These shapes are designed to be added as “negative volumes” within most slicers to create a useful space to an existing part. As examples, this might include forming a pocket to embed magnets within a print, adding a keyhole hanger to an existing model, or converting an existing shape into a knob, puzzle, or even a bobblehead.
This model by jofeinmechaniker is one of the best mechanical models I’ve printed in 14 years of modelling and printing. It inexplicably has less than 200 downloads and only 2 makes as of this post. It prints easily, turns smoothly, and makes an excellent desk display. Please check out the design and give it a download and make if you appreciate the designer’s work.
Inspired by that creator’s work, I experimented with excellent Belfry OpenSCAD Library (BOSL2) that easily extends and multiplies the power of OpenSCAD. This shape is a variant of a bevel gear and has very interesting characteristics. I’ve been contemplating making a version of this with 3, 4, 5+ bevel gears.
Today Prusa made their latest alpha release of PrusaSlicer available on github: 2.6.0-alpha2. (Make sure you understand what alpha testing is before downloading/using this software. An alpha or release of a software package intends to do something particular, and mostly does so, yet isn’t guaranteed to do so fully. You are testing out an early version of this software, if you find a bug, report it.)
There are many game-changing features in this release, but in particular, this post provides step-by-step instructions on how to get the “auto downloading from printables.com directly into PrusaSlicer software”.
These changes should make it so you see the the PrusaSlicer icon next to the download button while viewing a model’s “Files” list.
Select the PrusaSlicer icon next to the file you want to test, confirm (twice) that you want to allow the download integration, and everything should be working.
I’ve tested this on a Windows 10 PC using Chrome, Firefox, and Edge successfully with PrusaSlicer 2.6.0-alpha2.
Feel free to try out the integration on some of my models on printables.com.
This post is to consolidate my separate posts about various categories of statistics gathered from the printables.com 3-D printing database website.
Hopefully this will help you find excellent resources, models, and connections on printables.com.
Please comment if you have any suggestions or corrections.
The title of “Prusa Approved Designer” was awarded at by the Printables Team at its discretion to recognize and reward long-term, consistent, and high-quality work. As of September 2022, there were 15 “Prusa Approved Designers” on Printables.com. I’ve compiled them here for easy reference and one-page access in case you’d like to explore their profiles. Consider checking out, following, and supporting these successful and hard working designers if they interest you.
(It appears Printables.com got rid of this award, so I’m archiving this here for posterity.)
(in chronological order)
(All values are a snapshot only. Follow the profile links if you want to know a user’s current accomplishments.)
See all the other Printables.com statistics pages on this blog.
As of February 2023, these are the most prolific model designers on printables.com:
9 – Grand Master (1000 models published) 1 user (<0.1%)
8 – Master (500 models published) 2 users (<0.1%)
7 – Expert (200 models) 38 users (<0.1%)
6 – Professional (100 models) 134 users (<0.1%)
5 – Seasoned (50 models) 486 users (0.2%)
4 – Advanced (25 models) 1,604 users (0.7%)
3 – Proficient (10 models) 6,768 users (2.8%)
2 – Beginner (5 models) 8,574 users (3.6%)
1 – Newcomer (1 model) 37,124 users (15.6%)
By inference ~77% of printables.com users haven’t published at least 1 model yet.
(Level values are a snapshot, these values change constantly over time. Follow the profile links if you want to know their current accomplishments.)
See all the other Printables.com statistics pages on this blog.
Post a Model
Login to Printables with your username and password.
In the upper-right hand side of the screen, click the “+ Create” button (highlighted in yellow, below).
Select “Model” (in yellow, below) to upload a design that you have made or modified.
The minimum information that you will need to provide:
Enter and upload the required information and you are ready to publish your model for all to see.
If you aren’t ready to publish yet, leave the slider on ‘Draft’ and press the “SAVE DRAFT” button to save your draft for later use. When you are ready to publish your design publicly, click the Draft/Publish slider over to ‘Publish’ and then press the “PUBLISH NOW”.
Keep in mind that publishing is not a final, permanent decision. You can continue to edit your model and all fields about your model. If you decide there was a mistake or you want to retract your publish, simply slide the slider back to ‘Draft’ and press the “SAVE DRAFT” button to make it private again.
Additional fields
Above we addressed the minimal, required fields to publish your design to printables.com. There are a number of other optional fields you should consider completing to help the site and other users find your model more easily, categorize your model, or use your model more effectively. These include:
You can also re-arrange your photographs that you uploaded and choose which one will be used as a cover photo (‘set as cover’) for your object in the 3-D Models index on printables.com.
Printables.com (formerly PrusaPrinters.org) – the new object repository database for users of all 3-D printers. [.stl, .3mf, .gcode]
STLFinder – Indexes .stl files from a variety of sources on the internet: a 3-D object search engine.
Cults3D – free/pay object repository.
Thangs.com – Free 3-D model community with geometric searching.
Thingiverse.com – formerly the leader, still a large collection, but site maintenance has gradually declined, owners have added advertisements to site.
layer.works is a full-service design/consult/teach/make 3-D printing service provider, based in Central Alabama.
We do custom product design, custom prototyping, mass production, training, troubleshooting, and consultation in additive- and subtractive-fabrication and manufacturing. We also do low-voltage custom, animated LED light solutions.
A sampling of projects we’ve worked on:
If you have 3-D printing, 3-D design, large-format CNC (4×8 foot), or low-voltage LED lighting needs, send us an inquiry and we’ll get back to you quickly.
Not sure if we can help you? Drop us a line with details of your vision or needs and we’ll get back with you to figure out how we might work together or help to point you in the right direction.
We use and support Open Source hardware, software, principles, and methods whenever we can.
On Printables.Com – Profile
On Thingiverse – Profile