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3D Printing at the Library of Engineering and Science: Find/Make

General Info

Whether you find or make a file, there are some general guidelines.  All designs must:

Find

There are many sites online where you can find files.  Below are some of our favorites, but they are not the only options.  You can even find a file you like and then edit it to make it your own just be sure to check the licensing of the design.  (Most designs are creative commonsLINK, but always check)

  • Thingiverse 
    • Wide range of file types.  Be sure to check out the weekly "Best of the Week" collections for ideas and discovery.
  • Wevolver
    • Site dedicated to complex engineering and robotics projects. 
  • YouMagine
    • Similar to Thingiverse, users upload their designs for everything from tool holders to game pieces.

 

Make

Beginner / Accessible:

  • TinkerCAD
    • A web-based program for the beginner.

Intermediate

  • AutoCAD
    • Currently available on ITaP computers.​
  • Blender
    • Blender is a powerful, free, open source tool for creating 3D animation and models for 3D printing.  Available on DVELoP Lab computers.
  • SketchUp Make
    •  Make Marketed for ‘hobbyists, kids and backyard spaceship builders,’ Sketchup is user-friendly and forgiving.  Also comes in a paid Pro version.

Advanced / Specialized

  • Mathematica (Wolfram Language)
    • Currently available on ITaP computers. Geometric models suitable for printing can be generated from a variety of plot functions, directly from curated collections, or imported from files and URLs, as well as from geometric regions. Several tools provide utilities for analyzing, repairing, and adjusting models.
  • ​OpenSCAD
    • Ideal for creating solid 3D CAD models. Great for models of machine parts.