# AI Tabletop Miniature Maker

> To make 3D printed tabletop miniatures with AI, describe the character or monster standing on a round base, generate it in Kenerate AI's 3D Studio, get an STL (Rodin exports it directly), scale it to your game, commonly 28–32 mm, with the free STL editor, and print it, ideally on a resin printer for fine detail.

URL: https://kenerateai.com/3d-printed-miniatures
Publisher: Kenerate AI (https://kenerateai.com)
Last updated: 2026-10-01

## Key facts
- Input: A prompt or a character drawing
- Best engine: Rodin 2.5 at 150K triangles, STL
- Base: Ask for “on a round base” in the prompt
- Scale: Set the height in mm (e.g. ~32 mm for a human-sized hero at 28–32 mm scale)
- Printer: Resin for fine detail; FDM for larger monsters and terrain
- Access: Generation on paid plans and credit packs; print tools free
- Engine Meshy 7.1 (Meshy): inputs Text/Photo/Multi-view; files GLB, FBX, OBJ, USDZ; typical about 3–4 min; Production assets with the finest Meshy geometry (2K / 4K), smart topology, rigging and animation.
- Engine Meshy 7 (Meshy): inputs Text/Photo/Multi-view; files GLB, FBX, OBJ, USDZ; typical about 3–4 min; Detailed game and product assets, with an Ultra detail switch, low-poly mode and auto-rigging.
- Engine Meshy 6 (Meshy): inputs Text/Photo; files GLB, FBX, OBJ, USDZ; typical about 3–4 min; Reliable textured meshes with a polygon budget you control — the engine 3D Studio started on.
- Engine Tripo P2 (Tripo): inputs Text/Photo; files GLB, FBX; typical about 3–4 min; Crisp, game-ready meshes with pro texture tiers up to Extreme and clean quad remeshing.
- Engine Tripo H3.1 (Tripo): inputs Text/Photo/Multi-view; files GLB; typical about 4–5 min; High-quality meshes, with detailed geometry and a four-view mode for exact shapes.
- Engine GPT-6 Astra (OpenAI): inputs Text/Photo/Multi-view; files GLB; typical about 5–6 min; OpenAI's general GPT-6 Astra model run as a 3D job — follows long, detailed briefs and up to 10 reference photos, returns a GLB with PBR textures at real-world size. The slowest engine.
- Engine Rodin 2.5 (Hyper3D): inputs Text/Photo/Multi-view; files GLB, FBX, OBJ, USDZ, STL; typical about 2–3 min; Studio-grade meshes from 2K to 500K faces, quad or triangle, with a HighPack for 4K textures.
- Engine Rodin 2 (Hyper3D): inputs Text/Photo/Multi-view; files GLB, FBX, OBJ, USDZ, STL; typical about 2–3 min; Clean, detailed meshes — the first photo drives the materials.
- Engine Hunyuan 3D 3.1 Rapid (Tencent): inputs Text/Photo; files GLB; typical about 1 min; The fastest geometry — an untextured (clay) GLB for quick blockouts, drafts and ideas.

## Steps
1. Describe the miniature — Keep weapons and limbs close to the body.
2. Generate on Rodin — 150K triangles, STL.
3. Scale to your table — e.g. a ~32 mm tall human hero.
4. Print — Resin for detail; add supports; cure and paint.

## In depth

### Scale and size
STL carries no units [1], so a mini's scale is whatever height you set. Decide the scale first, then set the model's height in millimetres; 3MF stores the unit for you [5].

### Thin parts at small scale
At miniature size, weapons and limbs can drop below printable thickness — about 0.9 mm is a safe FDM minimum on a 0.4 mm nozzle [11]. Resin goes finer, but thin parts still break; ask for weapons held close.

References:
[1] Wikipedia — STL (file format): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format)
[2] Wikipedia — Wavefront .obj file: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavefront_.obj_file
[3] Wikipedia — FBX: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FBX
[4] Khronos Group — glTF: https://www.khronos.org/gltf/
[5] 3MF Consortium — 3MF specification: https://3mf.io/specification/
[6] Wikipedia — Universal Scene Description (USD / USDZ): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Scene_Description
[7] Wikipedia — PLY (file format): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLY_(file_format)
[8] Khronos Group — glTF 2.0 specification: https://registry.khronos.org/glTF/specs/2.0/glTF-2.0.html
[9] Apple — AR Quick Look: https://developer.apple.com/augmented-reality/quick-look/
[10] three.js — documentation: https://threejs.org/docs/
[11] Prusa Knowledge Base — Modeling with 3D printing in mind: https://help.prusa3d.com/article/modeling-with-3d-printing-in-mind_164135
[12] Prusa Blog — lithophanes and filament transparency: https://blog.prusa3d.com/lets-play-with-filament-transparency-how-to-make-amazing-lifelike-color-photos-with-just-a-simple-color-change_104338/
[13] Polymers (2024) 16(20):2862 — FFF parameters and translucency of PLA: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16202862
[14] Wikipedia — Lithophane: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithophane
[15] W3C — CSS Values and Units Level 3 (absolute lengths): https://www.w3.org/TR/css-values-3/
[16] Adobe Substance 3D — OpenGL vs DirectX normal maps: https://experienceleague.adobe.com/en/docs/substance-3d/bakers/common-questions/what-is-the-difference-between-the-opengl-and-directx-normal-format
[17] Blender Manual — Normal Map node: https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/render/shader_nodes/displacement/normal_map.html
[18] Wikipedia — Normal mapping: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_mapping
[19] SIL Open Font License: https://openfontlicense.org/
[20] Meshy Blog — Meshy 7.1 launch (10 Sep 2026): https://www.meshy.ai/blog/meshy-7-1-launch
[21] Meshy Blog — Meshy 7 and image-to-3D geometry alignment: https://www.meshy.ai/blog/meshy-7-image-to-3d-geometry-alignment
[22] Meshy Help — Meshy 7 vs Meshy 6 vs Meshy 6 Lite: https://help.meshy.ai/en/articles/15697060-meshy-7-vs-meshy-6-vs-meshy-6-lite-which-ai-model-should-you-use
[23] Tripo Developer Docs — Tripo H3.1 (v3.1-20260211): https://developers.tripo3d.ai/en/models/v3-1
[24] VoxelMatters — Tripo AI launches P2.0 with native quad meshes (Sep 2026): https://www.voxelmatters.com/tripo-ai-launches-p2-0-model-to-generate-native-quad-meshes-for-production-pipelines/
[25] Hyper3D — Rodin Gen-2.5 launch press release (May 2026): https://pressadvantage.com/story/94732-hyper3d-launches-rodin-gen-2-5-bringing-sculpt-level-detail-and-production-control-to-ai-3d-generati
[26] arXiv — BANG: Dividing 3D Assets via Generative Exploded Dynamics (SIGGRAPH 2025): https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.21493
[27] befores & afters — Deemos launches Rodin Gen-2 (Oct 2025): https://beforesandafters.com/2025/10/02/deemos-launches-rodin-gen-2-a-groundbreaking-generative-ai-for-intuitive-3d-creation/
[28] GitHub — Tencent Hunyuan3D 2.1 (open weights): https://github.com/Tencent-Hunyuan/Hunyuan3D-2.1
[29] Hugging Face — Tencent Hunyuan 3D 2.1 Community License: https://huggingface.co/tencent/Hunyuan3D-2.1/blob/main/LICENSE
[30] Tencent Cloud — Hunyuan 3D product changelog: https://cloud.tencent.com/document/product/1804/120694
[31] CNBC — OpenAI rolls out GPT-6 Astra (3 Sep 2026): https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/03/open-ai-astra-gpt-6-cyber.html
[32] AWS Bedrock — OpenAI GPT-6 Astra model card: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/bedrock/latest/userguide/model-card-openai-gpt-6-astra.html
[33] VoxelMatters — GPT-6 Astra can turn photos into 3D models: https://www.voxelmatters.com/gpt-6-astra-can-turn-photos-into-3d-models-and-playable-environments/
[34] WaveSpeedAI — GPT-6 Astra image-to-3D endpoint: https://wavespeed.ai/models/openai/gpt-6-astra/image-to-3d
[35] WaveSpeedAI — Hunyuan 3D 3.1 image-to-3D Rapid endpoint: https://wavespeed.ai/models/wavespeed-ai/hunyuan-3d-v3.1/image-to-3d-rapid

## FAQ
Q: Can AI make tabletop miniatures?
A: Yes. Describe the character or monster on a round base, generate it in the 3D Studio and download an STL.

Q: What scale are tabletop minis?
A: Many games use roughly 28–32 mm scale. STL has no units, so set the height you want in millimetres with the free STL editor.

Q: Resin or FDM for 3D printed miniatures?
A: Resin 3D printed miniatures capture small faces and details much better; FDM suits larger monsters and terrain.

Q: Are the miniatures pre-supported?
A: No. Add supports in your slicer before printing.

Q: Can you sell 3D printed miniatures made with AI?
A: Original designs you generate can be printed and sold; check each engine maker's terms, and don't copy protected characters.

Q: How do you paint 3D printed miniatures?
A: Clean the print first: remove supports, and wash and cure resin minis. Then prime it, paint thin layers of acrylic from the base colours to the details, and seal it with varnish. The round base doubles as a handle while you paint.

Q: Is it free?
A: Generation is on any paid plan or credit pack; resizing and converting files is free.

## Related pages
- 3D printed action figures: https://kenerateai.com/3d-printed-action-figures
- AI 3D printing models: https://kenerateai.com/ai-3d-printing-model-generator
- GLB to STL: https://kenerateai.com/glb-to-stl
- STL editor: https://kenerateai.com/stl-editor

## Sources
- Wikipedia — STL (file format): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format)
- Wikipedia — Wavefront .obj file: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavefront_.obj_file
- Wikipedia — FBX: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FBX
- Khronos Group — glTF: https://www.khronos.org/gltf/
- 3MF Consortium — 3MF specification: https://3mf.io/specification/
- Wikipedia — Universal Scene Description (USD / USDZ): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Scene_Description
- Wikipedia — PLY (file format): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLY_(file_format)
- Khronos Group — glTF 2.0 specification: https://registry.khronos.org/glTF/specs/2.0/glTF-2.0.html
- Apple — AR Quick Look: https://developer.apple.com/augmented-reality/quick-look/
- three.js — documentation: https://threejs.org/docs/
- Prusa Knowledge Base — Modeling with 3D printing in mind: https://help.prusa3d.com/article/modeling-with-3d-printing-in-mind_164135
- Prusa Blog — lithophanes and filament transparency: https://blog.prusa3d.com/lets-play-with-filament-transparency-how-to-make-amazing-lifelike-color-photos-with-just-a-simple-color-change_104338/
- Polymers (2024) 16(20):2862 — FFF parameters and translucency of PLA: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16202862
- Wikipedia — Lithophane: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithophane
- W3C — CSS Values and Units Level 3 (absolute lengths): https://www.w3.org/TR/css-values-3/
- Adobe Substance 3D — OpenGL vs DirectX normal maps: https://experienceleague.adobe.com/en/docs/substance-3d/bakers/common-questions/what-is-the-difference-between-the-opengl-and-directx-normal-format
- Blender Manual — Normal Map node: https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/render/shader_nodes/displacement/normal_map.html
- Wikipedia — Normal mapping: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_mapping
- SIL Open Font License: https://openfontlicense.org/
- Meshy Blog — Meshy 7.1 launch (10 Sep 2026): https://www.meshy.ai/blog/meshy-7-1-launch
- Meshy Blog — Meshy 7 and image-to-3D geometry alignment: https://www.meshy.ai/blog/meshy-7-image-to-3d-geometry-alignment
- Meshy Help — Meshy 7 vs Meshy 6 vs Meshy 6 Lite: https://help.meshy.ai/en/articles/15697060-meshy-7-vs-meshy-6-vs-meshy-6-lite-which-ai-model-should-you-use
- Tripo Developer Docs — Tripo H3.1 (v3.1-20260211): https://developers.tripo3d.ai/en/models/v3-1
- VoxelMatters — Tripo AI launches P2.0 with native quad meshes (Sep 2026): https://www.voxelmatters.com/tripo-ai-launches-p2-0-model-to-generate-native-quad-meshes-for-production-pipelines/
- Hyper3D — Rodin Gen-2.5 launch press release (May 2026): https://pressadvantage.com/story/94732-hyper3d-launches-rodin-gen-2-5-bringing-sculpt-level-detail-and-production-control-to-ai-3d-generati
- arXiv — BANG: Dividing 3D Assets via Generative Exploded Dynamics (SIGGRAPH 2025): https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.21493
- befores & afters — Deemos launches Rodin Gen-2 (Oct 2025): https://beforesandafters.com/2025/10/02/deemos-launches-rodin-gen-2-a-groundbreaking-generative-ai-for-intuitive-3d-creation/
- GitHub — Tencent Hunyuan3D 2.1 (open weights): https://github.com/Tencent-Hunyuan/Hunyuan3D-2.1
- Hugging Face — Tencent Hunyuan 3D 2.1 Community License: https://huggingface.co/tencent/Hunyuan3D-2.1/blob/main/LICENSE
- Tencent Cloud — Hunyuan 3D product changelog: https://cloud.tencent.com/document/product/1804/120694
- CNBC — OpenAI rolls out GPT-6 Astra (3 Sep 2026): https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/03/open-ai-astra-gpt-6-cyber.html
- AWS Bedrock — OpenAI GPT-6 Astra model card: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/bedrock/latest/userguide/model-card-openai-gpt-6-astra.html
- VoxelMatters — GPT-6 Astra can turn photos into 3D models: https://www.voxelmatters.com/gpt-6-astra-can-turn-photos-into-3d-models-and-playable-environments/
- WaveSpeedAI — GPT-6 Astra image-to-3D endpoint: https://wavespeed.ai/models/openai/gpt-6-astra/image-to-3d
- WaveSpeedAI — Hunyuan 3D 3.1 image-to-3D Rapid endpoint: https://wavespeed.ai/models/wavespeed-ai/hunyuan-3d-v3.1/image-to-3d-rapid