PrintPal 3D Puzzle Maker
Upload any 3D model and cut it into interlocking jigsaw pieces
Opens printpal.io
About PrintPal 3D Puzzle Maker
PrintPal's 3D Puzzle Maker turns an existing 3D model into a jigsaw puzzle. You upload an STL or OBJ, for example a statue, animal or landmark, and the tool slices it into a grid of interlocking pieces that fit back together into the original shape.
You choose the number of rows and columns, up to 15 by 15, the axis the cuts run along, the size of the interlocking knobs and a print tolerance, with 0.3 to 0.5 mm suggested for FDM printers. The preview can show an exploded view, colour code the pieces, overlay the original model and play an assembly animation. Downloads come as one STL with all pieces in place or a zip with a file per piece.
The tool itself is free and runs in your browser with WebAssembly, so your model stays on your computer, but it needs a free PrintPal account. It is a fun way to turn any printable model into a 3D puzzle gift.
What you can make
- 3D jigsaw puzzles from any model
- Puzzle versions of statues and landmarks
- Interlocking sliced models
How to use it
- Sign in and upload an STL or OBJ
- Set rows, columns and cut axis
- Adjust knob size and tolerance
- Download one STL or a zip of pieces
Good
- Works with any STL or OBJ you already have
- Adjustable knob size and tolerance
- Exploded view and assembly animation
Not so good
- Account required
- You need a source model to start
- Tolerance often needs a test print
What you'll need to print it
Materials and parts that give the best results with PrintPal 3D Puzzle Maker.
Matte PLA for signs and Gridfinity
Matte filament hides layer lines and cuts glare, so raised lettering on signs and nameplates stays readable from any angle and a drawer full of bins looks uniform.
- Bambu Lab PLA MatteWide colour range with AMS-ready RFID, ideal for multi-colour signs.
- Polymaker Panchroma Matte PLA (formerly PolyTerra)The former PolyTerra line under a new name: soft matte look and good value for printing Gridfinity in bulk.
- SUNLU Matte PLALow-cost matte option for large batches of bins and baseplates.
Multicolour PLA for keychains and HueForge
Dual- and tri-colour silks give a single-nozzle printer colour shifts with no extra hardware, and a matched colour set is what lets HueForge and colour lithophanes blend thin layers into a full image.
- Bambu Lab PLA Silk Multi-ColorCo-extruded dual and tri colours that shift with the viewing angle; great for keychains and name tags.
- SUNLU Multi-Color Silk PLA (dual/tri/four-colour)Budget dual-, tri- and four-colour silk for colourful prints without an AMS.
- Bambu Lab PLA CMYK Lithophane BundleFour 1 kg spools (cyan, magenta, yellow, white) made for colour lithophanes and handy for HueForge-style layering.
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. More about that
Alternatives to PrintPal 3D Puzzle Maker
All puzzles & games generators
Puzzles & Games
Pixel Puzzle Maker (MakerLab)
Turn any image into a colour coded pixel art puzzle to print and assemble
Puzzles & Games
Board Game Storage Designer (BGSD)
Form based editor for the popular Boardgame Insert Toolkit, no code needed