by Nick Douglas
Ignite Studio offers a plethora of 3D printing resources. In our studio, you can print parts, or trinkets for cheap. I found a new passion for the trade immediately after my first Hyrule Stand was finished. So, I wanted to share all the new 3D printing resources I’ve discovered since starting work in Ignite Studio.
3D Printing Resources
There is a whole library of sites where 3D printing enthusiasts can find cool things to print.
Thingiverse is a great, reliable site for beginners at 3D printing. Almost all of the files available are free. You can also follow designers to see what other cool things they upload to the site. Not to mention all designs display files, comments, makes, remixes, and different applications of the print. This allows you to learn about the successes and challenges others have had with the object. The most important of these features are the number of “makes” because it gives a good indicator if a design is going to reliably print.
Cults3d is another paid option for those looking to take their 3D prints to the next level. Currently my favorite designer, PLAKIT (Purakito) has a patreon. For $5 a month, I have access to over 270+ designs and more are added each month. Why pay? Because supporting artists and designers is essential! Plus, the price of these adorable figures beats Funko Pops by a lot. And you can make them as large as you want. Cults 3d is where I first found Plakit. What I like about this site is the variety of print files they have. In addition to having a “collection” section where you can find pages of genre setting media (Studio Ghibli, Harry Potter, Dragon Ball Z). The main difference between Thingiverse and Cults3d is the membership requirement.
Lastly, My Mini Factory offers a lot of great objects too. It’s been a glorious adventure to gander at all the marvelous Dungeons and Dragon pieces. They also have some designs for gadgets for all sorts of occasions mostly funky tripods. There are also printable bottle holder designs for the cyclists of the world.
For now, Cults3d and My Mini Factory are my go-t0o’s for 3D printing. However, there are other avenues that are worth experimenting with and exploring.
3D Printing in Ignite
Once you’ve found an object you want to print, make sure you’ve completed the certification course for Ignite’s 3D printers. Then you can make a reservation and print to your heart’s content. 3D printing is a journey. Finding the right resources to support your creativity takes time. Thingiverse, Cults3d and My Mini Factory make those decisions a lot less painful. Hopefully, you’ll consider coming into Ignite to use our Fab Lab equipment soon!
