Star Trek 3D Prints: 9 Models That Live Long and Prosper
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Gone are the days of production crews painstakingly creating Star Trek props! Here are 9 amazing Star Trek models you can make yourself!
Star Trek 3D Prints The Next Generation of Star Trek Memorabilia
In the 1960s, model makers painstakingly made models of the NCC-1701 out of various materials. Many hours and thousands of dollars were spent constructing them. In fact, the creators used the now famous teleporting sequences because it was cheaper than filming the models landing on a planet.
Today, with the advent of additive manufacturing, we can produce highly-detailed models easily and affordably. 3D printing is enabling fans to make models that pay tribute to their favorite science fiction franchises.
Star Trek, however, has the distinction of being among the first to show us what 3D printing might technology may evolve into in the future. While we perfect the technology, let’s check out some of the most bold Star Trek models we’ve curated just for you!
Like what you see, but don’t have the means to print it yourself? Not to worry – a plethora of 3D printing services are waiting to help you! Regardless of your location, compare some of the best providers with Craftcloud, All3DP’s 3D printing and price comparison service.
Star Trek 3D Prints TNG Science Tricorder
While you may not be able to produce a real-life tricorder, but there’s a good chance you might be able to produce this 3D printed replica. This is one of many 3D printed Star Trek props that would be great to take to a Trekkie convention.
This model has functional hinges, but the creator says that they may “take some fiddling” in addition to post-processing with car-primer and affixing decals.
Who made it? Thingiverse user TG-Techie
Who printed it? 11 Thingiverse users
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Star Trek 3D Prints Warp Core Lamp
The warp cores (and engines) are what enable ships in Star Trek to travel faster than light, so it makes sense that one fan made a 3D printed warp core lamp. It can also be scaled up to make it look like a life-size warp-core! This lamp is sure to give a great sci-fi atmosphere to your office, shop, or engine room.
This model was designed to print in modular pieces. Some of the parts will, of course, require translucent filament, and they can be optionally glued together.
Who made it? Thingiverse user ThePlanetMike
Who printed it? 25 Thingiverse users
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Star Trek 3D Prints TNG Borg Cube
If you grew up watching Star Trek: The Next Generation, you’ll instantly recognize this as one of the scariest things in the known (Star Trek) universe. The Borg have a hive mind, of course, and use nanotechnology to “assimilate” entire races as well as build or repair themselves and their ships. If you’re looking for something to give your decor that ominous, impending mass-extermination feel, this is a great choice.
This model should be relatively hassle-free as you’re essentially making an ornate box.
Who made it? Thingiverse user dmaccallum
Who printed it? 11 Thingiverse users
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Star Trek 3D Prints Geordi Laforge Visor
Geordi Laforge’s visor was an original vision of the kind of technologies that might be used to help the blind see in the future. It showcased bionic implant technology as well as digital imaging, and it did so with an original look. Now fans can make their own prop almost exactly like the original and wear it to their next Halloween party or Trekkie convention!
This model will require some brass tubing and glue to assemble the final product, and maybe some paint for that original Star Trek look.
Who made it? Thingiverse user DrewSmith007
Who printed it? 14 Thingiverse users
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Star Trek 3D Prints 3D Chess with Low Profile Pieces
“Tri-D Chess”, as it’s called in Star Trek, is a variant of chess created just for the show. This version of 3D chess didn’t even have rules until the 1970s. Now you can create your very own Tri-D chess set, practice your strategy, and embarrass your crewmates.
The Tri-D chess set needs a bit of assembly (and gluing) and some hardware (with nuts, washers, and a 1/4″ threaded rod).
Who made it? Thingiverse user alan_one
Who printed it? 12 Thingiverse users
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Star Trek 3D Prints Original Series Phaser
Fans of Star Trek have admired the stylish design of the original phaser since the days when color television was still just starting to make its way into viewers’ homes. The phaser has seen many incarnations, yet the original is still one of the coolest. This is a perfect project for anyone who wants to make that toy they dreamed of back in the day.
This is a somewhat involved project, so you’ll need to be ready to do some assembly by hand and a bit of tinkering if you want electronics like lights. Fortunately, it’s made to be customizable, so you should be able to use whatever works for you both creatively and practically.
Who made it? Thingiverse user Corma
Who printed it? 17 Thingiverse users
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Star Trek 3D Prints The Enterprise
The starship Enterprise (AKA NCC-1701) is, of course, the flagship or “The Federation” in the Star Trek universe. Its design is a product of Gene Roddenberry’s and the designer Matt Jeffries’ desire to come up with something original, which didn’t resemble current aerospace designs. What they came up with was so original it’s become something of an icon unto itself, and now you can replicate your very own model!
This model has no special instructions and 30 people have made it so far. That means you should have little trouble reproducing the NCC-1701!
Who made it? Thingiverse user mb20music
Who printed it? 30 Thingiverse users
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Star Trek 3D Prints Spock
The late Leonard Nimoy will always be the most famous portrayal of Spock, and for good reason. The character didn’t just serve as a convenient sidekick to Captain Kirk, but as a kind of polite nudge reminding all of us to not let our emotions get the best of us. Now you can pay tribute to Leonard Nimoy and show your resolve to stay calm under pressure, by 3D printing your own bust of Spock!
This bust should be a relatively simple print with no special instructions listed by the creator, who used 50% infill for theirs.
Who made it? MyMiniFactory user Ewooks
Who printed it? Only the creator is known to have made this print so far.
Where to get it? MyMiniFactory
Star Trek 3D Prints Klingon Bat'Leth
The Klingon race in Star Trek has a rich storyline and culture that has some fans actually learning to speak the Klingon language! Now they can also 3D print their very own Bat’Leth! The weapon is used both in ceremonies and battle, but it certainly would also look great displayed on a bookshelf or nightstand.
This model has no special instructions, though the one user that made it had to use Cura, as it wouldn’t slice properly for them in Simplify3D.
Who made it? Thingiverse user A_SKEWED_VIEW_3D
Who printed it? 1 Thingiverse users and the creator.
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Star Trek 3D Prints The Final Frontier
When Star Trek first launched, it was very expensive and difficult to design models and props like the ones we can now fabricate on a desktop 3D printer. Captain Jean-Luc Picard once stated the obvious fact: “Things are only impossible until they’re not.”
3D printing has democratized the process so that fans can make all kinds of toys and props while driving the development of this wonderful technology to make the impossible come to life.
(Lead image source: Bohrdasaplanck / Thingiverse)