Creating a software platform that will do for 3D printers what the Android operating system does for smartphones is Autodesk.
In a post on the Internet, Carl Bass, the company's president and CEO, announced the open software platform for 3D printing, Spark, which will make "printing 3D models more reliable, but also simpler, and easier to control over how the model prints.".
At the same time, he announced the release of a printer that will serve as a “reference application” for Spark. “It will demonstrate the power of the Spark platform and set a benchmark for the 3D printing experience. Together, they will provide the building blocks that product designers, hardware manufacturers, software developers, and materials scientists can use to explore the boundaries of 3D printing technology.”.
Spark will be open and freely available in terms of licenses to anyone interested. Accordingly, the printer, whose designs will be available to the general public for further development and experimentation. The printer will be able to use a wide range of materials, both from Autodesk and others. “We look forward to exploring new materials,” adds Bass.
As the president of Autodesk pointed out, in the coming months the company will work with hardware manufacturers to integrate the Spark platform into existing and future printers. Both Spark and the printer will become available later in 2014.
Source: naftemporiki.gr
