Where do you find files to print?

[ctruss53]

I am running into enough situations where the 3D printed part I need is not made by anyone. So I am going to start making my own parts.

However, my 3D modeling experience is mainly in Solidworks, Inventor, and Siemens NX. And I am struggling to use these programs to create the parts I need. Parts with complex surfaces are not really what these programs excel at.  So I am teaching myself Blender.

Now Blender works differently enough from those professional design platforms I am comfortable with, so I wanted to download a few 3D printer files to play with in Blender so I can get trained in on it.

I have tried Thingiverse and Cults3D but the search tool on both of those websites is horrific. Everyone tells me those sites have any file I might be looking for. But I can't for the life of me find anything good.

So.

Where do you fine your 3D files? Free, or pay, I don't care. I just want to find quality scale model car parts, so I can use them as "start parts" to make what I really want.

Thanks

Edited July 10, 2023 by ctruss53

[MrObsessive]

I'd just do a search for whatever you're looking for, followed by "3D files". It also wouldn't hurt to look in the image portion of the search engine, as you can see by the pic what is a file, and what's an actual part.

There really is no one stop shop place for files, as they can come from anywhere in the world from anyone. That's how I find my files, although I get very few printable ones anymore. I'd rather take the original .obj files and convert them to print.

[ctruss53]

40 minutes ago, MrObsessive said:

I'd just do a search for whatever you're looking for, followed by "3D files". It also wouldn't hurt to look in the image portion of the search engine, as you can see by the pic what is a file, and what's an actual part.

There really is no one stop shop place for files, as they can come from anywhere in the world from anyone. That's how I find my files, although I get very few printable ones anymore. I'd rather take the original .obj files and convert them to print.

Thanks for the input.

[MeatMan]

12 hours ago, ctruss53 said:

I am running into enough situations where the 3D printed part I need is not made by anyone. So I am going to start making my own parts.

However, my 3D modeling experience is mainly in Solidworks, Inventor, and Siemens NX. And I am struggling to use these programs to create the parts I need. Parts with complex surfaces are not really what these programs excel at.  So I am teaching myself Blender.

Now Blender works differently enough from those professional design platforms I am comfortable with, so I wanted to download a few 3D printer files to play with in Blender so I can get trained in on it.

I have tried Thingiverse and Cults3D but the search tool on both of those websites is horrific. Everyone tells me those sites have any file I might be looking for. But I can't for the life of me find anything good.

So.

Where do you fine your 3D files? Free, or pay, I don't care. I just want to find quality scale model car parts, so I can use them as "start parts" to make what I really want.

Thanks

What kind of parts are you looking for?

[iamsuperdan]

I have found most of what I want on Cults. I have found it to be an excellent source for engine, transmissions, wheels, tires, seats, body kits, underhood detail parts, figures, diorama pieces, and more.

 

But I've also used CGTrader, Gambody, and Thingiverse. 

What specifically are you looking for?

[ctruss53]

30 minutes ago, iamsuperdan said:

I have found most of what I want on Cults. I have found it to be an excellent source for engine, transmissions, wheels, tires, seats, body kits, underhood detail parts, figures, diorama pieces, and more.

 

But I've also used CGTrader, Gambody, and Thingiverse. 

What specifically are you looking for?

I have found some good files on Cults. But that search tool is horrific. How do you find what you need to find?

Last night I dug into Cults for a while. I spend like 2 hours trying to find quality models. One thing that helped is I would find one quality model and then I would go to the creator, look through their stuff. And then also look through what they  have liked. And look through whol follow them. This helped me find other quality files and other solid creators.  But I am still searching.

 

Specifically I am looking for detail parts for import cars. Engine bays, engines, transmissions, suspensions, and other detail parts for modern (not air-cooled) Volkswagens.

I am also looking for engines and bays for rally cars that are common, but for some reason support is lacking. Example, Toyota Celicas, and Ford Focus. Those two cars were a pretty big deal in rally, I have built one or two of each of them. But I would love to step it up and fully detail out a Focus, a Celica, and even a Corolla, or other classic rally cars like the Escort.

I see some engines and engine bays for more popular imports like Hondas, and some Subaru Imprezas. But I am not finding what I need. And if I can't find what I need I'll just have to design it myself. But the way Blender works, combined with my lack of knowledge on that program so far, it would help if I could get my hands on something close to what I want and then I could build or modify from that.

 

And even more specifically. Right now I need a transmission for a mk3 VW Golf. I can scratch build the engine pay, if I have to. I have a 3D printed engine. But I need a transmission.  And the same kit has flat "door panels" so I will nned to print or make those as well.

[iamsuperdan]

1 hour ago, ctruss53 said:

I have found some good files on Cults. But that search tool is horrific. How do you find what you need to find?

Specifically I am looking for detail parts for import cars. Engine bays, engines, transmissions, suspensions, and other detail parts for modern (not air-cooled) Volkswagens.

 

 

I have an Instagram account specifically for my modelling stuff. A lot of the people I follow on there post links to designers or files on Cults, so I've found a lot of guys through there.

If you haven't found these designers yet:

https://cults3d.com/en/users/BlackBox/creations

https://cults3d.com/en/users/MCSDesign/creations

https://cults3d.com/en/users/Pixel3D/creations

https://cults3d.com/en/users/ZFMW/creations

https://cults3d.com/en/users/denilsonvm_modelcars/creations

https://cults3d.com/en/users/89DSGN/creations

 

 

Some really good stuff there.

 

 

[ctruss53]

8 minutes ago, iamsuperdan said:

 

I have an Instagram account specifically for my modelling stuff. A lot of the people I follow on there post links to designers or files on Cults, so I've found a lot of guys through there.

If you haven't found these designers yet:

https://cults3d.com/en/users/BlackBox/creations

https://cults3d.com/en/users/MCSDesign/creations

https://cults3d.com/en/users/Pixel3D/creations

https://cults3d.com/en/users/ZFMW/creations

https://cults3d.com/en/users/denilsonvm_modelcars/creations

https://cults3d.com/en/users/89DSGN/creations

 

 

Some really good stuff there.

 

 

Thank you for that list.  I found 2 or 3 of those creators. But I appreciate the others.

I have downloaded a few files that I can use to help learn Blender.  It is strange to me how different these rendering programs work compared to the 3D modeling programs I am used too.