I wonder if MS is embracing+extending the AMF format or coming up with something completely different. Anyone know more details?
http://3dprintingindustry.com/2013/09/25/microsoft-update-8-1-reveals-development-new-3d-print-output-format/
Patents. Licenses. The usual proprietary “defend innovation” stuff.
Apparently they’re making their own…
It is based on xml from what I read, the reason is to support material and color definition natively.
There is a video explaining how it works. Basically the goal is to extend “file print” functionality to 3d printing.
Before haters start hating, it is a simple extension of the 2d back bone, http://it.is designed to work with the marlin firmware, so many open source solutions will be able to work.
Its typical MS, its open source and it costs nothing so we invent a new way and tell everyone its standard as we MS are gods.
Just a thought here have they asked the 3d community what they want need and desire…
Read this followup to see how this is good ole Microsoft tactics at work. Just one example:
" Finally, the 3MF file format includes rights management capabilities that would allow producers to lock their content so that it is not editable. This opens up the possibility of forcing users to buy a license to print your content that could have a limit of how many prints were possible …"
If it works with marlin, then the DRM is gone by the time it hits the extruder, and therefore its useless and weak. Unless they think they’re going to replace rep-rap controllers worldwide with win8.1 based controllers… Think ultimaker is going to upgrade to Microsoft controllers?
@Richard_Betel it is not supposed to be drm. You file print, it checks the model, repairs the model if needed, then slices it, then hosts the printer. It does allow for the same level of drm that file print does in 2d
@Camerin_hahn Just because there is no G-code-to-STL tool today, since no-one seems to want one, does not mean that it would be a long difficult road to make one… And “rights management capabilities” is totally DRM. What else is it?
How about open source rights that state MS cannot use or alter any software or hardware within that realm. Or is that the wrong attitude.
It is not using the marlin firmware, it interfaces with it.
@Camerin_hahn that’s not what implying they need to reverse engineer to make the software work, so if they were restricted that kills them from forcing a “standard” on everyone when we already have our standards.
@Nigel_Dickinson do you know what the Windows 8.1 api does?
Its not where I’m coming from its their propriety file system, so you tell me does the hardware use this now.