The 10 Best Free 3D Printer Models on Thingiverse To Download Now!
At 3DSourced we’ve covered everything 3D printing and 3D since 2017. Our team has interviewed the most innovative 3D printing experts, tested and reviewed more than 20 of the most popular 3D printers and 3D scanners to give our honest recommendations, and written more than 500 3D printing guides over the last 5 years.
So you’ve bought yourself a 3D printer, but now what to print? You’ll need some 3D printer models. The largest database for these 3D printer models is Thingiverse, with over a million different “things”, designed by creatives all over the world, can be downloaded and printed at home. We therefore scanned the 3D printer models to find 10 of the most creative and useful models you can download for free right now!
What is a 3D printer model?
A 3D printer model is a file – usually an STL file – of a 3D object printable on your personal 3D printer. Once downloaded, you can open these 3D printer models within a variety of 3D software options or slicers to then print at home.
The model can be edited and customized if you have those design skills, or just printed in whichever colors you fancy based on the color of filament, or material, such as PLA or ABS.
So here are 10 of our favorite 3D models you can download for free right now, with links!
“BraQ” Dragon by BQ
We’re starting off with a pretty crazy 3D printer model, made by Spanish 3D printer manufacturer BQ – who also make their own DIY 3D scanner. Made of 42 different 3D printed PLA pieces, this dragon is big, mean, and shows the level of detail that even cheap 3D printers can reach on a model.
All of the parts can be 3D printed, though the assembly requires other materials to tie the pieces together into one cohesive model. This isn’t too difficult however, with all the instructions in both English and Spanish on the download page.
Download the 3D printer model here.
3D Printed Jet Engine
Simply an extraordinary design, this 3D printer model is a complete jet engine model, and one that the designer – CATIA5FTW – designed himself. That’s right, the user created an entire jet engine model himself, and though it has some similarities to other, existing engines, we have to commend the designer for the creativity in designing a whole engine from scratch.
It’s not simple to print and assemble; consider it a high level 3D printer kit. However, building this incredible 3D printed jet engine will undoubtedly prove rewarding as you can then look at this beautiful piece of machinery in your house.
Download the 3D printer model here.
3D Printed Crossbow
Another of the crazy 3D printer models available on Thingiverse, this 3D printed crossbow is an upgrade on a previous version that can fire real 3D printed arrows with surprising accuracy!
You will need some extra parts to fully assemble the crossbow – a screwdriver, some screws, some nylon fishing line among others. However, it’s well worth it; not only will you save the money buying a real crossbow, but you’ll also have the satisfaction of creating your own 3D printed crossbow at home! We’ve included a video of the crossbow 3D printer model firing below.
Download the 3D printer model here.
3D Printed Marble Machine
This is definitely one of those 3D printer models that triggers serious childhood nostalgia. Printable in just four parts, this marble machine will provide hours of fun for any child lucky enough to have it.
It’s cleverly designed so that when twisting the top, you keep bringing marbles back to the top of the machine to roll down the slides again. This saves having to repeatedly pick up and put marbles at the top of the slides again, and generally makes it more fun to play with.
Download the 3D printer model here.
3D Scanner you can 3D print for just $30!
Not only can you 3D print models that look nice, but also 3D printer models that serve important and useful functions! This model features parts you can assemble to form a stable 3D scanner platform which, with the aid of some 3D software (more details on the download page) and a smartphone, becomes a fully fledged 3D scanner.
So if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a 3D scanner, you can make your own DIY 3D scanner with this fantastic 3D printer model. Admittedly it’s not so simple to get working, but hopefully the video we’ve attached below helps you assemble your own $30 3D scanner.
Download the 3D printer model here.
3D Printed Remote Control Racing Car
Designed to be used as a week-long class project, you can make this fantastic remote-controlled car featuring a bunch of 3D printed parts from the comfort of your own home.
Parts such as the axles, wheels and other parts are 3D printed, though to get this car fully functional does require a number of screws, electronics and more. When finished however, it is fast, nimble and very fun to play with. The video below shows just how fast this rocket league-reminiscent car goes!
Download the 3D printer model here.
HIVE Modular Hex Drawers
An innovative and practical 3D printer model, these honeycomb-inspired containers are perfect for keeping things organized at home. Not only are they perfectly sized for items such as jewelry – including 3D printed jewelry we have written about previously – as well as earphones, pins, and more.
Not only are they great as individual containers however, but they’re also designed to seamlessly slot into each other. This means you can create a small wall-sized hive of containers to store each individual item, which also looks aesthetically pleasing in any room. Overall, it’s a fantastic solution for low cost storage.
Download the 3D printer model here.
USB stick, SD card and MicroSD holder
Another practical 3D printer model, this device keeps all your USB sticks, SD cards and MicroSD cards in one place so you never lose them.
It’s super simple and can be fully printed as just one large part, so there’s no assembly required. Simply press print, and when it’s finished it’ll be ready to go!
Download the 3D printer model here.
3D Printable Business Card Holders
Simple to 3D print and very useful in business, these elegant and sleek business card holders keep all your business cards – and any other cards you may pick up from other people – in one place.
Based on your 3D printer filament color you can customize how your business card holder appears, and no assembly is required – simply print and they’re ready to go.
Download the 3D printer model here.
Read more: 3D printed business card files
Geometric MacBook Pro Stand
It’s estimated that millions worldwide suffer from RSI, back pain and more due to not concentrating on the ergonomics of their work and home setup. This MacBook laptop stand helps with that, standing your laptop closer to eye level to prevent neck pain, helping make your setup more ergonomic.
It’s super easy to assemble as it’s just two parts, so even 3D printing novices will have no problem getting this 3D printer model to work.
Download the 3D printer model here.
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