Finding models online
One of the great things about the internet is the ability to share and collaborate with users anywhere in the world! Oftentimes, you may even find that someone has previously done exactly the work you need, and you'd like to utilize their work for your own projects. 3D printing communities online are often open and full of users excited to share their models to help others. It's unlikely that everything you can think of has already been created, but sometimes seeing how others have approached a design problem can help inspire you to overcome your own design challenges!
NOTE: All prints done in M2Z MUST comply with the student code of conduct for the University of Calgary. Information on this can be found here (https://www.ucalgary.ca/student-services/student-conduct). This applies to all models, regardless of their source.
Here are a few great resources that every 3D printing enthusiast should know about:
One of the most popular repositories of models for 3D printing online is Thingiverse. Operated by 3D printer manufacturer UltiMaker, this website allows users to share models, upload pictures of their successful prints, and remix other users designs! Thingiverse has a built in licenses which can be attached to each file in a clearly marked section, making it easy to find out if the model you're looking at is free to use or not!
Another similar site used by many 3D printing enthusiasts is Printables. This website is run by the team at Prusa, who manufacture the majority of the 3D printers in use at the Maker Multiplex. Printables often runs design contests which can sometimes offer rewards for winning if you're looking for your next project! Printables also includes a license section for every file posted, with an easy to read diagram showcasing what each license means in order to save you some time. (You should still try to understand the license of whatever file you use though!)
A slightly less well known but still useful services is Thangs by 3D model search index company Physna. Thangs is less commonly used than either Thingiverse or Printables, but can have some models not found on either site. One notable difference with Thangs is the lack of a license section on file postings. To view the license for any given model, you will need to click a specific and sometimes hard to locate button labeled "View license".
If the file you're looking for isn't on one of the above three services, you might also want to check out GrabCAD. This service is less friendly to 3D printing newcomers as the files are often not posted in a format that will be accepted by 3D printing slicers, necessitating conversion before they can be used. Additionally, GrabCAD does not include files licenses at all unless deliberately mentioned by the creator in the file description.
