Bambu Lab Unveils MakerWorld 3D Model Platform

In the world of FDM/FFF desktop printing, the importance of the 3D model and the platform it is stored on is almost as important as the printer itself. From CAD programs to slicer programs, software is key to a successful print and it is one of the areas where we see the most innovation. Bambu Lab has announced that it will be launching its very own STL platform to make it easier for its users to share and download STL files for their own prints. With this, they hope to further optimize the entire 3D printing process to make it even easier for both beginners and advanced users of their solutions.

As you may know, Bambu Lab has already been making a name for itself in the overall 3D printer market in a way that has not been seen in quite some time. After the rousing success of their two 3D printers, this latest news seems to suggest they wish to follow in the footsteps of MakerBot which, when it came onto the scene back in 2009, also created its own STL platform, the still incredibly popular Thingiverse. This announcement also continues to show not only the company’s ambition, as it moves to become a leader in affordable desktop 3D printing, but also its commitment to accessibility and democratization of 3D printing on a broader scale.

What Do We Know About MakerWorld?

Currently, the team at Bambu Lab is getting ready for the open beta of their new STL sharing site, MakerWorld. While there are many STL sharing sites that exist already, including those with cross-platform support, Bambu Lab themselves have answered the question as to why they have thrown their hat into the ring. In their own words, their goal is to simplify the process for the community by creating an all-in-one platform. The point will not only be to improve the user experience but to also exchange advice and gain the expertise of printing professionals from every corner of the printing process from creating, slicing, and filaments to end-user post-processing. 

Furthermore, Bambu Lab also aims to lower the entry barriers to more casual audiences who may lack the technical knowledge to configure, modify, or fine-tune their prints or feel intimidated by the immensity of the 3D printing process. To make their dream a reality, Bambu Lab is set to combine the various information uploaded from MakerWorld with its slicing software, Bambu Studio and even provide easy connectivity to its phone app, Bambu Handy. The result is, as they put it, the ability to print “with a single click”, meaning that many of the parameters are able to be handled behind the scenes thanks to the information uploaded by various sources and distributors on MakerWorld.

The Bambu Lab team is keen to stress that the collective approach on their new platform provides opportunities for seasoned printing veterans to add to the conversation in different ways, one notable point being able to share pre-sliced models with their optimal slicing parameters on the same page as the models themselves. Other notable features include the inclusion of user-uploaded filament parameters, which although still under development, may allow for entire libraries of filaments to be registered within the platform.

Of course, the most important part of the process is getting your creations printed and Bambu Lab has discussed that they will be working to improve compatibility with non-Bambu Lab printers, reaffirming their interest in opening the MakerWorld into a platform with community-wide potential. In any case, though not much is known right now, we will be sure to keep you updated with all the latest news coming from Bambu Lab. The platform is expected to be in open beta next month, for more information about MakerWorld, check out their announcement HERE.

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*All Photo Credits: Bambu Lab