this post was submitted on 23 Dec 2025
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Like where is a good place to buy stl files online, so far ive only printed free files but i think i want to try those neat paid ones, im just not sure where to buy stl files from?

I mostly like useful prints like tools or anything that can help in day to day living.

What site would you suggest i checkout and why so?

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[–] HelloRoot@lemy.lol 13 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

I'll probably get downvoted to hell for what I say but anyway:

  1. I use blender for all my 3d print designs (I find freecad extremely unwieldy)
  2. If you need something custom, just write me a pm, I'll do it for about 5$ per hour. You'll get an orcaslicer 3mf, an stl and a blend file.
[–] ifmu@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

I think this is fine. Blender and CAD are better in different use cases. But at the end of the day use what you’re comfortable with.

I’ve used blender for the longest time simply because I know it and I’ve used it for other things. Recently I learned FreeCAD to the point where I’m comfortable doing basic things with it.

[–] Bluewing@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I've been trying to make that damnable doughnut in Blender for 15 years. And I STILL fail at it somehow. But I can make that stupid doughnut in FreeCAD, OnShape, SolidWorks, Solid Edge, and (shudders) Fusion.

I evidently have a mental block with Blender that doesn't exist with any CAD I've used. So, one has to use the tools that work for you.

[–] soulsource@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 day ago

I'm new to both, FreeCAD and Blender, but what I've been doing up to now:

  • Draw the to-measure parts in FreeCAD
  • Export them as STL
  • Import STL in Blender
  • Add decorative elements there in Sculpt Mode.
  • Profit
[–] icelimit@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago

Don't worry about it. The way we get into cad is defined by the first cad suite we get familiar with. If you start with parametrics like freecad/solidworks like me, we're sort of 'doomed' to stay there, whilst blender folk have to stay with blender and similar.

[–] HelloRoot@lemy.lol 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You mean this:

Or like a realistic looking food doughnut?

[–] Bluewing@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The realistic one. I have tried the YouTube beginners lesson almost every time Blender has a new release. I just cannot do it.

[–] HelloRoot@lemy.lol 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Aaah thanks for explaining, I didn't even know that was a thing, cause I never did any tutorials, I just started rawdogging it at some point when I needed to do a project.

I do mostly functional designs and I agree that Blender is not the best for it tbh. it can be fiddly and unintuitive. I guess I just know my way around it rather well by now.

There is this plugin that can make it more interesting for people that come fom the CAD workflow: https://www.cadsketcher.com/ (but you won't be making realistic doughnuts with it either)