[HN Gopher] New 3D Printable Search Engine
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       New 3D Printable Search Engine
        
       PrintableSearch is a new 3d printable search engine to find the top
       3D printables from the best model sites. It differs from others by
       ranking models between sites accurately and it has a modern ad free
       interface.
        
       Author : hugegreenbug
       Score  : 95 points
       Date   : 2023-04-17 17:30 UTC (5 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (www.printablesearch.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (www.printablesearch.com)
        
       | earthling8118 wrote:
       | The search box doesn't allow for any sort of symbols. I tried
       | entering a '+' but it doesn't allow that.
        
         | hugegreenbug wrote:
         | I need to make that more clear in the about section. Thanks.
        
         | hugegreenbug wrote:
         | it's intentional. I remove them in the search so I wanted to
         | represent what was actually searched
        
       | monday_ wrote:
       | Off topic, but is there a way to import existing mechanical
       | designs like we do it in software with libraries? Something like
       | importing a transmission design into CAD and gluing it to the
       | model with API-like slots.
       | 
       | I'm very new to CADs and only have limited experience with
       | FreeCAD, but having to design a latch anew every time you need it
       | seems like a common enough pain point.
        
         | nickpinkston wrote:
         | We're actually in process of building this for individual
         | components (bolts, motors, gears, etc.) at:
         | https://beta.govolition.com where you can search for
         | components, filter by spec, download CAD/specs, and purchase
         | the parts.
         | 
         | But also check out:
         | 
         | - https://grabcad.com/library/tag/library <-- Lots of multi-
         | part projects in addition to components.
         | 
         | - http://traceparts.com/ <-- Individual component CAD
         | 
         | - https://www.3dcontentcentral.com/ <-- Individual component
         | CAD
         | 
         | Generally, you'll want to download .STEP files so they import
         | into FreeCAD, as opposed to native Solidworks Part files, etc.
        
         | adrienthebo wrote:
         | Onshape allows for versioning parts and assemblies, mate
         | connectors to determine how parts should connect, assemblies
         | and subassemblies to define the relationships between parts and
         | allow for reuse, configurable parts (feature flags etc); it's
         | extremely powerful and pleasant to use. Regrettably it's a
         | closed source SaaS option but all of the open source CAD tools
         | are grossly underpowered in comparison. There's nothing like
         | KiCAD that'll let you get work done quickly effectively - at
         | least in my experience.
        
           | s1mon wrote:
           | The kernel (Parasolid) is closed source as well as many of
           | the back end bits of Onshape, but all the code behind the
           | standard features that is written in FeatureScript is under
           | an MIT license (the Onshape Standard Library).
           | 
           | https://cad.onshape.com/FsDoc/index.html
        
         | evanlivingston wrote:
         | This is, in practice, the utility of the widespread use of CAD.
         | Many manufacturers of parts distribute CAD models of those
         | parts.
         | 
         | For example, McMaster-Carr have CAD models (in various formats)
         | for nearly every single part in their catalog.
         | 
         | A designer/engineer can import those parts and then either
         | create drawings referenced off of those parts, or mate/join
         | those part using reference geometry. That is to say, the API is
         | the geometry, and the CAD software provides good tools for
         | interacting wit that API.
        
           | 0_____0 wrote:
           | MCM's 3D parts are also great starting points for stuff you'd
           | like to print for prototyping. I just printed off a bespoke
           | belt pulley using an MCM model as a base this past week.
           | Added a bunch of specific mounting features I need for my
           | application. It's an inferior part printed in FFF, but it'll
           | work for now.
        
             | skykooler wrote:
             | And the nice thing is, if it breaks and you determine you
             | need a better one, you can order the part from mcmaster and
             | you already know it'll fit.
        
             | RobotToaster wrote:
             | Also a great way to get weird threads and connectors. Need
             | a NPT thread? Just import a NPT cap.
        
         | pmayrgundter wrote:
         | Agreed. I'm also newish
         | 
         | I think for standard formats you start with STEP encoding and
         | then there are various ISO semantic specs that encode to this,
         | eg IFC for buildings (a standard BIM data format)
         | 
         | So i don't think STEP handles this explicitly, and while IFC
         | does via URL-comptible file imports, it's rarely used in the
         | wild.
         | 
         | Proprietary vendors use the standard formats for import/export
         | but typically have poor support/wrong incentives for good
         | interop.
         | 
         | There is interest in it tho, and I've talked with the OSARCH
         | folks about it for BIM, and we're planning to work on it this
         | year for bldrs.ai (open-source, links there to our discord and
         | a #cad channel).
         | 
         | Ideally you import parts at the file level and have a compile
         | step, like with code, where you load on lots of automatic
         | integration tests
         | 
         | Stop by and chat!
        
       | mg wrote:
       | While everybody waits for this site to come back from the HN hug
       | of death, here are some alternatives:
       | 
       | https://www.gnod.com/search/3d_objects
        
         | nahimn wrote:
         | Classic HN HOD...
        
           | hugegreenbug wrote:
           | It's back now
        
         | hugegreenbug wrote:
         | It's back
        
       | folkhack wrote:
       | Tried five searches, things like "test," "bed level," etc. All
       | common terms for 3D printing calibration.
       | 
       | Was only able to get one search to go through which took >20s.
       | All others timed out with "We encountered an error."
       | 
       | Not sure the tech is ready for this to show off and first
       | impressions are everything.
        
         | willcipriano wrote:
         | Too many users perhaps
        
           | hugegreenbug wrote:
           | Yes, too many users. I wasn't prepared for this influx of
           | users.
        
             | willcipriano wrote:
             | Happens all the time, consider cloudflare and adding some
             | cache headers, would at least let the homepage load
             | regardless of user count.
        
               | hugegreenbug wrote:
               | Thanks. It's back now.
        
       | npunt wrote:
       | I never knew I wanted to print my own search engine until now
        
         | colordrops wrote:
         | I've seen so many crazy projects that I was wondering for a
         | second if it might be something like that before clicking
         | through.
        
           | yaseer wrote:
           | I did also interpret the title the same way!
           | 
           | I had images of a 3D printed version of Google's original
           | server/storage assembly:
           | 
           | http://infolab.stanford.edu/pub/voy/museum/pictures/display/.
           | ..
        
           | chankstein38 wrote:
           | I was half expecting some kind of 3d printable algorithm.
           | Like a physical implementation of a sorting algo or something
           | haha
        
         | extrememacaroni wrote:
         | You wouldn't download a search car!
        
           | Izmaki wrote:
           | Oh, in a heartbeat, baby!
        
         | samstave wrote:
         | UH, those are called _BOOLEANS_ my friend.
         | 
         | -
         | 
         | Bins
         | 
         | Of
         | 
         | Organized
         | 
         | LEGO
         | 
         | Easily
         | 
         | Addressable
         | 
         | N.. OW!! _damn kids, where is your garbage collection!!??_
         | 
         | Systems
        
       | [deleted]
        
       | taf2 wrote:
       | I'm waiting for the AI that can take my picture and convert it
       | into a 3D model.
        
       | geuis wrote:
       | Don't hijack the back button.
        
         | hugegreenbug wrote:
         | not intentional. i'll fix that
        
       | DogTweezers wrote:
       | [flagged]
        
       | jagged-chisel wrote:
       | "Search engine for 3D printables"
        
         | ncr100 wrote:
         | DDG results, (helpful?), perhaps we could call them
         | "Established 3D Printable Search Engines":
         | 
         | - https://www.yeggi.com/
         | 
         | - https://www.stlrepo.com/
         | 
         | - https://all3dp.com/printables/
         | 
         | - https://www.printables.com/
         | 
         | - https://stlbase.com/
         | 
         | And a 40 day old blog post about 16 search engines for 3D
         | Printables: https://www.3dsourced.com/rankings/sites-for-stl-
         | files-3d-pr...
        
           | filoleg wrote:
           | Not sure about the entirety of the list, but printables.com
           | is not a search engine. It is a repository of models that
           | users have to manually post and upload them to the website.
           | It doesn't search and aggregate from other sources. It has
           | its own internal search engine though.
           | 
           | Yeggi (you mentioned it as well) is a proper search engine
           | though, and it indeed sources models from many other
           | repositories (including printables.com).
        
       | unraveller wrote:
       | 3d printables with an s. when you say 3d printable X it means you
       | can print the X.
        
         | amelius wrote:
         | What does it have to do with tables and how do I print the
         | chairs?
        
       | kraig911 wrote:
       | I just wish I could print a search engine.
        
         | nickpinkston wrote:
         | You wouldn't print a car! :-)
        
       | Rebelgecko wrote:
       | Looking forward to trying it out but looks like it might be
       | overloaded currently. In the meantime I've been using thangs.com
       | (ironically their UX is better for finding things hosted on other
       | sites than it is for the STLs they host themselves)
        
         | hugegreenbug wrote:
         | Yes, it is overloaded due to this post.
        
         | hugegreenbug wrote:
         | I managed to get it responsive again.
        
       | miduil wrote:
       | I thought this was going to be a new https://www.printables.com,
       | quite confusing to launch with this name.
       | 
       | Seems the trademark application was rejected though
       | https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/#details/trademarks/01867743...
        
         | HnUser12 wrote:
         | Off topic: these cookie warnings have made iOSs touch and hold
         | quick view useless. The alert usually takes over full size of
         | the quick view window!
        
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       (page generated 2023-04-17 23:01 UTC)