The 3D Prints and Models of Maker6

We're looking at a new service for 3D printer owners and users, Maker6. The site operates primarily as a source of 3D models, prints and printers for anyone seeking a print. There are three ways to use Maker6:

 

• Purchase a 3D print by selecting a design. It will be printed and sent to you
• Purchase a 3D model for download and print on your own 3D printer
• Link with a 3D printer owner to receive a quote on a 3D print in your area

 

It's all about getting a 3D print, using one of the three methods above. However, like most emerging model-source sites, there are not a lot of 3D models to choose from. In the case of Maker6, there are not that many 3D printer owners hooked into their service ecosystem yet, either - but it is fascinating to browse the different rates being charged by them. 

 

That said, Maker6 is very well organized and provides easy ways to find models and services. You might want to check them out. 

 

Via Maker6

The 3DAGOGO Model Repository

Another 3D model repository focused on printable 3D models has surfaced: 3DAGOGO. 

 

This service is new and has a very limited set of models to choose from, but is well-organized and easy to use. One of the most interesting features we noted was the display of useful 3D print information about the model itself. Check out the list of data associated with the "Fat Pumpkin" model by designer Francisco Ramirez (image above): 

 

PRINT DIFFICULTY: INTERMEDIATE

PRINT TIME: MEDIUM

SUPPORT MATERIAL: NO

MIN # OF EXTRUDERS: 1

LAGEST PRINTABLE PIECE: 65 x 69 x 44 (mm)

SCALEABLE: YES

MULTIPLE PARTS: YES

FINISHING TIME REQUIRED: YES, 10MIN

RECOMMENDED MATERIALS: NONE LISTED 

 

For those new to 3D printing, and there are a lot of you out there, this data can make the difference between selecting a model that will be successfully printed on your machine - or not. 

 

The site is set up for pay-for models as well, with different licensing models offering varying rights to the models downloaded. 

 

You should also know that 3DAGOGO now has a design contest open, where you could win a MakerBot Digitizer or filament. The contest is pretty straightforward: "the coolest design for the home wins it". Enter at the link below before December 31st. 

 

Via 3DAGOGO and 3DAGOGO Contest

The Bld3r Repository

We bumped into another printable 3D model repository: Bld3r. The site operates as a kind of meta-layer over top of other repositories, but brings it all together in a single interface. The idea is to reduce or even eliminate any difficulties typically caused by a repository's terms of use. You can store your models in Thingiverse, GitHub or other places and display them on Bld3r. Bld3r also permits storage on their own servers if you so desire. 

 

There are three ways to exhibit your 3D model on Bld3r: upload the STl file, link to a 3D model elsewhere or link to a Torrent for larger downloads. 

 

The site also offers some tutorials and community features, but the key will be adding more 3D models. 

 

As you can imagine, a new repository such as Bld3r does not have nearly as many models as the big sites like Thingiverse, but it does offer an alternative. They say: 

 

Bld3r is a community for 3D printing tinkerers and enthusiasts. 

You might love sharing your creations with others or you might simply want to print cool, quality designs. In any case, everyone here wants the best objects. 

 

Print freely and responsibly.

 

We agree. 

 

Via Bldr

bhold Launches bhold Labs

New York-based 3D printing design specialists bhold launched a new program: bhold labs. The new venture is intended to gather feedback on their 3D printed designs before they are offered to the public. 

 

bhold provides a catalog of unique 3D printed items for sale, including household items such as organizers, hooks and more, all produced using 3D printing. It's like a small Shapeways, but with curated content. 

 

The curation will improve with the introduction of their labs component, where: 

 

As a participant, you will receive prototypes of our latest products by mail. Play with the product, test it, stress it. When you're ready, send us your feedback. When the final version is ready, all bhold labs testers will be able to purchase the final products at a reduced rate for a limited time.

 

This could be an interesting way to get involved in 3D design. 

 

Via bhold labs

Fabulonia to Protect 3D Designs

Startup Fabulonia has a new concept that could provide significant protection to designers fearful of losing control of their works. 

 

As we understand it, Fabulonia will operate as a repository of 3D models submitted by (hopefully famous and notable) 3D designers. Consumers will be able to search, select and purchase a "print" from the repository for production on their personal 3D printer. 

 

This is where it gets a little different. The "print" is actually streamed to the 3D printer. The consumer never receives the original 3D model. This is quite different from the typical repository, where STL files are simply downloaded and printed. 

 

And printed again. And maybe sold, too. That's where the problem lies for designers who have spent considerable time preparing their models. So far, Fabulonia seems to have signed up a number of 3D designers as listed on their site. They'll receive royalties, we presume, as site visitors purchase their models. 

 

We're not certain how the Fabulonia system works, but we suspect they may be generating some type of self-destructing GCODE for specific machines and streaming it to printers. We'll find out more when they launch. 

 

Via Fabulonia

GitHub Offers Visual 3D Model Diffs

If you've not heard of GitHub, it is a very popular online software repository service. You can store and share the code for a project and track changes that occur by creating versions and "branches" for production and test use. One of the most important features is "diffs": the ability to "see" changes in the code. Added lines are shown in green, while deletions are in red. 

 

But it's just for software, correct?

 

Not so! GitHub supports STL format, meaning you can store and track versions of your 3D model. This week they announced a more advanced feature: Diffs for 3D models! STL files can be shown in 3D, but now you can overlay two versions of a model and be shown (in red and green no less) the differences between the two. Green is added "shape", while red has been taken away. 

 

Even better, they provide a slider control where you can visually observe the transformation from one 3D version to another.

 

Other 3D model repositories do not have this feature, as far as we can tell. While it may not be important for simple models, as complexity increases and multiple versions, it's just as important to track your 3D model as you would software.

 

If you have a complex 3D model project worth sharing, you'd best consider GitHub as your repository. 

 

Via GitHub

Thing-a-ma-Print, A 3D Model Repository

We've noticed another 3D model repository dedicated to printable models: Thing-a-ma-Print. Currently the site holds only 50 or so 3D models, but each model is indeed 3D printable. 

 

The content of the site appears to be focused on 3D printer parts, such as the M5 Nut Thumb Wheel or the Hot-End Exit Duct for Aluminatus T1. There's also tech content such as the Parametric Appliance Knob, which would be very useful for anyone facing a $40 bill to replace a broken washing machine control. 

 

The high ratio of tech content is likely a reflection of the site's major audience: 3D printer kit makers. 

 

We're wondering if the overwhelming avalanche of models in Thingiverse will cause more sites like this to emerge. Sites that focus on particular domains and are thus more familiar and engaging to a specific audience. 

 

Via Thing-a-ma-Print

DEFCAD Morphs into a Search Engine

You might remember DEFCAD? It was a site dedicated to hosting "controversial" 3D models that underwent some difficulties when the US Government seized their inventory of 3D printable weapon models. We thought that might be the end for DEFCAD. 

 

Apparently not. A visit to DEFCAD shows they've changed the site into a meta-search engine for printable 3D models. Currently it's in an "alpha" state, meaning it's not quite ready for production use. While there are a couple of 3D model search engines already in existence, we wondered what would differentiate DEFCAD. They say: 

 

DEFCAD is a search engine for 3d printable models.

DEFCAD hosts zero object files

DEFCAD does not track what you search, download, or view

DEFCAD allows for truly anonymous contributions

 

The search engine is useful; while they currently appear to be indexing only Thingiverse, the results are displayed in concise form with the ability to sort on a number of properties. 

 

If DEFCAD were able to index a few other repositories, particularly the big 3D sites where identification of 3D printable items were made possible, it could become a pretty decent meta-search site for 3D prints. 

 

Via DEFCAD

Need to 3D Print a Striped Hyena Skull?

To be truthful, we haven't had the impulse to 3D print a Striped Hyena Skull. At least so far this week. But in case you do, we've found a repository that holds detailed 3D models of numerous biological items, mainly 3D scanned skulls. 

 

Digimorph, part of the National Science Foundation Digital Libraries Initiative, is billed as a "unique biological visualization library". They say: 

 

...develops and serves unique 2D and 3D visualizations of the internal and external structure of living and extinct vertebrates, and a growing number of 'invertebrates.' The Digital Morphology library contains nearly a terabyte of imagery of natural history specimens that are important to education and central to ongoing cutting-edge research efforts.

 

And they just happen to have a number of 3D models in addition to the images and other material present. 

 

We count 49 STL models freely available for download - and 3D printing. But beware, some of these scans are complex and will involve significant amounts of support material. It turns out that skulls don't always have flat bottoms, who knew? 

 

Yes, we're looking to print the Striped Hyena after all; that's the one pictured above. 

  

Via Digimorph

FabMe.it Launches

Another 3D model sharing site has launched, FabMe.it. The site operates in what is now becoming a standard business model: 3D designers upload their designs to the service for sale to the public. Presumably FabMe.it takes a portion of the sales, which for the models we inspected, seem to be priced around €0.99 (USD$1.30). 

 

FabMe.it includes some interesting models, such as the Vertical Home Cultivation system component shown here, strangely named "Juice". 

 

FabMe.it Community Manager Jacopo Zanon says: 

 

Designers can upload their 3d files to the platform and make them available for purchase in the same way digital music is sold elsewhere on the net. 

  

It seems we see another version of this business model starting up each week and it will be very tough for such ventures to distinguish themselves from all the others. What is FabMe.it doing to resolve that issue? 

 

They've teamed up with desall.com, a site providing connectivity between creatives and customers through design contests. Their hope is to link their existing community of creators and buyers. How well this relationship proceeds, only time will tell. But it is an angle unique to the sales of 3D models, which could be emulated by places such as Etsy. 

 

Via FabMe.it

MyMiniFactory's Free 3D Printable Objects

While Thingiverse has long been the go-to place for free printable 3D models, there's another option as of last month: MyMiniFactory. A branch of iMakr, the site offers a number of interesting 3D models - all specifically designed for 3D printing on typical personal 3D printers. 

 

During our check, MyMiniFactory offered well over 100 printable 3D models of various objects in the following categories: 

 

• Hobby
• Home
• Jewelry
• Gadgets
• Toys
• Models
• Puzzles & Games
• Fashion 

 

There's one catch: 

 

At registration you will have the possibility to download for free 5 objects per month ; you will be able to receive further credits by sending us some feedback and pictures of the objects you have printed.

 

MyMiniFactory has included models from their own designers, but does offer the ability for designers to upload their own models. There doesn't seem to be a method for selling models, so we expect less complex models to populate this service. 

 

We suspect MyMiniFactory's purpose is to help drive sales at the iMaker 3D print retail store in London. Regardless, free models are free models. If you find something you'd like to print at MyMiniFactory, please download it! 

 

Via MyMiniFactory

3D Modeling with Leopoly

A new browser-based 3D modeling tool has emerged: Leopoly. The new service presents simple-to-use methods of creating 3D objects. 

 

Leopoly focuses on the community dimension: created objects are shared among the community, who can build new objects based on yours. Tweeting, posting and tagging ensure wide visibility of Leopoly creations. 

 

Creating objects is quite straightforward. The 3D editor starts with an existing object, typically a simple shape like a sphere, which you can modify by pushing, pulling, smoothing and similar functions. 

 

One feature we especially liked was the true 3D view. In the image above the model is shown in Red-Blue 3D format. If you happen to have a set of those goofy 3D color glasses like we do, you can actually see the object in true 3D. 

 

While Leopoly offers simple editing, it doesn't have many features useful for 3D printing, at least at this time. You cannot, as far as we can tell, export a model in a format suitable for 3D printing. There are no functions for producing flat surfaces, often required for ensuring a fit to your 3D printer's bed. There is no way to specify sizing or dimensions. It's a free form tool with which you make simple organic objects. 

 

Leopoly offers a beta test of their Windows non-browser version, which enables offline 3D modeling similar to the web version. We're hoping they include some key 3D printing features in future versions. 

 

Via Leopoly