3D printing is revolutionizing construction by offering faster, cost-effective, and sustainable building solutions. Projects like Australia's first 3D-printed social housing in Dubbo, Black Buffalo 3D’s workforce training initiatives, and Azure Printed Homes’ use of recycled plastics showcase its potential to address housing shortages while promoting eco-friendly innovation. Despite challenges, advancements in materials and techniques continue to improve reliability. This LibGuides introduces resources and news on 3D printing technology in construction, recent projects, and related industrial standards.
You do not have to start from scratch every time you want to create something. There are many resources that offer public domain, Creative Commons, and commercial models that you can download, modify (in some cases), and print.
The grandaddy of 3D model sites, Thingiverse has over 100,000 models and is easy to add to and "remix" your own versions. There are groups you can join, rating systems for models, and challenges where you can compete to complete a task.
Cubify is the central hub for all things possible with the 3D printed lifestyle. Many of the designs are advanced, but it is an excellent site to understand the possibilities of 3D printing.
The NIH 3D Print Exchange provides models in formats that are readily compatible with 3D printers, and offers a unique set of tools create and share 3D-printable models related to biomedical science
GrabCAD, from Stratasys, helps "engineers get products to market faster by connecting people, content and technology. GrabCAD Workbench makes it easy for engineers to share files, work with partners and complete projects on time."
From Sketchup, the 3D warehouse contains models ranging from printable nuts, bolts, and washers, to colossal buildings like the Burj Khalifa. These models are in the Sketchup format, but can be converted for printing easily.
A curated collection of 3D-printable designs. Some are free and some require payment to download.
3D printable file repository.
Yobi3D is a search engine for 3D models, indexing content from around the web
A community to share, remix and make better 3D printed things.
comparing 3D printers, and other tools and resources about 3D printing, and for people interested in actually building 3D printers.
Main Reddit group of 3D printing, ideas, models, and discussion around printing.
A collection of public domain cultural heritage 3D models. For more information, please see https://sketchfab.com/blogs/community/sketchfab-launches-public-domain-dedication-for-3d-cultural-heritage/
A free, web-based application to create 3D models for printing. This app is very quick to learn, with quick tutorials and lessons on how to use it. It can generate quick shapes and geometry, insert letters, numbers and symbols into your model, and can import from other 3D files. It requires a free account with Autodesk.
SketchUp, which was owned by Google but sold to Trimble, is a great 3D modeling program with a quick learning curve and a lot of documentation.
Blender is an extremely powerful, open-source, professional 3D production software that allows for creation of 3D models, applications, and video games.
MeshMixer is a 3D processing software that allows for editing and refining 3D models (for example, adding supports), and creating new and interesting designs.
App for iPad (Android version in development)
iPad app for designing 3D characters.
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