3D publishing concerns the production and distribution of content for 3D printers. 3D publishing holds out the promise of an industry for the creation and distribution of files for the production of 3D objects.
Any individual or organisation producing files for 3D printers can be considered a 3D publisher. With the advent of specialist software, scanners and cloud based tools, access to 3D publishing is spreading fast. The development of online tools to facilitate and monetize publishing is bringing a new industry to fruition. Boundaries between value chains are disappearing, leading to new business models. While 3D publishing and 3D publishers is a fairly new concept, a lot of development is happening in this space alongside the breakneck development of 3D printing hardware and software.
Video 3D publishing
Business models
Free distribution Anyone can upload 3D models to a site and anybody can download the model and 3D print at home for free. For example: Thingiverse, Pinshape, Youmagine, MyMiniFactory, Clara.io, Threeding.
Shopfront Shopfront services allow anyone to open a shop and upload their 3D models. Customers pay to get the 3D model printed via the 3D print services of these companies. The designers of the selected 3D models will get a fee. For example: Shapeways, Ponoko, i.materialise, Sculpteo, MyMiniFactory, Threeding.
Paid distribution Designers can upload designs and make them available for paid download for profit. For example: Pinshape.
Hybrid In a hybrid model, the designer or company might make use of any of the above services and/or local 3D print bureau to create print to order models.
Maps 3D publishing
Ecosystem
There are many more 3D content strategies being developed as part of a growing industry of 3D printing. Companies that are not 3D print specialists are entering the field. These may be companies who have existing content and brands that can be distributed as 3D models. These companies need tools that enable the secure and efficient distribution of content. Employees will be required who are able to create, select, edit and market 3D content as part of the strategy of the company. In the near future, companies like IKEA may offer a database with accessories where the customer could pay, download and 3D print it, and use it on their IKEA table.
A conference on 3D publishing was first held in the Netherlands in March 2013.
Software tools
In order to create 3D models one needs 3D software tools. There is a broad range of tools available from very simple tools on an tablet to very sophisticated engineering tools.
Examples
Hasbro, the brand behind My Little Pony and Transformers has joined with 3D Systems for a new 3D printing project. Children will be able to 3D print their own toys.
A book called LEO the Maker Prince, which is the First Children's Book On 3D Printing. The book was made in order to give young children a chance to get involved with this new way of producing objects.
Trobok Digital Toy Store has opened their website with their own designed toys with fancy names like SPIKE, 21st Century Bear, Pig Corp! and SCOUT. The customer has to pay for the design, than download it and 3D print it at home.
Amazon has opened a 3D Printing Store for the sale of models for 3D printing. Designers can use the store to sell printed models.
See also
- 3D modeling
- 3D scanner
- 3D printing marketplace
References
External links
- The Coming Ecosystem of 3D Printing
- Introduction to 3d printing costs
- Structural optimisation of metallic components
- 3D fabbers: don't let the DMCA stifle an innovative future // Arstechnica, 2010-11-10
- 3-D printing at MIT
- 3D Printing: The Printed World from The Economist
- 3D Printer News and Updates from Industry
- 3D Printing Industry News
- New 3D design and mind
- Overview of recent 3D printing applications (from Dezeen magazine)
- Will 3D Printing Change the World? Video produced by Off Book (web series)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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