MakerBot/How To: Find Or Create A Printable STL File

Downloading an STL file from www.thingiverse.com

 * 1. Load Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
 * 2. Go to www.thingiverse.com
 * 3. Search something to print using the search bar in the upper right-hand corner. Downloading an STL File Procedure Step 3.jpg
 * 4. In the search results list, click on the link that pertains to the object you wish to print. Do not click on a link that is the image of something.
 * 5. On the object’s page, confirm this is what you want to print by referring to the images on the left.
 * 6. Near the bottom of the page find an STL file to download. NOTE: There may not be any file to download if the STL file for that object has not yet been developed.
 * 7. Click the red download arrow adjacent to the STL file you want to print. Downloading an STL File Procedure Step 7.jpg
 * 8. Refer back to the desktop to confirm the file was downloaded.
 * 9. If the STL file is present, you have successfully downloaded the file, and are ready to print.

Download the part from http://www.tracepartsonline.net/
Have to create an account, can make a preference that want STL files ... then just download ... has all sorts of electrical and mechanical parts.

Downloading an STL file from http://www.3dvia.com

 * 1. Open Google Chrome or Mozilla Fire Fox.
 * 2. Go to http://www.3dvia.com
 * 3. Create an account.
 * 4. In the upper right hand corner search for some thing in the search toolbox.
 * 5. In the search results list, click on the link that you like the most.
 * 6. Below the image a link to download will appear.
 * 7. Download the STL file. NOTE: There may not be any file to download if the STL file for that object has not yet been developed.
 * 8. Refer back to the desktop to confirm the file was downloaded.
 * 9. If the STL file is present, you have successfully downloaded the file, and are ready to print.

3D Warehouse http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/
Have to convert from sketchup file format to STL. Some items convert, others don't. Is a difference between mesh (STL) and frame file formats.

MeshLab is oriented to the management and processing of unstructured large meshes and provides a set of tools for editing, cleaning, healing, inspecting, rendering and converting these kinds of meshes (STL files).