Are you a board game fan or tabletop gamer? Why settle for generic game tokens when you can 3D print custom pieces right at home? 🎮
With the rise of affordable FDM and resin printers, it’s now easier than ever to create custom tokens, dice, meeples, and miniatures for your favorite games.
In this blog, we’ll guide you on how to design, download, and print your own game pieces — perfect for both fun and business.
🧩 What Game Pieces Can You 3D Print?
Here are just a few examples you can bring to life with a 3D printer:
Type | Examples |
---|---|
🎲 Dice | D6, D20, custom-shaped dice |
🧍 Meeples | Catan, Carcassonne tokens |
🧙 Miniatures | Dungeons & Dragons characters |
🧱 Tiles & Boards | Terrain, hex boards |
🎮 Controller Mods | Thumb grips, joystick caps |
🗡️ Game Props | Swords, shields, in-game artifacts |
You can even replace missing pieces from old board games!
🔍 Where to Get Ready-Made STL Files
Website | Features | Free/Paid |
---|---|---|
Thingiverse | Large open-source library | Free |
Printables | Game & tabletop categories | Free |
MyMiniFactory | High-detail miniatures | Both |
Cults3D | Premium tokens and game assets | Paid |
Hero Forge | Customize DnD characters | Paid |
📥 Tip: Always check the license for personal vs commercial use.
🛠️ FDM vs Resin – Which Is Better?
Printer Type | Best For | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|---|
FDM | Tokens, dice, boards | Cheap, durable | Lower detail for minis |
Resin | Detailed figurines | High resolution & smooth | Needs post-processing |
🎯 Recommendation: Use FDM for gameplay, resin for collectibles.
🎨 Finishing Touches – Painting & Assembly
To take your prints to the next level:
- Sand with 600–2000 grit paper
- Prime with spray primer
- Use acrylic paints + fine brushes
- Apply washes for shadow depth
- Seal with matte clear coat
💡 Trinity Layers will soon offer Painting Starter Kits for gamers.
🧠 Pro Tips
✅ Scale pieces to fit game boards properly
✅ Hollow large parts to save filament
✅ Label pieces (e.g., HP counters, player colors)
✅ Store prints in a foam-lined box for protection
💸 Want to Sell Game Pieces?
Start creating your own game accessories and sell them on:
- Etsy
- Amazon (Custom Accessories)
- Your own website via print-on-demand
Just be mindful of fan art laws and copyright — which we’ll cover in an upcoming blog.
🧩 Trinity Layers Support
We help gamers:
- Design custom pieces (STL)
- Print in high detail resin
- Ship across India
- Build their own game accessory store
📬 Visit: www.trinitylayers.in