What Is Thingiverse And How Does It Relate To 3D Printing?

Thingiverse is a form of digital portal that users can make use of, for sharing their 3D curated blueprints about various models. Here, you are also going to be able to get a digital design for anything that you want. All of the designs hosted in their space are neatly organized into various genres and categories. This makes it easier for the users to be able to locate the ones they want.

Keep reading till the end of the article to find out more information about the same!

What Is 3D Printing?

Additive Manufacturing or 3D Printing refers to the construction of three-dimensional objects from a three-dimensional model or computer-aided design. This could also be done in a variety of different processes where the materials get deposited, joined, and solidified – while being under the control of the computer. This is also the place where different materials get joined together layer after layer (in the form of powder grains, liquids, and plastics).

Towards the end of the 1900s, there was a presence of a lot of three-dimensional printing techniques which were considered to be a lot suitable for the production of aesthetic and functional prototypes. A more fitting term to describe the kind of process that was prevalent during the time would be “Rapid Prototyping”.

The main advantage of 3D printing is the ability of it being able to produce complex geometric shapes, which would otherwise not be possible by hand. Creating models in this form and way also actively reduces the overall weight and contributes to less wastage of materials.

About Thingiverse

Thingiverse is an open-source platform that enables contributors to select a particular form of license type for the designs that they share. There are a lot of different technologies for the designs that get shared. There are also a lot of technologies like laser cutters, milling machines, and 3D printers, which can be used for the physical creation of files that get shared by Thingiverse users.

Additionally, there’s also a Thingiverse app that the users can make use of for 3D printing of different kinds of models.

Keep reading till the end of the article to get to know more about Thingiverse 3D models!

Its Origin

The Thingiverse platform was started in November (2008), by a person named Zach Smith. He was originally a partner of the MakerBot Industries. The MakerBot Industries is an industry that deals with 3D printer kits. In the year 2013, both Thingiverse and MakerBot were acquired by Stratasys. Their value creation was open-source in nature. They originally got accomplished as the primary components in the creation value of MakerBot.

Their models also got an honorable mention at ARS Electronica 2010 in the category of Digital Communities. This was held at an international level for the genre of Cyber Arts.

Getting Started With Thingiverse

To get access to the files on Thingiverse, you need to create an account on their particular platform. After creating an account, you are also going to be able to participate in the social aspects of their platform like comments and groups. Furthermore, there are no associated costs to creating an account in Thingiverse – and it is a free process.

Top Alternatives To Thingiverse

There are a lot of other sites like Thingiverse that you can make use of as well. Here is a list of such a few sites that you can make use of instead of Thingiverse:

1. Grabcad

Grabcad has a very user-friendly UI. Originally it started as a specific forum for exchanging 3D drawings. Now this is a platform that teams together various professionals and businesses for working on three-dimensional projects. If you happen to be someone who has experience with 3D design modeling and development then this platform is going to be ideal for you.

2. Pinshape

You are going to find a lot of high-quality designs on the platform of Pinshape. All of the designs are of high quality as well. These designs also get sorted by their newest releases, popularity, and price. This platform is so popular that it has over 7000 designers and makers from all around the world.

3. Fabster

Fabster is a great alternative to the platform of Thingiverse. It has a wide variety of creative items like 3D art shapes and costume pieces.

4. YouMagine

This is another ideal substitute for Thingiverse and is suitable for 3D drawings. The platform allows people to produce both CAD and three-dimensional files. That is the exact way how Youmagine mixes all of the current designs in a modern way.

The designs hosted on this platform are all sorted by categories by the most recent or famous ones.

5. Tinkercad

Tinkercad is another application that you can use for teaching you ways to 3D models and then printing them. You are also going to have the opportunity of being able to view a wide variety of color-filled three-dimensional designs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

You might wonder what happens to Thingiverse if you are not able to access their site. Well, it could be that the site is region-blocked in the area where you reside. In that case, you can make use of the other alternatives that I mentioned in the article earlier.

Now moving on, here is a list of some of the more common queries that get asked related to the topics of Thingiverse and 3D Printin

1. Do 3D Printers Smell?

Ans: The 3D Printers have mechanisms that heat the filaments that are present inside, to their melting point. The VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and all of the other particles then tend to get released in the air and this is what leads to the foul smell. The level of smell that gets released depends upon its melting temperature and that’s what eventually produces strong odors.

2. Is Selling 3D Prints From Thingiverse Considered Illegal?

Ans: A majority of the designers on the platform Thingiverse opted to restrict the use of their curated content for commercial use. This means that you are not allowed to use other’s uploaded designs for commercial purposes/to make money.
These designs can still be downloaded for your personal use though. It also does not matter whether you purchased it from the original creator. That still does not permit you to resell it.

3. Who Originally Invented 3D Printing?

Ans: The original inventor of 3D printing was Charles Hull. He was the creator of commercial Rapid Prototyping Printing technology which is commonly referred to as 3D printing these days. The earliest 3D printing technologies were used in tool rooms and research labs. But as of today, there are a lot of such applications available out there today.

4. What File Type Do I Even Need For Sending Items To A 3D Printer?

Ans: To print files off of the platform of Thingiverse, you need to download the file in “.stl” format. After that, you will download the file into your documents folder, desktop, or even your flash drive.
The name “STL” is an acronym that stands for stereolithography, which is a really popular 3D printing technology. You might also hear it often referred to as Standard Tessellation Language or Standard Triangle Language.

To Wrap It Up!

If you are on the lookout for a free online platform where you can get blueprints of various 3D models, Thingiverse is going to be the ideal choice for you. You do need to know that the designs that get uploaded here can be used by you but only for personal uses. You are not allowed to use them for making money (commercial purposes).

Thank you for reading this article up till the end. I hope you found the information regarding the Thingiverse 3D printing platform to be useful.

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