Model hosts hold huge numbers of files, and the hard part is rarely finding one. It is working out which one is worth your filament. This site exists to narrow that choice. Here is how we do it.
What we look for
A real use. A listing should do something for you: solve a problem, teach a skill, or look good on a wall. We would rather list a plain clip that works than an impressive model nobody prints twice.
A live, original page. We link to the host page and we check links before adding them. Some hosts block automated checks, so a link may be confirmed by a public search listing instead of a direct visit. Pages can vanish or change later, which is why we ask readers to report bad links.
A clear fit with a category. Every listing belongs to a category because it helps with that subject. If something is included as a related resource, like a project home page rather than a model file, we say so in the title.
How we choose between similar models
Popular ideas turn up in dozens of versions, so we often have to pick. When two pages look alike, a few plain questions settle it.
- Is the page complete? A clear description, stated dimensions and print notes help you decide before you download.
- Is the design still maintained, or still a standard? An old model can be a good choice if people still use it. Age alone does not rule it out.
- Does it teach something different? We would rather list one good baseplate and one parametric option than three near copies of the same thing.
- Can the reader adapt it? Parametric models and generators earn extra credit, because they fit the space you have rather than the space the designer had.
None of this is a score, and we do not publish rankings. We also do not count downloads or likes as proof of quality, because a popular model can still be the wrong one for your job. The blurb explains why an entry is on the list, so you can disagree with us.
What we write
Each blurb is our own writing. We never paste a host’s description, and we never copy its images. A blurb is there to tell you why a model is worth a look and what to check before printing. For the facts that matter, such as dimensions, materials, print settings and the license, the host page is the authority. We also do not claim that we have printed every listed model. When a note is general advice, read it that way.
What we will not do
- Rehost files. Downloads stay on the original host, where the designer gets the credit.
- Hide a license. Each listing tells you to check the host page, as licenses can differ and change.
- Sell placement. We do not take payment to appear in a listing.
- Disguise affiliate links. There are none on this site today. If that changes, we will label them clearly, and they will not decide what gets listed.
Why every listing says to check the license
“Free to download” is not the same as “free to do anything with”. One license might allow remixes but not commercial use. Another might require credit. A designer can also change terms over time. Rather than repeat a claim that could go stale, we point you to the only place where the current answer lives.
How listings change
We will remove a listing if the link dies, if the page no longer matches what we described, or if the designer asks us to. A smaller, trustworthy list is more useful than a long one with dead ends.
How we maintain links
Links go stale. Hosts reorganize, designers remove models, and a page can change after we have written about it. Maintenance is a routine job here:
- Check before listing. A new URL is confirmed before it goes into the directory.
- Recheck with a script. Every listed URL is requested when the site is updated. A page that returns “not found” or “gone” gets flagged.
- Treat blocked checks with care. Model hosts often turn away automated requests. A blocked check does not prove that a page is alive, and it does not prove that it is dead, so we do not treat it as either.
- Remove or replace. A dead link comes out. A replacement goes in only after it has been checked in the same way, and only if it earns the spot on its own.
We also keep the list short on purpose. Every entry has to be maintained, so a link that adds nothing is a cost as well as clutter.
What a listing does not mean
A listing is a pointer, not a guarantee. It does not mean that a model is safe for a particular use, that it will fit your machine, or that its license suits your plans. Designs and terms can change after we write about them, and the drawing on a card shows the type of object, not the model itself. Our source check lists what to confirm before you print.
Reporting a problem
Our how we link page explains how reporting works today, including whether a public inbox is open. If you spot a problem, that page is the place to start.
If you are a designer
If your model is listed here and you would prefer it was not, we will take it down. If you think a blurb misdescribes your work, we want to fix it. Our contact page shows the current way to reach us.