STL file libraries

[Raphael Caldecott]

What are the best STL libraries out there that people are using for 3D printing? A lot of stuff doesn't seem to print very well for me...

[Matthew Stonebraker]

...Thingiverse?

If you can't print out "a lot of stuff" that sounds like problems other than the files you're using, IMO.

[LiNK]

Not sure what you mean buy STL libraries.  STL is just a file format.

On Wednesday, August 7, 2013 11:04:53 AM UTC-4, Raphael Caldecott wrote:

[Raphael Caldecott]

A lot of the stuff on Thingiverse just isn't suitable like the stuff on myminifactory.com, you can actually see that stuff has been printed and tested...

[Erik Mendoza]

A lot of the stuff on Thingiverse just isn't suitable like the stuff on myminifactory.com, you can actually see that stuff has been printed and tested...

Not exactly sure what you mean by that, I have seen quite a lot of files on thingiverse that have been printed. Do they ALL work? No. not even close, considering that there are a lot of designs that aren't even meant to be printed, (laser etching files, mill files, etc). There are a lot of files that are on there that people have spent the time to design, but either A) don't have a printer, B) didn't think about the design in a print friendly manner, C) Still need revisions, D) Customizer files that are auto shared, (This is something I think that should be changed on Thingiverse. People may not realize that they should uncheck the make public button, and we are inundated with tons of customizer stls. This should be something someone checks on purpose to share, not the other way around).

As to being able to see stuff that's been printed and tested, just look at the "Thing" and see if there are pics. This is either from the author, or from someone who printed one for themselves, and shared the picture. You are going to have to do a little leg work, and if you just want to share that there is another site with printer friendly files, that's cool. Just say so. It's nice to know of other resources besides Thingiverse.

[Raphael Caldecott]

Yeh exactly my point, not everything is printable. Whereas on myminifactory everything has been printed and photographed so you don't need to worry about quality or waste time.

[Erik Mendoza]

I am not sure what the complaint is, Thingiverse is a repository for all sorts of files. I am not sure it was ever advertised as a site of only stl files that will be foolproof. Also the user base is not 100% on one exact machine only. Even if they were, each person has their own preferences, and you are still going to have to do some legwork. Look at that site again, some of those pictures are NOT FDM prints. Heck I saw one that wasn't even a print, (based this on the page thumbnail, so as to compare apples to apples, and not oranges to chairs). This is not like a inkjet/laserjet etc, where you are just going to take an image on your computer, hit print and it "Just work".

Sink or swim...

[Raphael Caldecott]

Yeh I see what your saying, and what I'm saying is there should be more libraries that are ALL printable files.

[DHeadrick]

Part of the learning process of design in general is knowing the capabilities of your manufacturing process.  It is something that the person using the printer has to be aware of.  Blindly printing something you download without thinking about it is bad practice.

[Kurt @ Gmail]

I totally agree with you on this one! This is what I had to deal with on ALL my prints I did on my MakerBot CupCake - since I HAD To work within the Constraints of what was ACTUALLY Viable to print. For instance - I had this Alien head/bust - which I had printed as small versions - but, too many overhangs - and it would come out messy. So - at one point - for the Hell of it - I decided to print a REALLY BIG version of the it (previous prints might be like 1 in. and 2 inch tall) - and so I prepped it to print as EIGHT Inches tall! But - to do so - and since my CupCake was limited to printing at 100mm x 100mm x 100mm (although I could push it to like 115 to 120mm tall) - I had to cut the Piece up into Eight Pieces! Then - I could orient ALL of them so that there would be NO Overhang!

Then I assembled the whole thing - using Acetone. I still have NOT done the clean-up process - and even coloring it - which I plan to do some time soon...

-K-

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[Erik Mendoza]

"Yeah I see what your saying, and what I'm saying is there should be more libraries that are ALL printable files."

Take a look at Shapeways. Not only are the files ALL printable, but they will print, finish, AND ship the item to you. You don't have to worry about a thing. They take all the guesswork out of 3D printing, and it "Just Works". They even have several different material choices. Their printers also use a different technology than what we use.

Other than that your statement is pretty obtuse. Whom are you referring to, that should curate a website to work for you? I guarantee you, the same files that you have figured out to work for your specific needs/wants is not going to work for every other person out there. You might have tried to print something that someone else was successful in printing, but failed for you. Not all printers work exactly the same with even the same settings.

Many of the various sites contributors are people who CHOOSE to release a design. It's not always going to work the way you think. In one small statement you slam all these content creators because sometimes the file doesn't work right out of the download for you. You may need to take a step back and think about hardware limitations of a design. This is either a hobby, side business, or source of income for the community, and your presumption that someone or community should cater to 1 person's wants is pretty silly. BUT by all means start up your own website, and curate objects that you have verified to be ALL printable for you.

[PrettySmallThings]

Actually, all the files on shapeways aren't printable.  Files on the shapeways site have passed basic mesh tests - they are manifold, closed meshes, and meet the overall size requirements for at least one material.  They may or may not pass the more subtle design rules - like minimum wire and wall thicknesses.  Shapeways hand checks for these rules - and they don't do it until the design is ordered.  Search their forums on the topic of "rejection" and you'll get an earful.  Smart designers design carefully within the constraints, and order the first copy of their design to check that it prints.  If there isn't a real photo of the design on Shapeways - there's a good chance it's never been printed.  

Same goes for thingiverse.  If the front photo for a particular design isn't a print - it probably hasn't been printed.  The design may be printable - but if you're new, and you don't know what to look for or how to alter a design to make it printable, stick to models that are tried and true.  Look for things with lots of "makes" which is proof that at least someone can print it.  Whether you can print it is another story - it depends on the complexity of the design, your ability to choose the right slicing settings, and general health of your printer.  Good luck.  

I think maybe we're being spammed here?  Anyone ever heard of myminifactory.com before?

[Matthew Stonebraker]

I thought that initially, too, but I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt. I have heard of myminifactory before, but no one I know has ever used them. There are a lot of these sites right now, vying to be second place to Thingiverse (and some with grandiose dreams of replacing Thingiverse).

[Erik Mendoza]

Actually, all the files on shapeways aren't printable.

I was mostly being sarcastic about Shapeways. They are able to print things out that would not work so well with our machines. You pointed out that they check the files, which is really more of the point of what I was getting at. This isn't something that Thingiverse does, (nor am I of the opinion that they should, or need to do). Shapeways will basically be able to help the user out in regards to the file, and don't have a mixture of laser, gerber, and other types of files that aren't meant to be 3d printed.

Of all the other 3d sites out there, Thingiverse is still far superior in terms of community, support, and available files. Is it perfect? No. But I enjoy it FAR more than I do the other sites to date. Will another site pop up that is better? Only time will tell. But the basic point that we have all pointed out here still stands.

+PrettySmallThings- Those are really good tips for all users.

[Kurt @ Gmail]

Hey Mathew - you HAVE heard it - from our "Other" forum. The guy posted on there. Some of us looked at the site. Some were not thrilled with certain issues - like limited amount of time when you could download an object - after you - what - purchased it? I'm not fully sure - haven't fully looked at the site. But, when it was mentioned here - and thought to be SPAM - I quickly looked again at the website - and saw that it was familiar - but, familar only in that it was posted to the other forum - and people had briefly discussed about it. ..

Yes - considering the explosive growth of this 3D Printer technology - and people's interest in it - other folks are BOUND To Attempt to Capitalize on this Tech.! Can they do it successfully? That remains to be seen! Personally - I got my CupCake because of my Own designs - and the desire to produce MORE Designs to be printed - and NOT To just go and download a design made by others!

A little while ago I responded to a "job posting" on CreativeHeads.com - which was for a co. looking to launch a new website - and was looking for 3D Modelers who could actually Build Models that are ready to be printed! They guy who runs the site - and, at the time - it was only in BETA - actually contacted me directly - since I do modeling in Max - AND because I own several 3D Printers. Again - can he capitalize on the growth of 3D Printers? Only time will tell...

-K-

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[E. WizardGlick]

I found these sites while looking for CNC files.
I have yet to attempt printing any.
http://hobbycncart.com/
http://cnc3dart.narod.ru/free.html
http://cnc3dart.userforum.ru/viewtopic.php?id=63
http://artshok.com.ua/?cat=1
http://www.nipic.com/design/25/1.html 

[E. WizardGlick]

Is there some reason only two people actually posted links to other sources of files and the rest chose to whine? That is just sad.

[DHeadrick]

I think most people (including me) didn't understand what he wanted.

[Erik Mendoza]

Same here. In fact OP hasn't even responded since the beginning of this thread. IMO this looks to be more of a spam thread. There was a little engagement, but then just cut off all of a sudden. I didn't put the link to shapeways, but I did mention it as a resource...

[E. WizardGlick]

How is it a "spam" thread? The reality is virtually no one addressed the two points mentioned, other sources of .stl (printable) files and his issue printing.
The majority chose to totally ignore the op and post completely unrelated rants. Which I have noticed seems to be the norm on the Makerbot related topics.
Maybe the chemical fumes cause brain damage, or maybe the majority assume a Twitter mentality where they consider their every mundane pedestrian thought of grave importance which requires immediate sharing.
At the very least one link could have been posted which each reply.



More links to files

http://www.3dvia.com/search/?search[format]=stl&search[file_types]=1
http://grabcad.com/library/software/stl
http://www.deskproto.com/download/3dmodels.htm
http://www.bitsfrombytes.com/content/free-3d-print-files

[Kurt @ Gmail]

Actually - now it is YOU who is being CONFRONTATIONAL! Which comes off REALLY Annoying!!!

Part of the original post & its follow-up was about PRINTABLE Files - not JUST the availability of STL files on any given website. SURE - you can Damn well just throw a LOT of URL's at people - but, if you Throw to them USELESS URL's - its almost like you are doing them more HARM than good!

So - that WAS part of the discussion in this Thread - what is printable - and what is NOT! Which - to a large extent - is based upon the Machine that you have. Now - my Mojo - yeah - I can print almost anything - as it does Support GREAT! However, there are SIZE Limitations - as well as others (which I have mentioned in previous threads - like lack of control over things like Infill).

-K-

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[PrettySmallThings]

I just questioned if it was spam.  I also gave a thoughtful response, in the event the question was genuine.

Standard spam formula: New user, without any previous posts ask a question.  Then answers their own question, touting the benefits of an obscure site/product/etc.  Then, they drop off the face of the earth.  Search "Raphael Caldecott" in google and you'll see the same post sequence in several 3D printing forums.  Looks like spam to me. Still a legit question - but the op is directing traffic to myminifactory.com 

[Kurt @ Gmail]

Wow - now THAT is Freakin' Weird - and this guy Raphael sounds like a
bit of a Jerk for Tooting his own horn!

I just did a filter on this particular name, Raphael , and saw that he
ONLY posted in this thread, just as you said - and then Gave the answer
of that Factory website. That sure is Annoying - and it most definitely
now DOES Sound like a SPAMmer. Touche for you, and bad bad to those who
didn't see the truth to your proposing it as a Spammer! I'm now a
believer in your Theory of this mysterious Spammer!!!

:-)
-K-

[Joseph Chiu]

I also felt like it was a bit spammy (I noticed his post on another list) -- when I looked more carefully, I saw that he asked the same on the Delta Robot group, the MendelMax Support group, Makerbot Operators group, and Solidoodle group, 

I have heard of myminifactory before -- having a "someone printed this" curated set of designs sound nice in theory, but I'm not sure that is any better than to follow, say, the featured and most popular items on Thingiverse and printing out designs that show more than one person having made it. 

On Aug 10, 2013 12:45 PM, "PrettySmallThings" <prettysm...@gmail.com> wrote:

I just questioned if it was spam.  I also gave a thoughtful response, in the event the question was genuine.

Standard spam formula: New user, without any previous posts ask a question.  Then answers their own question, touting the benefits of an obscure site/product/etc.  Then, they drop off the face of the earth.  Search "Raphael Caldecott" in google and you'll see the same post sequence in several 3D printing forums.  Looks like spam to me. Still a legit question - but the op is directing traffic to myminifactory.com 

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[E. WizardGlick]

It looks from rereading his posts he actually addresses issues raised by others.

SPAM should only be used as a term for processed pork product beloved by Hawaiians. It is one of those overused buzzwords which have no true value any more, like "troll","love","hate", or get jiggy with it.

Your complaint seems to be he posted links to a site as an example of one which actually tests files.

I don't see a contextual analysis involving all his posts and the give and take in each topic.

At worst there is a new .stl file depository which received some advertising.

I assume anyone seeking answers to a question will actually crosspost in more than one forum or site. And will use familiar examples to illustrate a point.

At least the link is useful and in no way related to enlarging a penis or how someones mom made twenty billion dollars working par ttime from her pc.

[Kurt @ Gmail]

Hey Joseph - I believe you 1st heard of MiniFactory cause this guy posted about it on our other forum. Remember - it was a little controversial - as some complained about some issues with the site - like limited time access to download a file! That ring a bell???

:-)
-K-

[Raphael Caldecott]

Hello All,

I feel I have some questions to answer. First of all I am not a spammer, I am new to these forums and didn't think I'd actually get a reply from anyone, so I posted on a few different ones. Also, is there a way to get email notifications about replies? 

The reason why I went on about myminifactory.com was because I wanted to know if anyone else used it, as its fairly new and unknown. Always nice to know if people use the same stuff as you...

Sorry to burst someone's bubble about not being a spammer, I'm still learning the forum "etiquette." I hope this has put some of your more wild imaginations to rest. :)
 

[DHeadrick]

Click on the little "down arrow in the circle" to get this menu.

[Joseph Chiu]

Thanks for chiming in again! You are right about the noise level on Thingiverse, but I do think that you can still find plenty of proven designs there.

The printability of any design is partly a function of the printer, of course, so ymmv whether it's Thingiverse or MMF or any of the various other choices out there.

[andrewupandabout]

Lots of good conversation here.

We believe the best platform for an STL repository is to let the users dictate how the site should evolve and not "harm" them if it gets super popular/valuable. A lot of people are interested in copying Thingiverse. Doesn't sound like fun to us.

All the best, 

3dmodels.3dhacker.com