3D Hubs has just announced that they will be working as partners in Autodesk’s Spark platform and program, with aspirations of taking their 3D printing users to the next level with a standardized platform. The new software platform is one of Autodesk’s latest undertakings in their long-range plan for stepping up as players in the 3D printing market, with an entry into the hardware market as well.
This partnership is one more demonstration of Autodesk’s strategic momentum building for Spark, combining forces and recognizing 3D Hubs as the first 3D printing service provider in the Spark partnership program. Autodesk’s Carl Bass has mentioned that his inbox is full of emails from companies clamoring to get into the Spark partnership program, and 3D Hubs is a substantial addition to their growing family.
The 3D Hubs – Autodesk partnership should allow fine-tuning of the Spark platform in addressing and solving 3D printing challenges for their users, as well as encouraging greater creating and innovating.
This partnership is almost more of a formality. 3D Hubs, the world’s largest 3D printing network community, made headlines earlier this year with the announcement that introduced their API connecting users to their network. Autodesk was the first to integrate the 3D Hubs 3D print network API for the Autodesk 123D family of apps — a highly beneficial boon to their users, as it offers free 3D design software to innovating users who then use the 3D Hubs services to have their models 3D printed.
Both 3D Hubs and Autodesk have a clear mission to make 3D printing more accessible to the world, and to make it better, easier, and faster for everyone. Autodesk has been in the news substantially lately, explaining, outlining, and demonstrating what is a very positive long-range commitment to creating the next building blocks for refining the process of 3D printing globally, as well as pushing the technology along in the right direction.
Helping innovators succeed is a crucial part of that push, and Autodesk is a major player now, with the Spark Investment Fund, which will offer $100 million to budding entrepreneurs and startups in the 3D printing arena.
Also just announced yesterday was another Spark partnership — as Autodesk announced a partnership with Authentise, which specializes in protection of intellectual property for 3D printers with a licensing platform. By integrating Authentise software, Autodesk will be offering their users the necessary tools to secure their designs from unwanted downloading and use.
Along with Spark and growing partnerships comes Autodesk’s foray into the hardware market with the Ember, their first 3D printer, to be available soon. (For more on our latest news regarding Autodesk, click here.)
We invite you to discuss these latest important news stories in the 3D Hubs Joins Autodesk Spark Partnership Program forum at 3DPB.com.