Dassault Systems, creators of the popular Facebook game Billions, Save Them All and the free game engine software 3DVia, have announced their partnership with Sculpteo. This partnership, containing over 260,000 plus users, will allow people to now take their 3D creations and print them in 3D. Sculpteo actually carves your model out from a piece of plastic like substance to do this, so it’s an actual real, 3D model you’re getting back. Users will be able to order online any versions of their 3DVIA-hosted models through the Sculpteo 3D Printing service.
3DVIA is an open platform accepting most 3D files, including CAD and other standard formats (OBJ, DAE, 3DXML, STEP and IGES). Members can now print almost any creation by simply clicking the “Send to Sculpteo 3D Print” button on their own 3DVIA model’s view page, specify the size they wish to print and choose a white, black or full-color print option. Final printed models are shipped directly to user’s mailboxes.
Below is an image example of the finished product, and a qoute from the CEO of Sculpteo
“We are very excited to serve the 3DVIA community with Sculpteo’s technology by offering a new and seamless service to transform files into real objects,” said Clément Moreau, CEO and co-founder of Sculpteo.com. “This new alliance contributes to the ineluctable democratization of 3D.”
“We are providing a valuable service to our creative community,” said Lynne Wilson, CEO, 3DVIA, Dassault Systèmes. “We are connecting the virtual to the real, allowing 3DVIA users to literally bring their ideas to life by ordering a printed 3D version.”
Some important things your model must have;
As mentioned, simply upload your 3D model in any of the formats that 3DVIA.com supports and click the “Send to Sculpteo 3D Print” button on the view page of your 3DVIA model. It’s just that simple. However, a 3D model created to be 3D printed will need to follow a few guidelines that vary from models just used in visual media. Here are some useful guidelines to abide by:
- The model must have volume or wall thickness if interior spaces are shown. Minimum wall thickness of 1mm.
- The model should be stable. You may need to consider a stand or base for certain models.
- Keep in mind object scale. You will be printing in a maximum of 15cm x 15cm x15cm volume.
- You model file, plus associated textures (when zipper), must not exceed 25mb.
- Keep an eye on your surface direction or normals before you export.
