You know about MakerWorld, Printables, and Thingiverse. It’s correct that these sites likely have more designs than you could ever want. There is more to 3D printing than just the most popular ones, whether you are searching for high-quality models or special hobbies.
Here are some sites to remember.
Yeggi
The best 3D printing search engine
Yeggi isn’t a model repository like MakerWorld and Printables, but rather a search engine that gathers data “from all 3D communities and marketplaces offering 3D models to print.” None of the models that appear on Yeggi are hosted there, but the index links out to other resources.
The website is perfect if you’re looking for something very specific, since there are almost 10 million models indexed—all of which are designed to be 3D-printed.
CGTrader
Premium models and commissions
CGTrader is a place where you can find lots of models. Most of these models are premium. They also have some free ones.
You can pay a fee to get CGTrader models. This monthly fee gives you access to twenty-five CGTrader models per month. You can pay just one time to download any CGTrader model you want.
CGTrader is not just for people who do 3D printing. They have types of 3D models too. If you are into 3D printing, CGTrader has a section for that.
CGTrader also lets you work with designers. You can find a designer on CGTrader. Hire them directly from their profile. You can tell CGTrader what you need, and they will help you find a designer for your project.
MyMiniFactory
Premium tabletop gaming and toys
If the name didn’t immediately give it away, MyMiniFactory is a premium model marketplace that focuses on miniatures for tabletop gaming. This includes models, wargaming terrain storage, for your hobby and accessories—starting at 10c apiece.
The website also features a selection of toys, games, and other fun models to download and print.
The Mini Index
A search engine for miniatures
Like Yeggi, The Mini Index doesn’t host any files but rather acts as an index for miniature and wargaming-related models. The models themselves are hosted on websites like Printables, with a good number of free and premium options.
You can filter by free or paid, use tags to find what you need, and browse by creator.
YouMagine
The home of RC 3D printing
YouMagine is really important for people who like remote control things. It is like MyMiniFactory. For remote control cars and other stuff. YouMagine has a lot of models that you can not find anywhere else. It is a place where people can show off the things they have made. They also have deals where you can buy things before they are released.
The website is for people who like control cars, boats,s and big machines like construction equipment. YouMagine is a place for fans of remote control things to find new and exciting things.
Embodi3D
Print yourself a skull or two
Embodi3D is a model repository that focuses on anatomical models. The files available on Embodi3D come from medical scans, and many of them are free. There is a selection of models to download, from bones such as skulls to muscles,s organs, and also veterinary models of dogs, cats, and other animals.
Some models are available for a price. You must have a free account to download anything. You can share your scans by using the free democratiz3D CT scan conversion service.
NIH 3D model library
Science and 3D printing collide.
NIH 3D is a place where people come together to share 3D models. These models are mainly for things related to biology and medicine. Not all of these models are made to be printed with a printer. Some can be used for creating designs, making animations, and even for games. All the models here can be used without paying anything.
This resource is started by the US government. It is run by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. This group has made lists of model collections. These collections include things like models of molecules, parts of the body, pollen, and spores.
Smithsonian 3D Digitization
Sports, portraiture, fashion, space, and prehistory
The Smithsonian 3D Digitization has a lot of things to look at, including old historical things and natural history things like fossils that you can download in OBJ format. You can do a lot with these Smithsonian 3D Digitization models,s like download them. Then slice them and print them. But you do not have to print them; you can use them for things too.
The Smithsonian 3D Digitization archive has a lot of things that the museum has, like Thomas Jefferson’s portable desk and dinosaur remains and presidential portraits of the presidents.
You can get all of these Smithsonian 3D Digitization things for free, and most of them are in the domain now.
British Geological Survey 3D Fossils
Print your own fossils
The British Geological Survey has a cool collection of 3D Fossils that you can look at, download,d and even print for free. The British Geological Survey’s 3D Fossils collection is split into kinds and is stored in a format called OBJ.
You can use a program to open these 3D Fossils and get them ready to print on a 3D printer.
The British Geological Survey’s 3D Fossils collection can be searched in ways you can look for a specific genus or a particular species or a certain type or how old it is or which country it is from or even which institution it belongs to.
NASA 3D model collection
The space agency loves 3D printing.
NASA 3D Resources offers many files that are available to the public. These NASA 3D models were shared over the past ten years or so. We liked some of the NASA 3D printing models so much that we talked about them before. The NASA 3D printing models we liked include the Perseverance rover and the Saturn V rocket. We also liked the tools that NASA made using 3D printing on the International Space Station.
All of these NASA 3D models are free to download and print.
