3D printing is an incredibly captivating topic, as it holds the keys to the future of several industries, as well as the entire manufacturing sector itself! Yes, it can be intimidating at times. And, for us 3D printing geeks who have FOMO over the latest 3D printing news and desire to find the coolest new models, the internet is what we turn to. Lucky for us, there are several websites that keep us from leaving the mystical realm of 3D printing!
In this article, we’ll cover the best 3D printing websites for all sorts of applications – Projects, News, 3D Printers, Services, Online tools, Social Platforms, and more! The following sections are divided into categories to make it easier to digest, but we still have a lot to cover. Let’s get started!
Designs, Files & Projects
Many sites offer a large selection of 3D printable designs for you to download and print. The models you find on such sites are either free or you’ll need to pay a fee before you can download them.
If you don’t know how to create a 3D model from scratch or you just want to start using your 3D printer as soon as possible, check out the following list!
Thingiverse is the largest, easy-to-use site where you can download free 3D models. There’s a vivid community behind Thingiverse, so that’s why there are thousands of models available to download there — just search for the model you want and hit download. If you’re a talented 3D designer, you can upload your models to Thingiverse so that other people can see and download your designs.
Printables is another 3D model database created by the wonderful folks over at Prusa Research! Being relatively new, there are not nearly as many models as the above websites. However, it’s growing rapidly! The site’s navigation and style are somewhat similar to Thingiverse. Printables also offers aspects of websites like MyMiniFactory, such as hosting competitions, where you can win Printers and Prusament!
CGTrader is a large platform intended for more professional or advanced 3D models, most of which are not directly intended for 3D printing. However, there’s a large repository of models specifically meant for 3D printing. Most of the 3D models cost money, with prices ranging from around $2 to $500. But don’t let the high prices throw you off! The creators on the platform are extremely talented, and predictably, they provide some of the most high-quality 3D models on the internet.
MyMiniFactory is another great site for downloading 3D models with a big community behind the scenes. All the models available on MyMiniFactory are categorized so that you can easily find what you want. Just as with Thingiverse, you can also upload your 3D models to MyMiniFactory so other people can use them.
Cults is one of the fastest-growing 3D model communities. It also hosts a 3D printer file marketplace where makers can share or sell their STL files. The overall quality of the models is usually high, and the files are nicely presented. Cults also offers curated collections such as IKEA hacks, Lego parts, GoPro, or drone accessories. The website supports English, French, and Spanish languages.
Instructables is a well-known “how-to” website, which gives you instructions on almost everything! Instructables also happens to provide great instructions for making projects using your 3D printer. You won’t find 3D printable models like the other websites on this list, but you will find some awesome ideas and tips for your future printing endeavors.
Hackaday is a blogpost site where users from around the world can post their own DIY projects, and many happen to be 3D printing-oriented. They also cover news on space, tech, and other geeky subjects! Hackaday is a great way to show off your latest project or find inspiration for something to create.
News & Information
The world of 3D printing is a big and confusing place! Lucky for us, we have several informational websites at our disposal. Here’s our list of the best news and information websites that the internet has to offer.
All3DP is a 3D printing website that covers “all things 3D printing” — hence the name. It’s also the very website you find yourself on right now — how meta! Did you know that in addition to helpful explainers such as this article, we cover all sorts of topics like printer troubleshooting, 3D modeling, Arduino and Raspberry Pi projects, as well as CNC! We also host the professionally oriented All3DP Pro and regularly publish in-house reviews on the latest printers. Head over to our “News” section to check out the latest in the 3D printing world, including coverage of trade fairs!
3Dnatives is a large 3D printing news outlet heavily oriented towards the latest and greatest 3D printing news, with articles published daily. They cover news regarding anything 3D – from printers to software to scanners! They also have frequently updated job opportunities at tech companies for those interested in working in the industry.
3DPrinting.com is a popular site for news within the 3D printing industry. 3DPrinting.com covers many aspects of the industry, from science applications of 3D printing to education, as well as the business itself. 3Dprinting.com is a good source for 3D printing news and additionally offers the ability to compare and view 3D printers and prices and find how-to guides.
3DPrint.com is a popular 3D printing site with a lot of fresh news regarding the applications of 3D printing in multiple fields. Besides news content, 3DPrint.com offers other features such as online courses (for prototyping, 3D printing metal, etc.) and a search engine for finding 3D printers currently available on the market with their prices. Visitors of 3DPrint.com are also able to get a 3D model printed, thanks to 3DPrint.com’s partnership with Treatstock.
3D Printing Industry is yet another reliable source of information regarding news within the 3D printing space. Besides news, you can browse through many guides and reviews, and there’s also a useful section of the website dedicated to jobs, where you can search and apply for open positions within the additive manufacturing industry.
3D Printers, Materials & Accessories
Here, you’ll find the big names and brands. These are the companies that are really making a mark for 3D printing products. After all, you’ll need to buy your goods somewhere, especially if brick-and-mortar is not an option.
Printer manufacturers often have their own online webshops where you can buy their printers directly from them as well as spare parts and upgrades specific to your device. Trusted brands include Prusa Research, the company that has created some of the best and most iconic hobbyist 3D printers on the market, Creality, whose printers are a wonderful entry point for anyone looking to get started with 3D printing, and Elegoo, a popular choice for its resin 3D printers. Bambu Lab has also been making its way into the mainstream with its multi-material printing systems.
Filaments are purchasable directly from many printer manufacturers, like Prusament from Prusa Research, Creality, and Bambu Lab. You can also find a huge variety of low-cost filaments, including special types like rainbow or wood-filled, from dedicated manufacturers like eSun or Sunlu, who have popular stores on Amazon.
MatterHackers is a 3D printing company founded in 2012 and based out of Orange County, California. They’re a supplier for everything 3D printing. Whether it be tools, printers, filament, print beds, or resin, they have it all! They differ from other marketplaces, as their products are usually higher-end, better-quality options.
Amazon is the marketplace where we’re all prone to making questionable purchases, where we ask ourselves, “Do we really need this?” Well, we’re sure you’ll need a 3D printer, materials, and countless accessories at some point! Amazon has it all, boasting one of the largest tech marketplaces on the internet. And it’s no stranger to 3D printing! You’ll be able to find all the brands above and much, much more. Just be wary that there may be some discrepancies between the prices at Amazon and those on the original brand’s website!
3D Printing Services
Sites that provide 3D printing services are an important go-to for those without a 3D printer or in need of sure-fire professional prints. Some also provide design services for 3D printing.
Here are several popular 3D printing sites that offer 3D printing and, where specified, design services.
Craftcloud by All3DP is a 3D printing service marketplace that lets you obtain and compare instant quotes for your next 3D printing project. Craftcloud gives you the bigger picture of what your options are and recommends offers that fit your needs. It’s like Expedia, but instead of travel, it’s for 3D printing! More than 100 different vetted service providers from all over the globe offer 21 technologies and over 100 materials, so you’re sure to find the right manufacturer for your projects. Just upload your model, and Craftcloud will handle the rest.
JawsTec is an online 3D printing service that specializes in EOS SLS laser printing, HP MJF printers, and EOS DMLS printers. They’re trusted by several large commercial organizations, such as Amazon, SpaceX, and Apple. They offer instant quotes, which is useful if you have a time constraint.
i.Materialise is a 3D printing service that offers several technologies such as SLS, MJF, Polyjet, resin, and even metal. They also offer several precious metals to print with, such as brass, bronze, copper, gold, and silver.
In3DTec offers 3D printing technologies such as SLA, SLS, FDM, MJF, and DMLS. Unlike the other services on this list, In3DTec provides 3D scanning and reverse engineering options. They also have a pretty exhaustive list of both plastics and metals to choose from!
SchmidtProto is a 3D printing manufacturer based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. They specialize in large-scale 3D prints for the consumer, with sizes ranging from 400 x 400 x 450 mm to 720 x 350 x 400 mm! As a smaller establishment, ordering from SchmidtProto will be a far more personalized experience than other options.
BONUS
PCBWay is primarily a custom PCB manufacturer, but they also happen to offer 3D printing and CNC machining! They offer technologies like FDM, SLS, MJF, DMLS, Polyjet, and resin 3D printing. There is also a wide array of materials to choose from, with specific options for certain materials such as resin and nylon.
Online Tools
Sometimes, you just need a quick fix. If you want to hop online and find a solution to make that image into an STL or fix holes in an existing file, these sites will get you what you need without having to download any software.
MeshLab is a free, open-source system for working with 3D triangular meshes. MeshLab is extremely versatile, offering tools like mesh optimization, hole filling, and noise removal! It’s great for repairing your STLs for 3D printing.
Image to Lithophane is a website that can turn your picture into an STL! It does this by creating a lithophane, a 3D representation of a photo that uses different thicknesses to create contrast when light is passed through. It’s a really neat effect and has a lot of applications!
Tinkercad is free browser-based CAD software that anyone can use – even kids! Its simple approach to 3D design involves combining different shapes and elements to achieve the desired model. But don’t let its simplicity fool you, it’s incredibly powerful!
AnyConv, a name that is fairly self-explanatory, is an online file converter that allows you to convert any type of file, all in one place! There will be times in your 3D printing career when you’ll definitely have to convert a file, like making a 3D model compatible with your CAD project.
Social Platforms
Lastly, we’d like to highlight the richness and value of online 3D printing communities. 3D printing enthusiasts are a generous bunch, and below, we’ve listed the social sites where we like to solve our problems or keep up with the latest events.
Reddit is an online forum with categories for almost anything you could think of. There are many categories for 3D printing, even for individual printers! Users post questions, videos, pictures, and other media to help each other out. If you have a question, there’s a pretty high chance you’ll find an answer on Reddit.
YouTube is the video-sharing platform that we all know and love! You can find endless information on all aspects of 3D printing through in-depth videos, reviews, experiments, news, time-lapses, advice, and more. There’s new content uploaded every day, so even the newest 3D printing news will be covered on YouTube!
Instagram is a social platform where users can post pictures and videos to their followers and the rest of the world! Instagram has a steadily growing 3D printing fanbase with accounts covering different aspects of the industry. You’ll be able to find a lot of cool models, pictures, and time-lapses posted by passionate 3D printing hobbyists.
Facebook is a great place to join a 3D printing group! Similar to Reddit, there’s a Facebook group for almost anything you could think of, the main difference being that it’s mainly post-based, just like Instagram. You’ll also be able to get your questions answered pretty quickly in a group.
TikTok is the home of almost every viral sensation on the internet! Unlike the others on this list, the app uses quick, fast-paced videos, which are enjoyable (and very addicting) to watch. As with all the other platforms on this list, TikTok has a fast-growing 3D printing presence, with several YouTubers creating TikTok accounts to promote their channels. If you want to see the latest 3D printing trends, TikTok is for you!
License: The text of "The Best 3D Printing Websites of 2023" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.