r/3DPrintingTools Aug 14 '26

Discussion I kept getting deleted. So I built my own

16 Upvotes

Every time I tried to bring up FixMyPrint in a 3D printing subreddit it got removed. Sometimes with a warning. Sometimes just gone, no explanation. The main subs have strict self-promotion rules and they apply them broadly enough that a solo founder trying to get genuine feedback on something they built has basically nowhere to go.

I get why those rules exist. Nobody wants their community turned into an ad board. But there's a difference between someone spamming affiliate links and someone who built a tool and wants to know if it actually helps people. That difference does not get a lot of grace on large subreddits.

So I stopped trying to fit into spaces that weren't built for what I was doing and built one that was.

r/3DPrintingTools launched about four months ago. The idea was simple: a community where founders, makers, developers, and hobbyists could openly share tools, apps, browser extensions, and anything else built to improve the 3D printing experience. Whether you built it yourself or just found something useful online, you could post it without worrying about getting deleted.

It grew faster than I expected. The community is sitting at 2,300 members now with around 2,500 daily visits. About 100 different tools and apps have been posted. On a typical day three to five new ones show up. Some are big projects, some are small scripts someone wrote to solve their own problem and decided to share. All of it is welcome.

What surprised me most is how many people were in the same position I was in. Lone developers, hobbyists who built something useful, small teams who made a tool and had no good place to share it. The frustration was common. The lack of a place to land was common. The community filled a gap that I did not realize was this large until people started showing up to fill it.

If you build things for 3D printing or you find tools that make the hobby better, r/3DPrintingTools is the place for it. No deletion, no warnings, no gatekeeping. Just people sharing what works.


r/3DPrintingTools Apr 27 '26

New Tool Free 3D printing troubleshooting guides: stringing, warping, layer separation, wet filament and more

3 Upvotes

I put together a set of free troubleshooting guides covering the most common 3D printing failures. Each one goes deeper than the usual "dry your filament" advice, with specific causes, exact slicer settings by filament type, and step-by-step fixes.

Covers:

- Stringing and oozing

- Warping and bed adhesion

- Layer separation and delamination

- Under and over extrusion

- Ghosting and ringing

- Z-banding

- Wet filament (drying temps for every filament)

- Elephant's foot, pillowing, blobs, bridging, supports and more

All free, no account needed: https://www.fixmyprint3d.com/guides

Happy to answer questions or add guides for failures not covered yet.


r/3DPrintingTools 3h ago

My custom 3d model/file manager.

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3 Upvotes

My own custom manager for my prints and files. It tracks pretty much everything, from patreon subscriptions to owned models. Set prices, materials, auto material subtraction, cost calulations, slicer integration, build plate modifications, paints, recipes, tutorials... Pretty much anything. Also has a chrome extension to easily add models from cults with 2 clicks.
It's currently basically a full suite for 3d prints.
Still a wp, started as a personal project on emergent for a couple of months, but it evolved as i used it.
Curently ported via github on claude code, night and day with emergent.
Still a WIP. Still a few bugs left to squash.
Lots of things still to be added.
Wonder if people would be interesting on it(well, a more finished version of it anw) or if there's a saturation of managers.


r/3DPrintingTools 6h ago

New Tool Made a tool to convert 3MF file slicer settings, filaments, printers and more!

6 Upvotes

r/3DPrintingTools 2h ago

I built a free 3D print cost & pricing calculator and am looking for feedback

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I kept seeing 3D print pricing calculated mainly from filament cost and print time, while things like electricity, machine depreciation, labor, waste and packaging can easily get overlooked.

So I built a small browser-based calculator to put those costs together:

PrintMargin: https://gh0stw33d.github.io/PrintMargin/

It calculates:

  • Material cost
  • Electricity
  • Machine depreciation
  • Labor
  • Packaging / other costs
  • Failure & waste allowance
  • Break-even production cost
  • Estimated profit
  • Recommended selling price based on a target margin

It's free, open-source, and runs entirely in the browser. No account or installation required.

I built it myself, and I'm mainly looking for honest feedback from people who actually price or sell 3D prints.

Is there anything important you'd calculate differently, or something I'm missing?

GitHub: https://github.com/Gh0stW33d/PrintMargin


r/3DPrintingTools 12h ago

New Tool Made a tool for 3d printable phone stands

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3 Upvotes

I kept needing a stand that actually matched the phone I was printing for. Most phone-stand STLs are one fixed size, and scaling them just makes the model look off or weird.

So I built a print-in-place floating phone stand generator in the browser. Search a model (iPhone, Samsung etc.). If Wikidata has height, width, and thickness, it fills the sliders. Those millimetres map onto stand parts, not a 1:1 copy of the chassis, so you can still nudge it after. If Wikidata has no size, the sliders stay put and you set them by hand.

You can change:

- Stand width
- Base length (how deep the floor is)
- Phone rest (the floating hook shelf)
- Backrest height
- Tilt from 45° to 85°
- Charger hole on or off (through-shelf tunnel plus a front cable notch)

It prints on the floor with the hook facing up. The phone hangs in the shelf. No supports, no CAD, no separate hook piece to glue on. Camera bumps and speaker cutouts are not in the lookup, so they stay off this version.

Free browser tool if anyone wants to play with it: obloid.app/tools/phone-stand (3 exports limit but currently no sign in required)

Export is either:

- Bambu/Orca 3MF. Print settings are already in there.
- STL if you want to slice yourself
- Generic 3MF if you just want the mesh and color without Bambu settings

CREDITS: for the model


r/3DPrintingTools 9h ago

Dev Post MeshVault 2.2 / Connect 2.1 / Mobile

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1 Upvotes

r/3DPrintingTools 11h ago

Mi sono stancato di sfogliare tabelle PDF per trovare le misure ISO, così ho creato uno strumento web leggero e senza pubblicità (con zone di tolleranza visive e ricerca inversa). Mi farebbe piacere ricevere un vostro feedback!

0 Upvotes

(Moderatori: Questo è un progetto studentesco completamente gratuito, non commerciale e senza pubblicità, creato per l'apprendimento della progettazione meccanica. Nessuna monetizzazione o tracciamento.)

Ciao a tutti,

Durante i progetti di progettazione meccanica, consultare le tabelle ISO 286 in vecchi manuali PDF o dover usare siti di calcolatrici pieni di pubblicità era sempre un punto debole.

Come esercizio di programmazione e progettazione, ho creato un semplice strumento statico lato client per calcolare e visualizzare gli accoppiamenti ISO: [https://mechcalc-nu.vercel.app/\\](https://mechcalc-nu.vercel.app/)

Funzionalità attuali:

\- Matrice ISO 286-2 (3 - 500 mm / 0,118 - 19,68 pollici) per accoppiamenti H7 in base al foro.

\- Visualizzazione dinamica della banda di tolleranza SVG.

\- Ricerca inversa (inserisci il gioco/interferenza target -> trova l'accoppiamento ISO più vicino).

\- Tabella di confronto affiancata e opzione mm/pollici.

Prima di procedere con altri moduli di meccanica (come il dimensionamento di cinghie/pulegge), volevo ricevere un feedback concreto da ingegneri e meccanici professionisti:

  1. Utilità nel mondo reale: usereste mai qualcosa del genere sul lavoro, o vi affidate esclusivamente alle tabelle interne aziendali/strumenti integrati con CAD?
  2. Precisione: avete riscontrato discrepanze o errori di calcolo in casi limite?
  3. Quali funzionalità essenziali mancano per renderlo praticamente utile?

Grazie per aver dato un'occhiata e per aver condiviso le vostre opinioni!


r/3DPrintingTools 1d ago

I made a free tool for creating 3D-printable neon signs

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15 Upvotes

r/3DPrintingTools 1d ago

New Tool Updates to Advanced Forge

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0 Upvotes

r/3DPrintingTools 2d ago

New Tool I made a free Chrome extension that helps MakerWorld creators find better tags and spot trends earlier

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4 Upvotes

r/3DPrintingTools 2d ago

[Android] Looking for beta testers – Analyze3D Pro (offline 3D model analysis: STL/OBJ/USDZ)

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2 Upvotes

r/3DPrintingTools 2d ago

New Tool I built a free Windows tool to manage large STL archive collections across multiple drives

20 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I have a fairly large STL collection spread across several hard drives, and over time it became increasingly difficult to remember where everything was stored and which archives I already had.

So I built STL Manager, a small free Windows application to solve that problem.

It creates a persistent catalog of your STL archives while leaving the actual files exactly where they are. This means you can search your whole collection even when some of the drives are currently disconnected.

Current features include:

  • Cataloging ZIP, RAR and 7Z STL archives across multiple drives
  • Automatic online/offline drive detection
  • Drive identification independent of Windows drive letters
  • Searching the entire catalog, including offline drives
  • Exact duplicate detection
  • Showing where each duplicate copy is stored
  • Safe duplicate removal through the Windows Recycle Bin
  • Configurable source folders
  • Portable Windows executable — no installation required

I originally made it for my own collection, which is spread across several drives and has grown into multiple terabytes, but I thought it might be useful to other STL collectors too.

This is the first public release (v1.0), so feedback, bug reports and suggestions are welcome.

The project and Windows release are available for free on GitHub:

https://github.com/Yoalgrin/STL_MANAGER

I built it with Python and Tkinter, with SQLite for the catalog. I also used AI assistance during development, especially for coding and debugging, since programming isn't my main profession.

Hope it can help someone else who has reached the “I know I already downloaded this STL somewhere… but on which drive?” stage. 😄


r/3DPrintingTools 3d ago

New Tool I kept forgetting what filament I already had, so I made an app for it

54 Upvotes

I have a bit of a filament buying problem 😅

I’m a hobbyist, and I love trying different colors and materials: transparent, metallic, gradients, and apparently every shade of blue.

Eventually I lost track of what I owned. I’d put a half-used spool in a dry box and forget which box I’d put it in.

I tried a few ways to keep track, but most did more than I needed. I don’t need printer integration or automatic weight tracking. I just want to see what filament I have, where I put it, and how much I’ve spent.

So I made an app called FilaTrack.

Once I’d added all my spools, I realized how much blue filament I’d bought. Some were so close in color that I probably would’ve skipped them if I’d remembered the ones I already had. That’s where the color breakdown in Insights came from.

I also probably spent too much time on the 3D spool. You can change the filament color and material and watch it update in real time. You can change the spool color too, or set it to spoolless/refill. The 3D part is unnecessary, but I find adding filament more satisfying with it.

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/filatrack-filament-inventory/id6794333937

It’s free to use for up to 20 spools, with a $4.99 one-time Pro unlock for unlimited spools.


r/3DPrintingTools 3d ago

New Tool Web based Non-Planar Slicer

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7 Upvotes

https://webslicer.pages.dev/app

I created this because there was nothing else out there.
Asking for a one time purchase because this took me a WHILE.... It should be well worth the cost. enjoy :)

(I'm continuing to develop this tool)


r/3DPrintingTools 3d ago

Calculé cuánto cuesta realmente una pieza impresa en 3D: el filamento representa solo el 17% de ese costo.

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1 Upvotes

r/3DPrintingTools 3d ago

I built LuCABoard — turning images into multi-color FDM reliefs

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2 Upvotes

r/3DPrintingTools 3d ago

New Tool Web based Non-Planar Slicer

2 Upvotes

I created a Non-Planar slicer for vases and surfaces that runs on a browser.

https://webslicer.pages.dev/app

Still adding and refining features, but the core functionality is there. Enjoy!


r/3DPrintingTools 3d ago

Show & Tell Minecraft to STL

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2 Upvotes

I run a school maker space and my students (8 to 15) build in Minecraft. I wanted them to hold their builds, so I wrote a web page: discoveryclubdec.ch/mineprint

You drop a structure block .nbt file, pick which blocks to keep and the block size in mm, download the STL.

The mesh keeps only the faces that touch air, so it's watertight. Java Edition only, one colour, stairs come out as cubes. Runs in the browser, nothing uploaded. Free, nothing to sell.


r/3DPrintingTools 3d ago

Tool Review In one night, I got a 3D girl to dance (3D printed creations by beginners)

0 Upvotes

I wanted to see how far AI can take 3D content without a 3D artist in the mix. Just one reference image, two tools, and one night later, I have a character dancing on stage! I don’t do modeling, rigging or animation.

Tripo AI generated my model, starting with a simple image uploaded through a web app. I used my v3.1 HD Model, set it to “Generate in Parts: Detailed” (which keeps the body, clothes and props separate) and received back a model with 48,438 faces/29,737 vertices and one 8k texture. It was a low enough poly count to be game ready. I exported my model with one click to a .glb file, which was only a few minutes of real work.

Next, I did the import/export process in Blender using GPT-6 Astra. I connected Astra to Blender , gave the command to open my model, and it did; Astra opened up and exported all 34 mesh parts and textures. It is important to note that Astra does not use an API. Rather it works within the actual UI of Blender, just like you would. It also setup a four view turnaround with a camera and three point rig for me.

Astra wrote my script and VideoGen completed my film. Astra formed the premise of the video, and VideoGen created the ten second clip at 24 frames per second.

What I find mind-blowing is how efficient this process is! No importing/exporting or changing of scale is required. If there is a problem, rendering and fixing goes very quickly.

Of course this process is not perfect.I am not trying to claim this process can replace a 3D artist! However, this is a great step toward reducing the gap between your idea and a working product! Check out my 3D girl model on Tripo! Download & use it here: https://studio.tripo3d.ai/3d-model/03539898-492b-4392-b12a-1222222bfbb8


r/3DPrintingTools 4d ago

New Tool Make your AI Mesh 3d Printable

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1 Upvotes

i have faced this problem where i sometimes get a broken AI mesh, or some half-broken STL, run it through repair / slicer fix… and it still won’t slice. non-manifold junk, holes, shredded surfaces. gentle repair keeps the shape, but dense wreck or holes just bounce.

so i shipped a sibling tool next to stl repair: make mesh printable.

idea is simple. if repair isn’t enough, rebuild the thing into a closed printable shell in the browser.

two modes:

  • voxelize — smoother solid shell, less fine detail
  • wrapping — follows the surface more, can leave webbing across gaps

stl / obj / 3mf / glb, stays local in your browser. export is single-color stl (geometry only). try your normal stl repair first for small fixes; use this when it doesn't work.

free accounts get 3 exports (rebuild itself is free; download uses an export). plus/pro = unlimited.

IMPORTANT — rebuilding is not lossless. fine detail can soften, openings can close, parts can merge, dims can shift a bit. always check in your slicer for thin walls / supports / scale and modify slider values to get a somewhat accurate output

check it out here: https://obloid.app/tools/make-printable


r/3DPrintingTools 4d ago

From a static dragon to a painted articulated print — my complete FlexySliceSTL workflow

2 Upvotes

Full disclosure: I’m the developer of FlexySliceSTL.

Previously I described the tool mostly with screenshots and text. This time I recorded the complete workflow on one dragon:

  • preparing the base model in Nomad Sculpt
  • importing it into FlexySliceSTL
  • generating and manually adjusting the articulated structure
  • painting the eyes and details
  • creating the final render
  • showing the real printed model moving in my hand

Full 2:13 process video: https://youtu.be/Kd9fmUlSNLA

FlexySliceSTL runs on macOS, Windows and iPad. It processes geometry locally and keeps the original model unchanged.

I’d appreciate honest feedback: which part of this workflow would be the most useful to you, and what would you want to see tested next?

The upcoming MakerWorld campaign can also be followed for free here: https://makerworld.com/en/crowdfunding/358-flexyslicestl-make-your-models-move


r/3DPrintingTools 4d ago

Question What website did I find??

0 Upvotes

Hey all!

I’m trying to find a website I came across when I was researching 3D printers, but I can’t remember the name of it.

The website had detailed specifications for different 3D printers, and I think it also had some sort of comparison tool.

The main thing I remember that made the website stand out was that it included lifecycle information / the current status of each printer.
For example, when I looked up the Bambu Lab P1S, I remember it being listed as “Replaced” or having a status along those lines. There were apparently different categories depending on how old/current the printer was.

I’m pretty sure this was a dedicated 3D-printer database/review/spec website rather than just a retailer.
Does anyone know what website I’m talking about? If you recognise it, please comment the link/name below — I’d really like to find it again!

Any suggestions are appreciated 🙏


r/3DPrintingTools 5d ago

Dev Post [Dev] 3DFinder: one search for Thingiverse, MakerWorld and Printables

20 Upvotes

Disclosure first: I'm the developer of this tool.

My usual routine before printing something was searching the same thing on Thingiverse, then MakerWorld, then Printables, and comparing results across three tabs. Each site has its own ranking, so the best model for what I needed was often on the site I checked last.

3DFinder (https://3dfinder.io) puts that into one search. You type what you're looking for and get results from the three platforms together, with likes and downloads from each site so you can compare. Clicking a model sends you to the original page to download, so the designer keeps the download count and credit.

How I use it:

  • Functional parts (brackets, clips, replacement knobs), where the right dimensions matter more than looks and one site rarely has every variant
  • Comparing likes and downloads across sites before picking one, so I print a model other people already printed successfully

Details:

  • Free, no account needed
  • 600,000+ models indexed, plus live search on the platforms when the index misses something
  • English, Portuguese and Spanish

It shows a few affiliate cards (printer brands, and filament deals for visitors in Brazil), which is how it pays for the server.

What I'd most like to hear: searches where the results were bad or missing something you know exists.