3D assets

Introduction

This page includes some links for 3D assets.

See also:

• 3D printing and 3D printer (manufacturing 3D)
• Computer-aided design and manufacturing, 3D modeling, 3D file format (software and format)
• Virtual environment, 3D interactive environment and Web 3D technology (software 3D)

Search

• Yeggi, a specialized search engine for 3D printable objects
• Images.google (Only pictures, but search may then lead to 3D websites if you add "3D" or similar to the query)
• Princeton 3D Model Search Engine (not maintained, but ok to find some VRML models for example)
• Yobi3D 3D Model Search Engine (Search by keyword. Provides a viewer to see models in 3D)

3D models for 3D printing

The best list of model repositories for 3Dprinting is probably at Printable part sources @ Reprap.org and also Free STL/3D Printer Files & Models: Best Sites for 2022

Free from non-commercial entities

• George W. Hart's Rapid Prototyping page includes STL files for (complex) mathematical/geometrical forms. In addition, simpler Makerbot Constructions also are available. Most low end 3D printers can handle these (actually better).

Free from commercial entities

• Thingiverse (a place to share digital designs that can be made into real, physical objects). Many interesting objects for filament-based 3D printers. However, since Makerbot started asserting their ownership more strongly in 2012, some people now use other alternatives, e.g. privately controlled file sharing schemes (blogs, portals, github, google drive, web servers, whatever ....). Since 2020 or so, the site seems to decay.

• PrusaPrinters.org Like thingiverse or Youmagine, but new (as of 2021) and sponsored by Europe's most successful printer maker.

• YouMagine.com. This repository tied to Ultimaker is similar as thingverse in terms of functionality. Less "proprietary feel" than thingiverse.

• WeVolver, 3D printing and components for robotic designs. Targets people with good engineering skills. The site mostly just describes projects that do not share models.

• Cults3d. Quote: “the digital marketplace for 3D printing and design. Use our 3D model library to discover everything you can do with a 3D printer. 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, in .STL, .OBJ or .SCAD format, they are all 3D printable guaranteed.”

• Libre3D.

• Tinkercad library (login required). See also AutoDesk Gallery, i.e. its more professional models.

General purpose making (search for 3D printing)

• Instructables The how-to site. Some functionality requires membership
• Openbuilds No 3D printing models, but models for 3D printers maybe. Includes good CNC and laser cutting models.

Commercial, also offering free items

• RedPah. Community where designers can share for free or sell.
• Hobby & DIY Free 3D Print Models from cgtrader.
• Sketchfab (some downloadables, most model are only for looking at...)

Online printing services

Most online printing services also include large catalogues of printable objects. Some of these are free to take, most are not.

• Shapeways includes thousands of printable objects.

Other

• DefCad. The island of misfit objects, e.g. the famous printable "liberator" gun was there before it got blocked. Such files can be found in places like PirateBay. Btw assembling a gun from "standard" metal parts you could buy in a hardware store is both cheaper and more reliable. I mean it's 15th century tech. I am not in favor of distributing guns to everyone, but one cannot censor Internet (Daniel K. Schneider (talk) 19:49, 10 May 2013 (CEST)).

In addition to repositories for printable objects, you also can try to adapt models made for 3D virtual environments, see below. Finally, various CAD/CAM and 3D modeling software includes sample directories and other models are often available on various official and unofficial support sites.

CAD/CAM models

CAM/CAM models include editable source code. Some of the above site's (e.g. Thingiverse) also can include source code.

Scanned models

• The Stanford 3D Scanning Repository (some files in .PLY format)

Free CAD models

• www.tracepartsonline.net
• http://www.mcmaster.com/
• 3dcontentcentral.com

3D Models for virtual environments

This models are made for creating virtual environments, games. etc. Finding free 3D models is the usual "search for multimedia assets" nightmare, 95 of hits are bad if you use google ...)

Various free 3D model repositories

• http://3dr.adlnet.gov/ Created in the context of SCORM/TLA
• Google 3D warehouse (.dae/collada, .skp)
• Trinckle (a more recent repository for 3D models) .PLY .STL and .3DS
• Opengameart.org
• NTU 3D Model Database ver.1. Free for education (.obj)
• Archive 3D. Very large repository of 3D models. Some can be converted quite easily to printable objects.
• Sketchfab. Large repository. I easily converted (and repaired) an *.obj model of Luther to *.stl format.

Free models from commercial sites (some sites many include lots of ads, none endorsed)

• 3dmodelfree.com
• cgtrader (220'000 models)
• Free OBJ models at Oyonale.

Commercial (no endorsement ...)

Often, these models come in several formats, some are high end and expensive

• The3dStudio.com (some free)
• Artist-3D.com (some free for education)
• Exchange3D.com
• TurboSquid.com
• DAZ 3D has some free models (registration required) for DAZ Studio.

Links

(links of links)

• Where to find models. A nice, complete list from Ultimaker, part of the The savvy 3D educator's superlist

• deco2c.free (good list of free 3D model sites] (in french, some links broken)