Anycubic and Thingiverse team up for one-click multicolour 3D printing models

[HenryThierry]

Thingiverse, one of the oldest homes for free 3D printing models, has a new partner. Tom's Hardware reports that Anycubic and Thingiverse have announced an exclusive partnership that lets Anycubic share selected Thingiverse models with users of its MakerOnline platform

Anycubic will adapt selected models for multicolour printing and convert them from STL to 3MF files, ready for compatible printers such as the Kobra X. The aim is to cut manual setup so people can go from choosing a model to printing in very few steps, close to a one click experience

Designers must opt in, and both companies say Creative Commons and non commercial licence terms will be kept in the converted files. Thingiverse's chief executive Romain Kidd said the site will respect creators' rights and showcase their work. Anycubic co-founder James Ouyang said a more integrated printing experience is an important part of the company's long term strategy

The deal comes about eight months after MyMiniFactory bought Thingiverse from UltiMaker, and Thingiverse stresses this is a collaboration rather than an acquisition. The programme launches on 17 November, the opening day of the Formnext trade show

Printer makers are racing to build ecosystems like Bambu Lab's MakerWorld, because newcomers expect models to flow from app to printer without fuss. Partnering with an established library saves Anycubic years of building a catalogue. Respecting designers' licences will be essential for keeping the community on side

Will easier multicolour printing bring more people into 3D printing? And are printer ecosystems good or bad for the hobby?

Anycubic and Thingiverse announce exclusive 3D printing partnership - MakerOnline platform to offerwww.tomshardware.com

[Merchant94]

Exclusive deals in an open community make me a bit uneasy. Thingiverse was built on free sharing. Hopefully this does not lock models away from other printer users

Locked in ecosystems can frustrate people who own several printers. Open formats like 3MF help a little