One of the biggest obstacles to the mass adoption of consumer based 3D printers is the lack of a simple user interface, which allows even the most novice 3D printing enthusiasts to jump into the action. Great strides have been made in the last 12-18 months within the industry, led by both Makerbot and Cubify’s more intuitive 3D printers and scanners. There is, however, still a pretty steep learning curve for someone who is not all that tech savy, but wishes to design their own items to print. CAD is not something anyone can simply pick up by just a few ours of playing around with it, but that’s pretty much all there is when dealing with 3D design.
The latest project is set to go live sometime tomorrow, and likely will leverage the success of it’s Kickstarter predecessor in order to get the funding needed to make this project viable. MakeVR will bring a never before seen user interface to those looking to manipulate 3D objects, in an intuitive, easy to understand manner.
Mike Titsch, a writer for 3DPrinterWorld described the MakeVR system as follows,
“As for the software itself, it really is much easier to use than standard 3D modeling programs. Part of it is the fact that the system was designed for a 3D interface from inception, so the developers never had the option of using hot-key combinations and endless drop-down menu trees as a solution. Instead, buttons on the controllers bring up file and tool selection dialogues and once you know which buttons do what, it becomes second nature. It is all extremely organic, like playing with floating toys in a room, but you begin to realize the virtual tools are specifically designed to keep you from making what a 3D printer would see as a mistake.”
The system can be used on any 2D display, but really becomes amazing when you use a virtual reality display like the Oculus Rift. When connected to the Rift, users get the feeling of an actual interaction with the 3D objects they are manipulating. This leads to an entertaining, yet very productive 3D design interface.
From what we have seen, MakeVr has the potential to become the de facto 3D design interface used among both the top designers within any industry, as well as those just beginning to design iPhone cases for their 3D printers, in their garages. This is a truly innovative, ground breaking user interface, which could really propel consumer based 3D printers into the mainstream.
“With MakeVR we’re enabling everyone to more easily and affordably create models in 3D. Coupled with the emergence of so many great new 3D printing solutions, this will catalyze the entire market,” said Amir Rubin, co-founder of Sixense.
Below is a clip, outlining some of the many features within the MakeVr platform:
Talk about MakeVR and their Kickstarter project here: https://3dprintboard.com/showthread.php?1640-MakeVR-About-to-Change-3D-Design-For-Good
Update 2/5/2014:
The Kickstarter project is live!!