3D Printed Iron Man Armor: 8 Best Suits To Print
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Superheroes have been a part of our culture for almost a century now, and with the MCU’s prevalence on just about every media platform, they’ve never been more popular than they are today.
Some favorites are heroes that don’t have powers, but instead built their own way to protect humanity. And so, it’s easy to see why 3D printing an Iron Man suit is so popular. Who doesn’t want to feel like Tony Stark working away in his lab to create one of the most recognizable heroes of our time?
- Can You 3D Print an Iron Man Suit?
- How Long Would it Take to Make an Iron Man Suit?
- How Much Would It Cost to 3D Print an Iron Man Suit?
- 3D Printed Iron Man Helmet
- 3D Printed Iron Man Gauntlets
- Full 3D Printed Iron Man Suits
- Iron Man Mark VI
- 3D Printed Mark 85 Endgame Iron Man Suit
- Original Iron Man Suit Mark I
- Hulkbuster
- Pepper Potts Rescue Armor
- Bonus: Emily the Engineer’s 3D Printed Iron Man Suits
3D printed Iron Man files come in a lot of parts and sizes, from the helmet to the gauntlets or even the whole suit. 3D printing wearable or decorative Iron Man pieces is a really cool way to show your appreciation for the snarky hero.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the best, coolest, and most useful 3D printed Iron Man files around as well as how much time and money you can expect to spend while 3D printing your own Iron Man suit or suit parts.
Can You 3D Print an Iron Man Suit?
3D printing an Iron Man suit may be a complex and potentially expensive endeavor, but it is very doable. With enough time and careful planning, anyone with a 3D printer can print their own wearable version of Tony Stark’s armor.
It may seem daunting, but 3D printed Iron Man suits can be made using just about any FDM printer, so you won’t need to blow the budget to make your own awesome-looking homage to one of the most famous Avengers. After all, Tony Stark built his own suit in a cave with a box of scraps!
How Long Would it Take to Make an Iron Man Suit?
How long you’ll spend 3D printing your Iron Man suit depends on both your design and your printer. More complicated pieces will take longer, and how many prints it takes is up to your printer’s size. One Marvel fan spent over 1,000 hours making theirs, but this was done from scratch and made to be as movie-accurate as possible.
You’ll also be happy to know that this project was carried out using the very affordable Artillery Sidewinder X1, proving that you don’t need a particularly expensive machine to 3D print your Iron Man suit if you’re patient enough.
In this article we’ll also look at the original Iron Man suit from the cave, which the creator notes took 3 months to finish building. So be sure you start printing your suit well in advance if you need it for a particular event.
How Much Would It Cost to 3D Print an Iron Man Suit?
Assuming you’ve already got a 3D printer, the cost of printing an Iron Man suit comes down to filament, energy use, and the files if you have to pay for them. Ultimately, you should expect to spend at least $250 3D printing your own Iron Man suit, but be prepared to spend a little more on things like LEDs and paint.
You can make the project cheaper by designing the suit yourself if you feel you can. Though if you’re not confident enough in your 3D modeling skills, you can instead check out some or all of the files below.
3D Printed Iron Man Helmet
- Where to Download: CGTrader
- Designer: unknowncosplay-infinite
- Price: $15.40
Beginning with the top of the costume, the Iron Man helmet is one of the most recognizable icons in recent cinema history, so it’s one project whose corners you definitely won’t want to cut.
Of all the 3D printed Iron Man helmets around, the one listed above is by far the best I could find. The files cost under $20, which is an absolute steal for such highly detailed models.
Major Marvel fans will recognize this as the Mark III helmet, known to be one of the strongest and longest-lasting of the several different armor types Tony Stark dons in his hero tenure. It’s also accurate in size to the movies, so you may need to alter it to be comfortable if you plan on wearing it.
3D Printed Iron Man Gauntlets
Iron Man has gone through quite a few costume changes throughout the MCU, though the major aesthetics rarely changed. However, there are a couple of gauntlet variations that you should consider when deciding what kind of look you want to go for.
Classic Glove
- Where to Download: etsy
- Designer: Walsh3D
- Price: $15.00
This simple, no-frills 3D printed Iron Man gauntlet is the glove worn by Stark in most of his iterations. It’s an easy print that doesn’t skip on the detailing, and is perfect for cosplay either as part of a full suit or as a cool accessory to show off at parties and conventions.
Stark Tech Infinity Gauntlet
- Where to Download: CGTrader
- Designer: nikkoindustries
- Price: $30.00
For most of us, the most memorable Iron Man armor piece is the Stark Tech nanotech Infinity Gauntlet worn and wielded by both The Hulk and Tony Stark in Endgame’s exciting climax.
Unlike the glove, these files include the entire gauntlet’s forearm. The hands are also equipped to fit movie-accurate infinity stones, which you can either print or buy separately to complete Stark’s look during what may be one of the most heartbreaking sacrifices in superhero movie history.
Full 3D Printed Iron Man Suits
3D printing your Iron Man suit piece by piece is a good way to make sure you get the exact look you want, but it isn’t the most cost-effective way to go about making a complete suit. So if you’re looking to don the full Iron Man look, it’s better to go for it all at once.
Here are the two best fully 3D printed Iron Man suits available. It will be a lot of work, but it will be worth it to feel as incredible as they look.
Iron Man Mark VI
- Where to Download: Thingiverse
- Designer: DaDave
- Price: Free
One of the coolest fully wearable 3D printed Iron Man suits is the Mark VI, as seen in Iron Man 2 and 3, as well as the first Avengers movie. It’s well-known and well-loved amongst the fandom, and the design is an impressive display of creativity and detailing.
The Mark VI by Thingiverse user DaDave is well known amongst Marvel enthusiasts, and he was kind enough to upload every file for free and with well-written instructions to make the suit look good, though he does warn that it’s not very comfortable to wear.
The helmet flips up just like in the movies, and the joints have been updated over time for easier mobility and more comfortable fitting. Though you will need to be prepared to use springs and hinges purchased elsewhere if you really want to rock this suit for a long time.
You’ll also need to find padding for the interior to stop yourself from getting scratched as you move around, so be prepared to make the pieces larger than average to accommodate this.
DaDave has also opened the floor for any questions or concerns you may have, so you’ll be in very good hands even if this is your first attempt or you’re just otherwise unsure.
3D Printed Mark 85 Endgame Iron Man Suit
- Where to Download: CGTrader
- Designer: 3dprinteduniverse
- Price: $34.99
The Mark 85 Iron Man suit is a 3D printable version of the Endgame suit in its entirety. Designed primarily for cosplay and guaranteed to be of movie quality with enough care in printing, cutting, and painting.
The creator is even on hand to gladly help with any questions or problems you may have in constructing this complicated but highly detailed project.
3D printing this suit makes for an excellent project whose comments and reviews speak for themselves. Many users have found this 3D printed Iron Man suit to be of excellent quality and value.
At less than $40 for the whole thing, it’s an absolute steal and well worth it for any fan of the famous Nanotech suit worn in the unforgettable climax of Marvel’s third phase.
Original Iron Man Suit Mark I
Download:
Designer: JarvisWoo
Price: Free
The Mark I is the scrap suit Tony Stark built in the cave to escape captivity in the first installment of the MCU’s now legendary franchise. With 96 individual parts across 7 different file downloads, this is a 3D printed Iron Man suit for the hardcore 3D printer enthusiast and Marvel fan.
Many users have found this print to be exciting and fun, though you will need to do a bit of tweaking depending on how you want to use it.
This print is primarily designed as a display piece, so you will need to scale it up significantly and hollow out some parts if you plan on using the Mark I as a wearable Iron Man suit. This means you’ll need to do a lot of customization if you want to really make this suit your own.
Because each main body part is made to be printed separately and later attached, this suit can be made with just about any FDM printer. It’s also a great project for those of you who don’t like arduous post-processing and painting because the Mark I is literally designed to look ragtag and thrown together!
If you want a fully wearable MK I, then this impressive model is ready to go, but you will need to pay $119 for the files.
Hulkbuster
- Where to Download: Nikko Industries
- Designer: nikkoindustries
- Price: $125
The Hulkbuster is the most unique of the Iron Man looks, designed for use should The Hulk ever go off the rails and first seen in Age of Ultron before reaching its full potential in Infinity War, piloted by Bruce Banner himself.
It’s an expensive set of files, but is fully wearable, customizable, and well-designed for anyone who wants to make a big impression at their next costume party or convention.
For added kicks, these files also include an alternate helmet modeled after R2D2 that’s bound to turn a few heads and maybe annoy a few purists.
Just be careful when wearing it, the suit is famously bulky and could be dangerous in crowded spaces or anywhere where there might be small children or animals.
Pepper Potts Rescue Armor
- Where to Download: CoooolStuff
- Designer: Do3D
- Price: $5
It’s not just men who wear the not-quite Iron armor, as Pepper Potts’ amazing display in Endgame proved to us.
This suit is an impressive addition to any Iron Man fan’s collection, and is ripe for tweaking and customization to be either a display model or even wearable depending on how much work you want to put in.
If you’re really itching to dress in Ms. Potts’ armor, then you’ll also be happy to know that a ready-made, fully wearable 3D printed Iron Man Rescue suit is available for purchase here, provided you have $1,649 to spend and don’t mind waiting an average of three months.
Bonus: Emily the Engineer’s 3D Printed Iron Man Suits
TikTok user emily.the.engineer has made an impressive array of 3D printed suits and cosplay items that look like they were lifted straight from film sets.
Among her achievements are some 3D printed wearable Iron Man suits from the original designs right up to the Rescue Armor.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMFKuJ8q4/
If you’re looking for truly spectacular inspiration, her library is worth checking out. They’re fun, they’re cool, and they’re an amazing example of what 3D printing can do.
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