Cults is a
3D printing marketplace
A 3D printing marketplace is a website where users buy, sell and freely share digital 3D printable files for use on 3D printers. They sometimes also offer the ability to print the models and ship them to customers.
Concept
The market for 3D ...
allowing designers, makers and other users to share free and paid models meant for
3D printing
3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model. It can be done in a variety of processes in which material is deposited, joined or solidified under computer ...
. It is also a social network where 3D printing enthusiasts can interact.
In May 2025, the Cults community had nearly 12 million members, including nearly 200,000 designers and 2.3 million 3D models to download for 3D printing,
laser cutting
Laser cutting is a technology that uses a laser to vaporize materials, resulting in a cut edge. While typically used for industrial manufacturing applications, it is now used by schools, small businesses, architecture, and hobbyists. Laser cutt ...
,
CNC machining
Computer numerical control (CNC) or CNC machining is the automated control of machine tools by a computer. It is an evolution of numerical control (NC), where machine tools are directly managed by data storage media such as punched cards or ...
,
papercraft
Paper models, also called card models or papercraft, are Physical model, models constructed mainly from sheets of heavy paper, paperboard, card stock, or foam.
Details
This may be considered a broad category that contains origami and card ...
, sewing patterns and
PCBs
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are organochlorine compounds with the formula C12 H10−''x'' Cl''x''; they were once widely used in the manufacture of carbonless copy paper, as heat transfer fluids, and as dielectric and coolant fluids f ...
.
Cults is aimed at all owners of 3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutters, and
sewing machines
Diagram of a modern sewing machine
Animation of a modern sewing machine as it stitches
A sewing machine is a machine used to sew fabric and materials together with thread. Sewing machines were invented during the first Industrial Revolution ...
who want access to premium, original digital creations to make themselves.
History
Cults was founded in 2014 and is the first fully independent 3D printing marketplace.
In 2015,
La Poste established a partnership with Cults and
3D Slash to develop impression3d.laposte.fr, a digital manufacturing service, allowing users to have objects printed and shipped to them on demand.
In 2016,
Boulanger partners with Cults to develop Happy 3d, an open source platform dedicated to spare parts printing, in an effort to promote
sustainable consumption
Sustainable consumption (sometimes abbreviated to "SC") is the use of products and services in ways that minimizes human impact on the environment, impacts on the environment.
Sustainable consumption can be undertaken in such a way that needs are ...
.
[.]
Name
The name Cults is an anacyclic word: when read backwards, it becomes
St-Luc, patron saint of artists and sculptors. Additionally, the first three letters are
STL, referring to the common
stereolithography
Stereolithography (SLA or SL; also known as vat photopolymerisation, optical fabrication, photo-solidification, or resin printing) is a form of 3D printing technology used for creating models, prototypes, patterns, and production parts in a laye ...
file format used by creators.
See also
References
{{reflist
External links
Official website
3D printing websites
3D publishing
Internet properties established in 2014
Companies based in Paris