Jun 13, 2015 | By Alec
While there are a few 3D printable designs of miniature cars out there on the web, most are just not very good or very detailed (with the obvious exception of Maurizio Casella’s creations). But car enthusiasts need not be afraid, as the first of the actual car manufacturers has also taken the plunge into FDM 3D printing. While many car manufacturers sell car toys, Ford has just launched the Ford 3D Store, becoming the first of the automobile giants to embrace 3D printable miniature cars.
On this web platform, fans of Ford vehicles can now purchase and download licensed and approved designs of a number of different Fords. Currently available are designs of the of F-150 Raptor, Shelby GT350R, Focus ST, Fiesta ST and the Fiesta RS, with designs for the all-new Ford GT following later this month. More models are promised to be released in the near future. Powered by regular provider of digital imaging TurboSquid.com, this website is the answer to many demands out of the 3D printed community. While these four cars are currently available, the Ford store also promises to enable users to purchase digital files from a growing library of more than 1,000 Ford images for their own projects.
As Mark Bentley, the licensing manager over at Ford explains, they have developed this webstore in response to changing trends in making. ‘3D printing at home is a growing trend, and it makes sense for us to offer our customers a chance to make their own 3D Ford models,’ he says. ‘At Ford, we’re using 3D printing every day to rapidly prototype parts, and now we want to share that fun with our fans.’
All of these models are available in two different options: either as a pre-printed model (at 1/32nd scale) in plastic for $39, or as an 3D printable STL file. The latter option would obviously enable you to scale and 3D print it in any way you’d like. These STL files only cost $5; not too much for a licensed product. ‘TurboSquid already allows customers to purchase more than 1,000 unique, licensed digital images of Ford products ranging from the Model T to the all-new Ford GT,’ Bentley says. ‘We’re at the forefront of licensing 3D automotive images, and it made sense that TurboSquid help us complete that connection to the consumer.’ Interested? You can find the Ford 3D Store here.
This excellent innovation might cost little effort on behalf of Ford, but does definitely recognize the power and popularity of 3D printing technology and its growing presence in the mainstream society. What car manufacturer is next?
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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Licencing basically says you may only print one model for each $5 spent Non-Commercial Print and 3D Printing. Only personal, non-commercial use is permitted. i. Printing one (1) tangible embodiment of the Licensed Product is permitted. ii. The printed embodiment of the Licensed Product shall not be sold. iii. CNC machining is explicitly prohibited. iv. Assumption of Risk. Creation and/or use of any physical embodiment of a Licensed Product is undertaken at your peril and you assume all risk associated with such creation and/or use. Neither TurboSquid nor Ford shall be liable for any damage or injury associated with the creation of and/or use of any physical embodiment of a Licensed Product.
n robinson wrote at 6/29/2015 1:42:14 PM:
Licencing basically says you may only print one model for each $5 spent Non-Commercial Print and 3D Printing. Only personal, non-commercial use is permitted. i. Printing one (1) tangible embodiment of the Licensed Product is permitted. ii. The printed embodiment of the Licensed Product shall not be sold. iii. CNC machining is explicitly prohibited. iv. Assumption of Risk. Creation and/or use of any physical embodiment of a Licensed Product is undertaken at your peril and you assume all risk associated with such creation and/or use. Neither TurboSquid nor Ford shall be liable for any damage or injury associated with the creation of and/or use of any physical embodiment of a Licensed Product.
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