Many people think that home 3D printing – in which you print 3D objects at home sort of like you print a picture or page of text – is the “next big thing.”

Some goes as far as to predict that we’re on the cusp of the next Industrial Revolution, one in which the means of production are taken from factories and distributed into every person’s home. Need a new frame for your glasses? Print one that fits you exactly. Want to give your girlfriend a box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day? Print the box and the chocolates, designed especially for her. Plastic, medal, food, even human organs can be printed. While it may be a little while before 3D printing can truly take over all of these things, that’s the vision.

[See also: 12 Amazing Christian Sculptures Made Entirely Out of LEGOs]

While most high quality 3D printers cost tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, in the last few years a bunch of companies have sprung up that sell small 3D printers that most people can afford if they really wanted one (anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars). Granted, since the industry for small, low-cost 3D printers is relatively new, the printers are fairly limited in what they can do (think back to what computer printers were like 20 years ago). But they are getting better and cheaper all the time. To learn more about home 3D printing, check out the recent documentary Print the Legend, available on Netflix.

Now, even if you have a 3D printer, to print anything you need 3D designs. Thingiverse is one website where people share their 3D designs. So if you have a 3D printer but (like most people) know nothing about 3D design, you can search there for designs to print. This is a list of a few cool Christian designs people have made and that are available for download for free.

[See also: The Cathedrals of Minecraft: 8 Mind-Blowing Creations]

For each item, a 3D computer model is shown first, and then a picture of the object actually printed out by a 3D printer.

Enjoy!

1) Sioux Falls Cathedral in South Dakota, USA

MiniWorld / Thingiverse
MiniWorld / Thingiverse

LinkLearn more and get the 3D files

MiniWorld / Thingiverse
MiniWorld / Thingiverse
MiniWorld / Thingiverse
MiniWorld / Thingiverse

2) Christ the Redeemer Statue

evandronet / Thingiverse
evandronet / Thingiverse

Link: Learn more and get the 3D files

oriface / Thingiverse
oriface / Thingiverse

3) St. Nicholas Cookie Cutter

Jordanbowden / Thingiverse
Jordanbowden / Thingiverse

Link: Learn more and get the 3D files

Jordanbowden / Thingiverse
Jordanbowden / Thingiverse

 4) St. Benedict medal

reinvnt / Thingiverse
reinvnt / Thingiverse

Front: Learn more and get the 3D files

BackLearn more and get the 3D files

reinvnt / Thingiverse
reinvnt / Thingiverse

5) Stand-Up Ichthys Fish

McAwesome / Thingiverse
McAwesome / Thingiverse

Link: Learn more and get the 3D files

McAwesome / Thingiverse
McAwesome / Thingiverse

 6) Bust of Pope St. John XXIII

Kolo33 / Thingiverse
Kolo33 / Thingiverse

Link: Learn more and get the 3D files

The 3D print is on the left, the (presumably) original from which the model was scanned on the right:

Kolo33 / Thingiverse
Kolo33 / Thingiverse

7) Mont Saint-Michel

sharkera / Thingiverse
sharkera / Thingiverse

Link: Learn more and get the 3D files

sharkera / Thingiverse
sharkera / Thingiverse

8) Hanging Nativity scene

Snarfer / Thingiverse
Snarfer / Thingiverse

Link: Learn more and get the 3D files

Snarfer / Thingiverse
Snarfer / Thingiverse

9) St. John the Baptist statue

ArtInstituteChicago / Thingiverse
ArtInstituteChicago / Thingiverse

Link: Learn more and get the 3D files

ZombieCat / Thingiverse
ZombieCat / Thingiverse

 10) Cross

AK_Eric / Thingiverse
AK_Eric / Thingiverse

Link: Learn more and get the 3D files

The 3D print is on the left, the (presumably) original from which the model was scanned or based on the right:

AK_Eric / Thingiverse
AK_Eric / Thingiverse

11) St. Basil’s Cathedral

dp118m / Thingiverse
dp118m / Thingiverse

Link: Learn more and get the 3D files

dp118m / Thingiverse
dp118m / Thingiverse

12) Candle holder with crosses

AwesomeA / Thingiverse
AwesomeA / Thingiverse

Link: Learn more and get the 3D files

AwesomeA / Thingiverse
AwesomeA / Thingiverse

13) Cross made of nails for necklace

Karen5R / Thingiverse
Karen5R / Thingiverse

Link: Learn more and get the 3D files

Karen5R / Thingiverse
Karen5R / Thingiverse

14) Crucifix

offcentercreations / Thingiverse
offcentercreations / Thingiverse

Link: Learn more and get the 3D files

Frodernater1 / Thingiverse
Frodernater1 / Thingiverse
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