3 d files

[jonbigland]

Hi all im after advise on best source of 3 d files / clip art to use on my cnc using v carve desktop, also information on software available to convert images into a 3d format
Regards Jon

[meflick]

I love the Design and Make files that Vectric has available for purchase here: http://www.designandmakeit.com I have worked with a few, and they are top notch. Well worth the price when you need something in my opinion. But I also understand that they seem high and wish they would occasionally do a "sale" on them. But I also understand the work involved in creating them.

If you want actual CNC files to work with then, be sure to check out the portal on Vectric's website for registered users of the program(s). There are files there from Michael Tyler, Bekki's Lab, Vectric Partners, and 12 Days of Christmas Gifts.
There are files provided pretty much monthly for free for users to try. Sometimes they only work with Aspire. Sometimes with both Aspire and Vcarve Pro and Desktop. I still download the Aspire Files because one day I hope to upgrade. But it will probably bed after I am no longer paying for college for two. They have also provided some free 12 days of Christmas files in year's past that I have tracked down and have been reposting last years to the portal area of files I believe. I made a couple of those last year.

Bekki's Lab Files: https://release.vectric.com/free-projec ... with-beki/
Michael Tyler's Monthly Files: https://release.vectric.com/free-projec ... -projects/
Partner Projects: https://release.vectric.com/free-projec ... r-project/
Christmas Projects 2017: https://release.vectric.com/free-projec ... -projects/

That said, when I first got our CNC last year, I went through the forums here and went back to the start and looked at old threads to learn things AND found many a file shared here by generous users. (Especially back in the early days.) I downloaded most all of those and have given a few a try. That is great to do because you get to see how someone else approached creating something and cutting it out. It is a bit of a process to "find" the hidden treasures here, but well worth the time spent and you can learn a lot from older threads. Someone just bumped up an old thread from 2011 with files for a Tambour box for example. Sometimes you have to look through the thread a bit because sometimes the files are shared later in the thread. Also, pay attention to the posts themselves because they also provide some information or detail you might need for the recreation of the item. If that is there, I take a screen shot and add it to the folder I create for each project.

Woodworker's Journal has also shared a number of CRV files in the past on their website: http://www.woodworkersjournal.com - search for CNC and look back through all those articles - has good information not just files in them. Here is one that shows a couple of files that they have shared. I have the football dish on my "someday to do list". I did make the desktop caddy. http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/cnc-g ... ect-ideas/

Also,you can do a google search for them - I have found some that way too. Just remember, all files are not created "equal" and the quality may not always be as good as Design and Makes but well worth the effort to look around and see if you find something you want to give a try. Check other forums as well.

There is a treasure trove of files and things out there, you just have to be willing to spend the time searching (especially if you want free), the money to get high quality files and clip art to work with and incorporate into projects. I have just hit on a few. I am sure others with more knowledge and experience will chime in with more for you.

[martin54]

Really depends what you are looking for, as meflick has said the models from Design & Make are of a very high quality & I believe if you select the V3M format when you purchase then you aren't restricted to one 3D model per project like you are with STL files Best to check but I am fairly sure that is true.
Other places you can try are turbosquid which has a selection of free & paid for models, 3Dmodelclub which has paid for models, thingyverse & yeggi which have free models but most of them are designed for 3D printing rather than CNC machining so you have to be a bit careful what you use.

Aspire has the ability to convert a bitmap image to a component (3D model) so you could download the trial version & give it a go to see if it does what you want. If you are upgrading then you only pay the difference between the 2 programs
One thing you will find is that you generally will have to do some modeling work after the conversion & that is generally true no matter what 3D modeling software you use, some images don't convert well & others will be to low quality to convert well