A Mario-pipe cartridge organizer, uploaded September 4
A fresh Thingiverse cartridge organizer turns into a modular retro-game product test, with three STL files, starting settings, and the licensing boundary to check before selling.
Published on Thingiverse on September 4, 2026, Dipthong's Nintendo DS/3DS Game Cartridge Storage Pipe is a three-part, screw-together container for Nintendo DS and 3DS cartridges. Each middle section holds eight games, and additional middle sections can extend the stack. The shape gives a retro-game seller a more distinctive product than a flat cartridge tray, while the file remains practical enough for a small first batch. 1
The commercial opportunity is a small collector accessory: a desk display, a gift for a retro-game owner, or a themed storage piece for a local game shop. Demand is still unproven. The Thingiverse files page showed two downloads for each of the three STL files when checked, so print one sample and test the fit before treating the design as a product line. 2
What you get
The design uses three parts:
- a base;
- one or more middle sections; and
- a lid.
The creator says each layer stores eight DS or 3DS cartridges. The middle section uses screw threads, so a seller can test a single-layer version first and add capacity later without changing the basic product concept. 1
The source does not publish model dimensions, a slicer profile, or a print-time estimate. Measure the assembled sample before writing a listing, especially if the product will be photographed beside a specific game case or sold as a fixed-capacity organizer.
STL download path
Open the official Thingiverse files page and download these three printer-ready STL files:
| File | Role | File size shown on the source page |
|---|---|---|
DS_Cartridge_Screwtop_Container_v1_DS_Cartridge_Screwtop_Container_v1_External1_1_base.stl | Base | 93.1 KB 2 |
DS_Cartridge_Screwtop_Container_v1_DS_Cartridge_Screwtop_Container_v1_External1_1_middle.stl | Expandable middle section | 216.8 KB 2 |
DS_Cartridge_Screwtop_Container_v1_DS_Cartridge_Screwtop_Container_v1_External1_1_lid.stl | Lid | 336.3 KB 2 |
Thingiverse exposes the exact filenames and the official download flow on the files page. The retrieved page does not expose anonymous raw STL URLs, so use the files page rather than constructing a link that may fail. 2
Print settings for the first sample
The creator's main print note concerns orientation: print the lid and middle section with their inner threads facing upward. Supports printed on the threads can make the finished parts difficult to use. 1
The table below separates that creator instruction from the remaining editorial starting points. The source does not provide a complete slicer profile.
| Setting | First-run starting point | Why it fits this test |
|---|---|---|
| Layer height | 0.20 mm — editorial starting point | Keeps the thread surfaces reasonably smooth without making the test unnecessarily slow. |
| Infill | 15% — editorial starting point | The container is mainly a shell; increase it if the base flexes under a full load. |
| Supports | Off for the first slice; inspect the thread cavities and underside in preview | The creator specifically warns against support material on the threads. Add only local support if the preview shows a genuine unsupported island. 1 |
| Material | PLA for the first product sample; PETG for a tougher revision | PLA makes the first color and fit test simple. PETG is a reasonable later option for a container that will travel in a bag. These are editorial material choices because the source does not state a filament type. |
| Nozzle | 0.4 mm — editorial starting point | A standard nozzle keeps the first test compatible with common FDM profiles. |
| Orientation | Base flat on the build plate; lid and middle with the inner threads facing upward | This follows the creator's orientation note for the threaded parts. 1 |
| Perimeters | 3 walls — editorial starting point | Adds strength around the threaded wall without making the first sample needlessly heavy. |
Print one base, one middle section, and one lid. Clean the thread edges gently, then screw the parts together by hand. Test eight cartridges in the finished layer before printing extra middle sections. A tight thread or a cartridge slot that binds is a reason to adjust the profile or scale a copy for testing, not a reason to start a batch.
Time, difficulty, and materials
Estimated print time: about 3–6 hours for one base, one middle section, and one lid on a modern FDM printer at the starting settings above. The estimate is editorial because the source gives no duration or dimensions. Wall count, speed, layer height, and the number of middle sections will change the result.
Difficulty: intermediate. The three files are straightforward to arrange, but the threaded connections create a fit check. The first sample should include the actual cartridges that the listing will promise to hold.
For a first product photo, use one color for the body and a contrasting color for the lid. Matte PLA in green, red, white, or charcoal supports the retro-game shape without requiring a multicolor printer. A black body with a bright lid makes the screw connection easy to see. PETG in black or translucent smoke is a later option for buyers who value everyday durability.
Where the sales angle works
The design gives a seller three simple offers:
- Single-layer cartridge pipe: eight cartridges in a compact desktop display.
- Expandable collector stack: one base, several middle sections, and one lid for a larger collection.
- Gift version: a color-matched container photographed with empty slots and a short card explaining the capacity.
Keep the product description specific about capacity and compatibility. The listing should say that the model is for DS and 3DS cartridges, state how many middle sections are included, and show the open container beside a real cartridge. The creator's source photos use a pipe-like visual language, but the listing should avoid implying any official connection with Nintendo.
License and the Nintendo problem
Thingiverse marks the model CC BY-SA. The Creative Commons deed permits commercial sharing and adaptation when the user gives appropriate credit and releases adaptations under the same license. 3
The license is useful for a print-to-sell prototype, but the license does not clear Nintendo's separate rights. Creative Commons' legal code says that patent and trademark rights are not licensed by the CC BY-SA grant. 4
Credit Dipthong, link to the original Thingiverse listing and the CC BY-SA terms, and state any changes you made. Avoid Nintendo, Mario, and other protected branding in the product title, photos, tags, and packaging unless you have separate permission. A safer listing position is a DS/3DS-compatible retro-game cartridge storage pipe with the platform names used only to describe compatibility. Keep the original STL private and document the license with the product files.
Verdict
Prototype this one if you already sell retro-gaming accessories and can keep the listing brand-neutral. The model has a useful capacity story, a modular structure, three named STL files, and a fresh September 4 upload. The fit, dimensions, print time, and demand still need testing, and the raw STL links are unavailable outside Thingiverse's official download flow. Print one complete layer, load eight cartridges, cycle the threads several times, and only then decide whether the pipe belongs in a small-batch collection.
References
- 1Nintendo DS/3DS Game Cartridge Storage Pipe
thingiverse.com
- 2Nintendo DS/3DS Game Cartridge Storage Pipe files
thingiverse.com
- 3Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
creativecommons.org
- 4Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International legal code
creativecommons.org
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