GrabCAD Library
GrabCAD Library is a database of millions of free-of-cost Computer Aided Designs and 3D models. It has a team of more than 9 million engineers with more than 4 million CAD files, including designs of cars renderings, machinery, electronics, ships, mechanical components like screws, bearings, fittings, conveyor lines, engines, and much more. You can choose designs from the tailored categories, including 3D printing, architecture, automotive, computer electrical, educational, household, medical, military, nature, and the list goes on.
You can save the CAD files in a neutral format like STEP, IGES, or STL, even if it is uploaded in a proprietary format. A highlighting feature is that you can overlay multiple versions of a model to see what has changed between them. Another notable feature is the Markup tools that allow you to start conversations and create sketches right on the model, while email alerts keep the original owner up to date.
GrabCAD Library Alternatives
#1 Thangs3D
Thangs3D is an online community for engineers and visual designers that provides unlimited downloads of 3D models and CAD designs. It has almost 3 million CAD models available for searching, storing, and collaboration for commercial use. With the geometric search feature, you can select the relevant shape as a reference to search the model in your mind. This can be done by uploading a geometrical model and let the AI engine recognize it to give you some relevant results.
With the unlimited storage option, you can upload as many designs as you want and contribute to the community. You can browse trending models on the homepage that includes some interesting designs. The models can be used for projects, designing a machine, vehicle, character, and much more. All in all, Thangs3D is a great tool that can come in handy for visual designers.
#2 STLFinder
STLFinder is an online service that you can use to search 3D models from the major databases on the internet. The homepage shows the most searched keywords that you might be interested in. Other than that, you can search for 3D designs by entering a keyword, and it will show you the most relevant results. The number of searched items is also shown to give you an idea of how broad your result is.
You can try changing keywords to narrow your results. After choosing the models, it will take you to the original creator website, where you can download or purchase the product depending on the availability. All in all, STLFinder is a great repository for finding 3D models all over the internet.
#3 Youmagine
Youmagine is an online community of artists, engineers, architectures, and visual designers that provides millions of 3D models and designs in a single database. The aim is to gather 3D designs and CAD files to be able to share with people and aid them in their projects. The website consists of more than 18,000 premium designs that are build by visual designers and engineers. Youmagine provides real-life and practical designs that builders definitely need to build daily life usage things.
Some example designs that you can find are a mini pool table, twist clamp, N-joints, Vehicles, planes, jewelry, machinery, and much more. You can browse either via features categories or by designers that are specialized in one specific themed design. You can also find some DIY designs to make your daily routine tasks much easier. All in all, Youmagine is a great place to find the relevant design in order to kickstart your project.
#4 TF3DM
TF3DM is a library of 3D models and CAD renders that you can use in your project for free or by paying some royalty to the developer. The models included are created in top-notch 3D model renderers like Blender, Cinema 4D, 3ds Max, Maya, Lowpoly, and much more. You can browse models from categories like architecture, vehicles, characters, aircraft, furniture, electronics, and much more. The animal section has animals either in the countryside or in the city. The plant’s category has some extremely useful exterior scenes that are ready to be printed out.
Additionally, weapons models are also there that you can use in first-person or third-person shooter games. The sports section contains anything from equipment for various sports, sports cars, gym equipment to a full-fledged scene like an entire stadium. You can browse the best seller models that show some most downloaded models. All in all, TF3DM is a great repository to find the beautiful 3D models of almost everything.
#5 CGTrader
CGTrader is a three-dimensional model digital marketplace for VR/AR and CG projects that allows professional designers to illustrate multiple sketches with industrial projects, including architectural, mechanical, and other products. The users can shift the number of products into photorealistic models for e-commerce businesses.
Customers can sell or buy 3D models with this platform, as royalties are available for the seller and projects are dealt with a freelance medium. The service gives users a complete opportunity to showcase their drafts and project templates, increasing their demand and providing access to interesting clients. CGTrader’s Digital Asset management system organizes, manages, and stores all digital data, including 3D files, photos, videos, and other products.
A physically based rendering shows models that are rendered concisely in any lighting conditions due to the existing workflows used in the creation and surface modes. The platform provides hundreds of models for applications, such as animated characters, movies, advanced 3D games, advertising, and printing publications, etc.
#6 3DOcean
3DOcean is a three-dimensional platform used to print and deal royalty-free 3D file projects, textures, concepts, shaders, and materials with hundreds of templates available. Each project’s buying or selling varies with custom prices, and items are priced on the complexity, quality, and use of the file.
It is more than a place where you can hear from great authors, ask questions in the forums, and comment on items. Customers can browse the extensive category list and keyword search accesses field on the top right of any page. The service browses user-compiled item collections on a variety of themes and picks the templates by site editors for each week.
All the templates available at the site are reviewed to ensure the quality check and proper objectives. 3DOcean carries some valuable features: animation data, 3D models, Render Setups, materials and shaders, CG Textures, 2D concepts, Scripts, and Plugins.
#7 3DExport
3DExport is a three-dimensional platform that allows customers to buy or sell 3D models, including CG textures and multiple digital objects, for printing royalty-free models. There are hundreds of models available at the site, which can be further modified and edited. The price of various objects varies with each product’s quality and characteristic separately.
The users can search multiple objects, including mechanical, architectural, CG Textures, and 2D models. Additionally, there are various courses available for 3D tutorials of creative networks, helping people learn skills and earn money via products. Computer-aided designs are available for beginners that elaborate interior designing and exterior outlook with realistic illustrations.
The service enables clients to draw sketches of various complex parts and gadgets of products, such as an Airplane, Engine, vehicles, and weapons, etc. Texture tool provides an illustration of multiple objects, including marble, fabric, ornaments, paper, plastic, and buildings, etc.
#8 TurboSquid
TurboSquid is a digital media platform that contains a stock of 3D models used in the graphics-based industry of multiple sectors, including computer games, architecture, and interactive training. It carries thousands of models in its library with multiple objects. The platform is founded by Matt Wisdom and Andy Wisdom.
It ensures models checking against a unified 3D modeling and passing objects are marked with the CheckMate certification program. The expert team provides complete assistance every time and guides users with relevant information on each purchase. Project categories include airplane, anatomy, architecture, vehicles, interior or exterior designing, robots, and industrial-based animated drafts.
TurboSquid leads the industry with up to $1,000,000 in indemnification on product purchases. The digital brand management component creates engagement with the most passionate consumers. The service enables clients to draw sketches of various complex parts and gadgets of products, such as an Engine, heavy machinery, and weapons, etc. Texture tool provides an illustration of multiple objects, including marble, fabric, ornaments, paper, plastic, and buildings, etc.
#9 Free3D
Free3D is a stock-based three-dimensional platform used to download and recreate multiple 3D templates for various projects, including architectural work, mechanical parts, characters animation, and many others. It provides a map of houses and entire cities, so the users can use these in creating virtual rooms, buildings, bridges, and towers, especially in games.
As vehicle animated modeling is one of the most time-consuming tasks and requires struggling for hours, this helps develop basic structural objects. The most vibrant and popular category is the character illustration, so the developers can personify and attribute human-like characteristics, such as woman, men, rigged characters, human, bikini, soldiers, pirates, and many others.
Some models contain a lower polygon count and can be dropped and modified in background props for massive scenes in the games. Moreover, texture asset enables consumers to illustrate the designing artwork of multiple fields like fabrics, marble, plastic, paper, ornaments, and lot more.
#10 3Dmdb
3Dmdb is a search engine-based hub of multiple three-dimensional colorful objects which can be downloaded, purchased, and rendered from shops or marketplaces. 3D animated models can not only be used for printing but also for any computer graphics like CG, VFX, Animation, and auto CAD purposes.
Online 3D model conversion tools are available for file formats, and most of the drafts can be easily imported and modified with Autodesk 3ds Max, Maya, Blender, C4D, and Sketchup. These objects’ printing supports different printers and can be rendered with the preferred engine.
Texture asset enables consumers to illustrate the designing artwork of multiple fields like fabrics, marble, plastic, paper, ornaments, and many more. There are thousands of graphics templates available with this platform, including architectural, mechanical, furniture, and weapons with paid or free versions. Moreover, it allows access to multiple valuable sites, such as 3dCADBrowser, 3ddd, 3dExport, 3DFind.it, 3dOcean, 3dlancer, and CG Trader, etc.
#11 3D Warehouse
3D Warehouse is a platform where users can upload model objects and download or convert three-dimensional objects of multiple sectors, including household items, furniture, vehicles, architectural projections, and many others. It is a website of searchable, pre-made 3D drafts that work seamlessly with SketchUp and function as a tremendous resource and online community for anyone who creates or uses it.
It ensures complete data privacy and accesses towards transparency, and basic information is collected on each free product’s purchase and use. Smart software tool helps to create multiple objects of buildings, houses, bridges, and hundreds of professionally developed extensions are at your fingertips. Consumers can consult or get recommendations from team experts on converting their 2D artwork into three-dimensional graphics. The platform encourages ideas and innovations by the people and ensures quality works with smart collaborations.
#12 Pinshape
Pinshape is a thriving three-dimensional printing platform that allows users to share, sell, and download multiple quality 3D files with various printers supported objects, including household items, electronic gadgets, and other animation tools. Online helping material is available for learners where they can get interaction with smart animated conversion tools.
Individuals and businesses can buy, sell or just exchange models suitable for printing with paid or royalty-free modes. The users can become sellers and upload their work at the site. It requires registration and quality artwork that supports 3D printing with standard file formats. It contains hundreds of templates, and people can hire on-demand services for their requirements.
The service curates a great selection of premium and free STL files from the community of 70,000+makers and designers for download and print. Pinshape includes multiple valuable graphics templates of architectural, industrial, jewelry, miniature, games, and characters.