1 Topic by adrian

  • adrian
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Canberra, Australia
  • Registered: 2013-01-15
  • Posts: 1,623

Topic: MS lifts covers on "3D Builder" Win8.1 3D Printer App

It might just be me, but it smells awfully like MS' abortive Zune debacle, i.e, Too little, Too late, Nothing New...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/11/16 … sign_tool/

Its clearly MS trying to buy into the hype-curve:

"I get excited about 3D printing. Really excited. Like Tom Cruise on Oprah’s couch excited. So, I couldn’t be more thrilled that we are releasing a 3D printing app for Windows 8.1," wrote Microsoft consumer PR Kristina Libby.

And to further fuel the hype bandwagon, again from The Register artcile above:

But the timing of the release is a good way for Redmond to highlight that it's selling Makerbot 3D printers from its retail and online stores. Redmond promised that Makerbot and 3D printing rival Tiertime (PP3DP) will support Windows 8.1 users in time for the Thanksgiving shopping frenzy that overtakes the US at the end of the month.

MS App Store Link: http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-us … 590d5781f2

2 Reply by 2n2r5

  • 2n2r5
  • 2n2r5
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2013-05-09
  • Posts: 1,208

Re: MS lifts covers on "3D Builder" Win8.1 3D Printer App

I would love to listen in on those support calls.

SD3 w/ mods:
Glass bed with QU-BD heat pad upgrade, threadless ballscrew w/ 8mm smooth rod, spectra line belt replacement, lawsy MK5 extruder, Lawsy replacement carriage, E3D hotend, Ramps 1.4 w/ reprap discount controller, DRV8825 drivers, 12v 30A PS, Acrylic case, Overkill Y-idlers, Filament alarm, Extruder fan + more.

2n2r5's Website

3 Reply by IanJohnson

  • IanJohnson
  • Moderator
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-08-07
  • Posts: 2,815

Re: MS lifts covers on "3D Builder" Win8.1 3D Printer App

I don't have Windows 8 to try it, but just reading around, I can't figure out if Microsoft wrote their own slicer, or if it uses an existing slicer for a backend.  Given their partnership with Makerbot, I suspect they have simply made their own version of Makerware with Skeinforge and Miracle Grue on the backend.

4 Reply by DigitalWhitewater

  • DigitalWhitewater
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-11-25
  • Posts: 128

Re: MS lifts covers on "3D Builder" Win8.1 3D Printer App

2n2r5 wrote:

I would love to listen in on those support calls.

+2

Me too!

SD2 w/ mods: Rumba controller, ATX PSU, SD pro case, glass bed, with more to come...

5 Reply by adrian

  • adrian
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Canberra, Australia
  • Registered: 2013-01-15
  • Posts: 1,623

Re: MS lifts covers on "3D Builder" Win8.1 3D Printer App

It only works with their 3D Print Drivers (I just installed).

And no word on the SDK etc for it yet - I checked over at MSDN and all I could find was someone else asking about the SDK smile
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums … ?forum=wdk

"Support" inside the app takes you to
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/sear … =0&y=0

And theres 2 questions about other printer support lol.

I also see some wag has already given it '5 star rating' in the App Store wink