OpenSCAD files for creating 3D models of various gears.

Blender

Blender3d is a free open source software for 3D modeling (supports Python scripting)

Singing dragon

One of the popular models on Thingiverse, the Adalinda project : The Singing Serpent , was made using Blender3d.



The author, who created the model - specially optimized it for 3D printing - there is no need for “support” support elements, the whole model is printed as it is.

Master Yoda

The quite popular model Yoda Figure was created using Blender, or rather “assembled” from several models.



On the basis of information from the original article , for its “preparation” were taken:

1. Bust Yoda head (with thingiverse)



2. Yoda's body from google sketchup galery.

Airplane

The project model aircraft Skewer Fighter Jet (F-86 Saber) , with the ability to download Blender source file.



The author macouno can see a lot of other models created on the basis of Blender3d , in particular:

Keyboard support

Sometimes the keyboard lift legs break, you can download type: Computer Keyboard Riser

Freecad

FreeCAD is a less well-known program, but rather interesting as it is positioned as a professional CAD system, completely free and open-source. Full Python scripting is supported.

Bike phone holder

Do you want to fix the smartphone on the handlebars? Then watch this project: Bike phone holder . Files for FreeCAD included.

Drawer handle

Need a box handle? No problem, the project Simple Drawer Knob . The original FreeCAD file is included in the download.

Wall mount for phone

Want to place your phone on the wall? Here is the project: Wall Mount for Vtech 6419 Cordless Phone .

Speaker for smartphone

Want to make a hearth for your smartphone? The Parametric Acoustic Horns project will allow using the python program to generate the mountains you need in FreeCad.



You can hear the difference:

As a conclusion

This is of course a small part of those models that are posted on Thingiverse, and new projects appear every day.

If you do not have access to a 3D printer, you can:

• do a search on hackspaces in your city, as a rule there are 3d printers, and they are available for small orders
• search for fab labs, there 3d printer should also be
• search service 3d printing (in your city)