3D Printing, Cloud Engine Revolutionize Manufacturing

Ariella Brown
One of the delights of writing for The Enterprise Cloud Site is learning about things that sound unlikely but really do exist, like the Society for Printable Geography. The printable does not refer to traditional maps but to 3D printing, which renders geographical data into iPhone cases, pendants, earrings, and puzzles.
All this is made possible by Sculpteo, a company that combines 3D printing with a cloud engine.
The 3D-printing Cloud Engine enables businesses to incorporate advanced 3D printing into their product lines and actually create products on-demand. Sculpteo says that it offers a choice of 35 different materials and can print one to 500 items a week for a given customer.
3D printing changes many aspects of manufacturing. Projects that once required specialized equipment, weeks of work, and required minimum orders can now be carried out on-demand. Just open a user-friendly interface, upload plans, and get exactly what you want.
In a press statement, Clément Moreau, CEO and cofounder of Sculpteo, called the cloud engine project a bid to become "the PayPal of the 3D printing industry."
Speaking of PayPal, the company that owns it recently partnered with Sculpteo. In July, eBay joined with Sculpteo -- as well as MakerBot and Hot Pop Factory -- to form eBay Exact. Currently in beta, eBay Exact is an iOS app that enables customers to order 3D-printed iPhone cases, figurines, and jewelry from their mobile devices.
Sculpteo introduced its own mobile app last year. Customers can use their Apple devices to browse the company's collection of designs, learn about 3D designers, and upload photos to 3D-print personalized gifts. This allows consumers to order directly through Sculpteo, and its cloud engine is available to resellers, too.
Not just for toys
Sculpteo's cloud engine enables a number of businesses -- like Printable Geography and MWOO -- to offer 3D-printed products. The problem is, whimsical-but-ultimately-useless objects are what most people think of now when they consider 3D printing.
3D printing is not just for hobbyists and collectors, though. It also has many applications in robotics, architecture, scientific research, and education. Sculpteo's testimonial page references professionals in a variety of fields who benefit from 3D printing, particularly those who need key components, prototypes, or models to assemble new structures, tools, or devices.
As 3D printing advances, it's certain that we will see it put to even more practical uses, and perhaps others will turn to the cloud to realize their own 3D visions.
What clever applications of 3D printing have you seen? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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