Little lost? We can help!
Useful Websites
One of the main sources for free STL files (3D printing files). Educational, recreational and everything between!
even MORE files! (some free, various licences)
Like Pintrest for objects!
Paid models for scenery, minis tabletop games, war games and more!
500 Terry Francois Street
San Francisco, CA 94158
​Tel: 123-456-7890
Paid source of royalty free 3D Models
myminifactory.com
gambody.com
" video game and comic book models in STL file format."
NASA'S free models (YUP!)
You read that right folks. NASA releases a bunch of STL files from models to teaching aids.
What is 3D Printing?
Remember when you where a kid and you would pick up a stick? Suddenly it was a microphone and you where on stage at America has talent. Or you were is wizard (harry) fighting off dragons and warlocks and battling your friends. Sometimes these make believe toys felt so real we could almost see them in our minds eye.
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With 3D printing, those imagined items can become physical things.
FAQ
How does it work?
Depends on the printer! Some 3D printers use stepper motors to move a print head around over top of a work surface. It lays down very thin strands of plastic which are molten when pushed out or 'extruded' and then harden in the cool air. Other printers use a liquid resin cured with UV light!
How do the prints look?
Again, it depends on the printer! Resin printers are more expensive, have a smaller work space and are more complicated to run. However, the surface of the print tends to be smooth and the definition very high. FDM printing on the other hand is quicker, produces larger models but the surface tends to be more textured and lower resolution.
Our advice?Pick the right printer for your job!
How much does it cost?
PLA is our least expensive filament to print with, at only .45 cents/10g. Print time cost varies from machine to machine depending on the quality of print it produces. Some machines are capable of printing any filament while others only handle some types, so if you are printing PLA on a printer that could be running a nylon print job, the time is at a premium.
How long does it take?
Our network of printers is constantly expanding, and we are adding faster print solutions all the time! As our job load continues to increase, we are committed to bringing more home printers into the fold and increasing our own print farms. It doesn't stop there! We have a goal to make our own printing as green as possible! That means recycling programs for filament and green power generation.
How do I get started?
Check out the resources at the top of this page, or if you have a file on hand or a project in mind, send it to us here! Happy building!
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the Printer Playground team