03-30-2022: PrusaPrinters.org was rebranded to Printables
The platform was launched in April 2019
On March 30, 2022, Prusa Research announced a major rebranding of its 3D model platform – PrusaPrinters.org – to Printables. The platform was launched in April 2019 and was originally intended as a community hub for users of the Czech manufacturer’s 3D printers. Over time, it evolved into a large repository of free 3D models and became a real competitor to the much larger Thingiverse (which was facing a lot of issues at the time) and MyMiniFactory. Changing the name to a more neutral Printables made a lot of sense.
The upcoming changes were first hinted at in January 2022 in a New Year’s blog post by Josef Průša. The new version of the platform introduced a range of unique features, including multiple language versions (Polish among them!). At the same time, Průša noted that many potential users perceived the platform primarily as a file repository for Prusa 3D printers or assumed that models would only work on his machines. To dispel these concerns, Prusa Research rebranded the platform, removing Průša’s name from the title and creating a new entity – Printables.
The platform retained all the functionalities of PrusaPrinters.org while introducing a significant upgrade at launch – the ability to preview GCode files. Until then, users could only browse models in STL or 3MF formats. The new viewer was quite advanced and offered multiple display modes, allowing users to inspect a model before downloading it.
Printables provided extensive search tools, including filters for file type, filament material, print time, and model popularity.
Since mid-December 2021, the platform had also featured a loyalty program where user activity was rewarded with physical prizes. Users earned points called Prusameters for various activities on the platform. These Prusameters were symbolically “wound” onto a virtual spool of filament, and once a threshold was reached, they could be exchanged for rewards such as actual filament spools or branded merchandise.
In December 2023, Printables introduced the Printables Store, where users could purchase high-quality designs. The platform was also integrated with PrusaSlicer, making it easier to prepare models for printing directly within Prusa’s software. Additional features included user-created Clubs and a Brands section, which now includes nearly 40 brands, such as Arduino, Festool, Paramount Pictures, Škoda, and Würth.
Source: www.prusa3d.com
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