All the rage nowadays, but what have you seen that useful to actually print?

..I might be using this as a ploy to get a present idea for my step dad (plans you have to purchase), as if can afford a 3D printer to play with, he has little need of trinkets I can afford to buy him.

I did suggest he might want to print one of these.. Minibow Adapted from this laughing genius So we don’t need to gun plans..

Ps. Anyone know where I could get the plans for RS guide sticky piston tool

There are some free programs out there that are pretty easy to learn. That way you could model and print anything you like.
I’ve made a few useful tools and even parts for a home made bike rack for inside the car.

yeah he’s happy playing & will learn, but I’m looking for weird and wonderful stuff that has caught your eye, as they’ve been browsing ‘design’ sites.. ala my mini-crossbow link

There’s a long-running thread here:

Cheap 3d printer kits – Experiences?

The 3D printer is just a natural part of my making these days – doesn’t get used often, but is invaluable when it does.

The first major project was a CNC router 🙂

Last things to print were some pieces for a board game that my son designed and some knobs for my campervan seats.

It’s all on that thread I think.

If you are looking for a website to download files, Thingiverse is probably the most well known (followed by myminifactory).

Is this what you are looking for? Or are you looking for specific quirky projects to print. I’ve got a few saved…..I’ll have a dig through:

Jet-Engine – https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1327093

Watch mechanism desk-toy: – https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3364860

Trebuchet – https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2239194

Christmas Tree Baubles – https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3283683

Relatively useful carabiner – https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1008943

I would post more, but Thingiverse is being unbelievably slow….so I gave up.

Stumpy, that exactly what I was after, the jet engine is brilliant… though I assumed there be more ‘pay for plans’ (so I could use it as a xmas present)

I think OP is looking more for paid for designs to give as a present, rather than just general cool stuff to download?

Everything on this guys site is bloody genius, and they’re only a few dollars each (have bought a few, the a-team van is my next print 😎)
https://fab365.net/

zilog6128

I think OP is looking more for paid for designs to give as a present, rather than just general cool stuff to download?

Ah, I see! Although, it wasn’t entirely clear to me from the OP’s post…

z1ppy

Stumpy, that exactly what I was after, the jet engine is brilliant… though I assumed there be more ‘pay for plans’ (so I could use it as a xmas present)

So the present idea is a download of some plans that he could then print out?
If so, how about getting a memory stick & spending some time putting together a range of ideas you think he might like; downloaded to the memory stick?
To add ‘value’ to the present, you could buy him a couple of spools of filament aimed at printing a certain model – for example, the jet engine has been printed in a range of colours – normally 3 different colours (off the top of my head) but some people print with more & some less. You could buy him a silver, white & black reel of filament to print that specific model with?
I have found Ziro filament (1.75mm PLA) to work very well. 3DQF is also good stuff (UK based – buy direct from them).

If you definitely want paid plans I have never ordered from these sites, but have browsed around them quite a bit:

https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-print-models

https://www.gambody.com/

and should he be into aircraft, there are these:

https://www.3dprintedrcplanes.com/

Home

^^^dunno why that is showing as a quote? The link in the quote block still works though.

Wow those planes are excellent, but I one of these