DOWNLOAD, THEN UPLOAD
GET A GRABCAD MODEL PRINTED
GrabCAD's Community library is where engineers share parts and assemblies. Files are usually native CAD; we take STEP and STL, so pick those.
ACCOUNT NEEDED
A free GrabCAD account (the same login as GrabCAD Workbench and Print).
COST OF THE MODEL
Free. Community library models don't cost anything.
STEP BY STEP
FROM GRABCAD TO A PRICE
- 01Sign in to GrabCADClick Log in at the top right of the library. Downloads are only offered to signed-in users.
- 02Open the Files listOn the model page, the file list sits below the preview. Assemblies often come as many files: native SolidWorks or Inventor parts, plus a STEP or STL export if the author added one.
- 03Download STEP or STLPick the .step / .stp or .stl file and click its download icon. Download all gives a zip with everything — fine for us, we only pick out the formats we can read.
- 04No STEP or STL on the listing?If the author only uploaded native CAD (.sldprt, .ipt, .prt), we can't read it directly. Ask the author for a STEP export, or email us the file and our CAD team will quote a conversion.
- 05Upload it for an instant priceGo to the instant quote page and drop the file in — a zip is fine, we unpack it. You'll see a price straight away, then pick material, colour and quantity and pay online. Each file becomes its own part, so untick anything you don't need before you check out.
BEFORE YOU DOWNLOAD
WHICH FILE, AND WHAT CATCHES PEOPLE OUT
WHICH FILE TO PICK ON GRABCAD
- STEP first, STL second. Both quote instantly.
- One file per part if you want the parts priced separately.
GRABCAD GOTCHAS
- Assemblies: a STEP assembly uploads as one part unless the bodies are separate. If you want the pieces printed individually, download each part's file rather than the assembly.
- Native CAD formats (.sldprt, .sldasm, .ipt, .catpart) can't be quoted online. STEP is the universal export — most authors include one.
- GrabCAD models are frequently in inches. Check the dimensions shown on the quote page before ordering.
APPLIES TO EVERY SITE
FILES, SIZES AND LICENCES
Pick model files, not print files
STL, 3MF, OBJ and STEP are model files and quote instantly. Gcode, .chitubox, .lys and other sliced or project files are set up for someone else's printer and can't be priced — leave them.
Zips are fine
Upload the zip as downloaded. We open it, keep the printable files and drop the photos and readme. Each printable file becomes its own part with its own price.
Check the size
The quote page shows each part's dimensions in mm. A part that reads 25× smaller than expected was modelled in inches — tell us in the notes and we'll scale it before printing.
Licences
Free models carry a licence set by the designer. Having your own copy printed for your own use is what those licences expect. If a licence says non-commercial, that's about selling the prints on, not about having one made.
FAQ
GRABCAD QUESTIONS
Can I upload a STEP file from GrabCAD straight to the quote?
Yes. STEP, STL, 3MF and OBJ all quote instantly. STEP is the better choice for engineering parts because it carries exact geometry rather than a mesh.
The GrabCAD model only has SolidWorks files — what now?
We can't read native SolidWorks online. Ask the author for a STEP export, or email the file to [email protected] and our CAD team will convert it for a small fee.
Will you print a whole assembly as one piece?
Only if it's uploaded as one body. For an assembly you want as separate parts, upload each part's file so every piece gets its own price and print settings.
FOUND IT SOMEWHERE ELSE?
KEEP READING
Get a quote
- Instant quote— upload the file you downloaded
- FDM 3D printing
Related guides
- 3D file formats— STL vs 3MF vs STEP
- How much does 3D printing cost?