The Top 8 Recommended dragon 3D print STL models
Dragons, the mythical, legendary and magical creatures with their elegance and brilliance, have inspired man to create countless works of art for them. These majestic beings have always been associated with hidden treasures such as rubies, diamonds, emeralds, and gold, and have been revered for their powerful presence.
They are not only cool in mythical fictions, but also cool in the 3D printing industry, a cool dragon 3D print STL model can be an efficient way to test the working efficiency of a 3D printer and also an extraordinarily cool figurine for makers, otaku, and any figurine hobbyist to display on their figurine table.
Cali-Dragon
The Cali-Dragon is a cute dragon 3D print model that is aesthetically stunning and cute, but also a fabulous 3D printable dragon design test model. In addition, the exquisite Cali-Dragon 3D printing requires many parameter adjustments to the slicer software in terms of overhangs, small perimeters, stringing, etc. You can evaluate your 3D printer print quality or improve your 3D printing software operation skills and improve your printer or slicer profile by choosing the cool dragon 3D print model to print.
The designer mentions that the model can be printed with no infill (0% density). One community member reported printing the model with 0.2-mm Z-Hop, 1.2-mm retraction distance, and 40-mm/s retraction speed.
Each stl model is designed with subtle efforts by its designer, as for the cute cali-dragon, it was designed by McGybeer, and you can find the STL file in 4 different stl websites, the links are listed below.
Cults: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/cali-dragon
Myminifactory: https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-cali-dragon-224509
Printables: https://www.printables.com/model/209121-cali-dragon
Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5401659
Seven the Articulated Dragon
If you are someone who is really interested in an articulated masterpiece of a magical medieval monster, you can try 7Fish’s articulated dragon 3D print stl model. This aesthetic dragon is with intricate details, vivid, majestic and designed to have cloth wing inserts for the authentic folding experience.
This mythical creature is a large, scaly reptile with wings, sharp claws, and a long, powerful tail. If you are a maker good at post-processing for 3D print models, you can use acrylic coating to polish the 3D printed body with iridescent scales. Imagine having this dragon 3D print model that shimmers in the sunlight with large and leathery dragon wings allowing it to soar through the air with ease, it must be cool to display the dragon 3D print that is a fearsome predator with vivid claws and razor-sharp teeth.
Printing, finishing, and assembling this particular model can be a time-consuming process due to the number of small parts involved. It's worth noting that the STLs come with built-in supports that must be disabled in your slicer before printing.
In addition, the designer has created an updated version of the model with larger dimensions and revised joints. This revised model has garnered a lot of attention with over 65 shared creations and is quickly becoming a fan favorite.
You can find the STL model in the link below:
Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2884250
Sea Serpent
Sea serpents lack wings and legs but have amazing articulated tails, perfect for wrapping around precious objects or swimming through the vast oceans of legends and sailors' tales.
While this may be a time- and effort-consuming task, the shared prints indicate it's definitely worth it! There are built-in supports that facilitate printing, which should be done at a high resolution.
Author: 7Fish
Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2744865
Oriental Lung Dragon
Dragons are mythical creatures that have captured the imagination for centuries. They are often depicted as ferocious beasts with sharp claws, powerful wings, and the ability to breathe fire. In Western mythology, dragons are typically portrayed as malevolent creatures representing chaos and destruction, while in Eastern mythology, dragons are revered as symbols of good fortune, wisdom, and strength. These dragons are often associated with a variety of elemental and spiritual abilities.
These dragons are often associated with a variety of elemental and spiritual structures, making it an easy process to adjust the scale and resolution to your liking.
The Eastern Dragons, also known as "Long" in Chinese culture, are often depicted as serpentine creatures with long flowing manes, four legs, and no wings. They are believed to have control over the elements of nature and are often associated with water, a symbol of wealth and abundance in Chinese culture. But what makes this 3D print truly remarkable is its fully articulated form.
7Fish is a talented designer who has created numerous 3D models of dragons, including the 2 dragon 3D prints mentioned above. Created by the talented designer 7Fish, this Oriental Lung Dragon model is composed of numerous parts that require finishing and assembly. Fortunately, the designs come with built-in support structures, making it a hassle-free process to adjust the scale and resolution to your liking.
Author: 7Fish
Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3158246
Flexi-Trex
If you are a fan of Jurassic World, the T-Rex Dragon 3D Print is the cool and scary dinosaur you want to have in your collection.
While it may not have the same level of mobility as the Articulated Serpent Dragon, the Flexi Trex is still flexible in movement. Its numerous joints allow for some flexibility and articulation in both the wings and the body. It's worth noting, however, that these types of joints may not hold position as well as ball joints.
One of the main advantages of the Flexi-Trex is its ease of printing. All joints are printed in place, and the entire 3D dragon print can be printed without any cumbersome steps.
Printing the Flexi Dragon isn't difficult either, as the designer has shared some settings that have worked for them. These settings include a layer height of 0.2 mm, an infill density of 20% or higher for a good top layer, and no need for supports or a raft.
Author: Benchy4Life
You can find the STL model in the link below:
Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2893279
Aria
With its slimmer body and more developed spikes, this model is ideal for any number of uses, taking inspiration from the popular "Adalinda the Singing Serpent".
With a height of 130 mm, Aria prints without any supports.
Author: loubie
Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:600550
Dragonite
In Pokémon, Dragonite is one of the most well-known characters, and you can make this cutesy 3D model of him. Moreover, this project features Dragonite in its upright, non-attack position with a sack across his stomach. The designer of this model did not provide much other information, but you can make it with just one print!
The creator of this Dragonite model did not provide any information about the settings they used, but some recording makers did. One posted an excellent print of the dragon model and mentioned that the layer height was 0.1 millimeters with a 30% infill density. In addition, the model was printed with supports.
Author: Patrickart
Printables: https://www.printables.com/model/181129-dragonitepokemon
Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3962846
Toothless
You probably remember Toothless, the main dragon character from the How to Train Your Dragon animated movies and TV shows.
In total, there are six different parts to this adorable 3D dragon print, which can be printed in different colors to improve the look of the dragon. It features Toothless sitting down with his tongue sticking out. It consists of six different 3D printable parts.
Multi-color effects can be achieved by either printing different filament colors or using a multi-material unit (MMU) if you possess an MMU (Prusa Multi Material 2S Upgrade (MMU2S) on your printer.
A few community prints users commented that they activated supports when printing the dragon model and that the tail should be taken care of, as it is quite thin, but the creator did not provide any printing tips. However, these charming prints show that you can print Toothless and take him with you on your adventures!
Author: Derailed3D
Printables: https://www.printables.com/model/32814-toothless
Final words
Printing the cool dragon 3D print you want is fantastic, however, if you do not have a good 3D printer to help you accomplish it, you can resort to professional 3D printing services. Elecrow is a company good at providing professional online 3D printing services for makers Elecrow can do PCB assembly, PCB manufacturing, and component sourcing for makers to complete their wanted 3D printing DIY electronics project. If you want to create an acrylic display stand for your beloved dragon 3D prints, you can even resort to Elecrow's acrylic laser cutting services to complete your project.
By the way, if you are a maker who has fantastic ideas for some 3D printing projects and wants to complete them for commercial purposes but is worried that it will be hard to do so, contact Elecrow to join our partner seller program, Elecrow's partner seller program can help you mass produce your 3D printing projects and help you sell them online with a professional team.
Earn your benefits in Elecrow's Partner Seller Program!
3D printing is an excellent way for many hobbyists to save some money. From gardening to cosplaying, many hobbies can profit from 3D printing their own tools and parts. What about miniature painters? Is 3D printing your miniatures a good alternative to buying plastic ones, or is it just a waste of time? We will explore the benefits of both approaches in this article, so sit tight and continue reading.
Commercially available 3D printing is a dream come true for many hobbyists. It is a process of turning a 3D model into a physical object. There are two types of 3D printers for home use. FDA printers place layers of molten filament one on top of the other to create objects based on 3D models. FDA printers require a lot of fine-tuning to make finely detailed small models. They are good for 3D printed wargaming terrains and other surfaces with less detail, but if you want to print beautiful miniatures, you should choose SLA/DLP printer.
SLA/DLP printers, also known as resin printers, use light to cure liquid resin into layers. This technology makes it possible to create detailed models through 3D printing. This type of printer is the best 3D printer for miniatures.
To 3D print miniatures, you will need a 3D printer, printing materials, 3D models, and lots of trial and error. 3D printing miniatures require a lot of tweaking of settings to get the results you will be satisfied with. People often imagine 3D printing as simple as printing text on paper. But 3D printing D&D miniatures requires knowledge and time investment to the extent where it becomes a hobby on its own. First, you will have to learn how to set up your printer. When everything is ready, you will need patience because 3D printing a miniature takes hours to be finished. After a miniature gets printed, you will also have to cure and clean your 3D printed model, which is a time-consuming process on its own. A detailed description of a 3D printing process is a story for its own article. For now, you must understand that it takes time and knowledge to print 3D miniatures.
One of the main reasons people get 3D printers is for monetary reasons. Miniature prices start at around €10, so painting miniatures can quickly become an expensive hobby. If you are among the people who already realized that, you are probably wondering; how much 3D printing miniatures cost. Materials for printing a miniature cost around 20 cents. Even with increased electricity bills, in the long-term 3D printing is a cheaper option if you are buying a lot of minis.
The biggest expense for 3D printing miniatures is the initial cost of buying a 3D printer and other supporting equipment. If you are buying miniatures occasionally, buying a 3D printer is not worth it. However, if you are buying lots of minis, you will save a lot of money by 3D printing minis. You also have to consider how much space you have at your disposal. A 3D printer releases toxic fumes, so you must keep it in a separate room with good ventilation.
To conclude, if you are a passionate miniature painter who buys lots of miniatures, printing your 3D miniatures is definitely worth it in a long run. However, there are other concerns to consider. I will tell you about other problems of 3D printing miniatures in greater detail later in the article.
The process from finding a 3D model for the miniature to having the finished miniature ready for painting is a long one. Each step in between requires a certain degree of knowledge or outsourced work. To 3D print miniatures, you will have to know how to create a 3D model or where to find 3D models. If you belong to the latter group, you will have to find out where to download 3D printer files. Initially, you should check out Thingiverse. It is an open-source website with a bunch of free 3D models. The best source of high-quality miniature 3D models is MyMiniFactory. It is a website that specializes in 3D models of miniatures, but most of the models on the website aren’t free.
When you have your model, it is time to start printing your miniature. You will have to find ideal settings for 3D printing. This part of the process will depend on the type and model of your 3D printer and the materials you are using. If you are a miniature 3D printing beginner, it is good to check out YouTube channels that focus on 3D printing miniatures and terrains. 3DPrintedTabletop and GeekGaminScenics are good options, to begin with. You will learn a lot from those channels. They cover content from inspirational videos to learning how to clean 3D printed miniatures.
With monetary benefits out of the way, we have to consider other important elements of 3D printing vs buying miniatures. Plastic miniatures are the classic way to get into the miniature painting hobby. They are more expensive, but usually, you get guaranteed quality. On the other hand, with 3D printing, you can customize your miniatures, but it takes time and knowledge to do so.
Plastic miniatures are the winner of this category. When you buy a plastic mini, it is ready to use right away. 3D printing a miniature takes 6-8 hours, depending on the 3D printer you use and the size of the miniature. That is not the only time-consuming part of 3D printing miniatures. Once your miniature is printed, you will have to cure and clean it, which also takes a lot of time. Miniatures, especially those used in wargaming, have lots of fine details. 3D printing wargaming miniatures is a long process because you will have more work on cleaning detailed miniatures than simple pieces like terrains.
The quality of both versions of miniatures varies. Some companies that make 3D miniatures are selling low-quality products, but on average, plastic miniatures you buy will be high-quality products. The quality of 3D printed miniatures will depend on the 3D printer, materials you use, and 3D printing settings. If you have a good printer and know how to set it up, 3D printed miniatures will have excellent quality. In conclusion, both approaches can yield high-quality and low-quality miniatures, but plastic ones are more likely to be high-quality.
Similar to the time category, plastic miniatures are ready to use right out of the box. 3D printing is a hobby on its own. You have to learn how to set it up and experiment until you find optimal settings. Using a 3D printer isn’t rocket science, but it still requires some knowledge and skill.
Customization is where 3D printed miniatures shine. Although there are places like Hero Forge where you can order customized miniatures, options with plastic miniatures still aren’t limitless. When you are 3D printing miniatures, the options for customizing miniatures are virtually unlimited.
Painting 3D printed miniatures takes some extra effort compared to plastic miniatures. Plastic can be painted right out of the box. When you take your 3D printed resin miniature off the build platform, the first step should be washing it with isopropyl alcohol.
Once you wash the miniature, it is time to clean it up and sand it, as there might be some protrusions and other imperfections. The final part before painting the miniature is priming it to ensure there is no leftover dust from the sanding. When sanding is done, you can paint your 3D-printed miniature the same way you would paint any other miniature. If you are just learning how to paint miniatures, a good place to start is YouTube channels like MarcoFrisoniNJM.
Materials for printing 3D miniatures are inexpensive. Resin needed for 32 mm miniature costs around €0.2, but there are other costs to consider. You will spend some money on electricity, alcohol, gloves, and curing materials. However, the highest cost of 3D printing is the initial one. Buying a 3D printer and curing station will cost you €400+.
Filament 3D printers print by melting filament and placing it in layers. They can print larger parts than resin 3D printers, but aren’t as good for printing fine details. Resin 3D printers use light to cure the liquid resin.
3D printers emit toxic fumes, so they should be kept in a separate room with good ventilation. You should never keep a working 3D printer in your workspace. The enclosed room where you keep your printer should have a stable temperature to ensure the best quality of prints.
3D printing miniatures is a time-consuming process. Printing a miniature takes 6+ hours. Once a miniature is printed, you have to cure it and clean it. Finally, before it is ready for painting, the miniature has to undergo sanding and priming.
Author - Ante Radoš