I built a no-CAD STL generator to solve everyday problems with 3D Printing

What is Lunar Prototypes?

Lunar Prototypes is my attempt to help bridge the gap between "I have a 3D printer" and "I can use CAD to design whatever I want."

When I got into 3D printing, I quickly saw the potential, but I couldn’t find the right files to fix my real-world problems. Eventually I gave in and learned CAD.

After that, my house started filling with parts like custom water bottle caps for my kid, mounts for baby monitors, brackets for baby gates, and even dumb things like a pop-up tent extension to stop hitting our heads.

Then one night, a friend introduced me to parametric modeling. I asked ChatGPT what it would take to make this easier for others, and then I got a little carried away.

A year and a half later, Lunar Prototypes is the result. A web-based system that takes parameters, updates a Fusion 360 model, and returns a tailored STL that fits your real-life need. All without CAD required.

What does it do and how does it do it?

The Lunar Prototypes design customizer allows you to pick a design from my catalog, enter your parameters, and generate a custom fit version built to your specs.

Under the hood, it works like this:

• The site takes your form input and converts it to JSON

• That gets sent to an API, which queues the job in Redis

• A Fusion 360 worker node polls the queue, processes the job, updates the model, and exports a tailored STL

• The STL is delivered right back to you for download

The user can get a part that adapts to their needs. Be it a container, shelf, customizable pattern on an object, or screw size, without opening a CAD program.

I've also built a CI/CD pipeline and created a bunch of Fusion360 scripts to automate as much as possible because, well, being a solo creator, I don't have time for repetitive tasks.

Who is this for?

Right now, it's built for 3D printing hobbyists who are tired of printing things that almost work. It's for people who want to solve real problems with their printer. Mount something, organize something, fix something, but don't have the time or interest to learn CAD.

Longer term, I see this as a foundation for more than just hobby use:

• Creators could embed customizers in storefronts to offer personalized prints

• Print farms could batch-process tailored orders

• Repair businesses could generate adaptive replacement parts for legacy gear

• Educators could use it to teach geometry and design without software overhead

Eventually, I’d love to make the backend flexible enough to support other modeling tools, not just Fusion 360. That way, the system could power all kinds of use cases where someone just wants to type in a few numbers and get a print-ready part, no CAD required.

Current Status

So far, I've validated basic functionality with friends and some wider audience users. I've processed a couple hundred jobs using the system myself, and real-world users have generated probably about 50-100 customizations as well.

The catalog has over 50 original designs, I'm actively posting them on Printables and Thangs, and engaging users on social media sites like Instagram and YouTube shorts.

I've set up a Patreon to gauge interest and help cover the nominal costs while I refine. I've started a Discord server to gather quick actionable feedback and collaborate with users. Next up is newsletter.

What I'm Looking For

Would love your thoughts on:

• Use cases I’m overlooking

• Better ways to explain what this does

• Early monetization ideas (currently donation-supported)

• Whether this feels like a tool, a product, or the start of a platform

Open to feedback, questions, or collabs, especially if you’ve built in this space or see something I don’t.

Check it out: https://lunarprototypes.com

Thanks for reading, and I'm happy to answer any questions about backend, Fusion360 integration, or what I'm learning from users.