Rapid prototyping bureau unveils free pricing-engine plug-in
Print3D introduces its real-time quoting engine, now available as a free download at www.print3Dcorp.com.
Print3D version 1.0, offered as a standalone PC application and as a plug-in for several major CAD systems, makes ordering designs into production as easy as sending a document to a printer. CAD users receive real-time, guaranteed quotes for plastic or metal prototypes for whatever components they have open in their modeling workspace. Users can customize their order through the integrated interface, adding paint and finish options, and then send the request to rapid prototyping facilities directly from their 3D modeler.
Print3D is the first rapid prototyping bureau to develop an offline method of pricing and ordering parts. The innovation not only gives CAD users the opportunity to iteratively check costs anytime through the course of design, but also makes enormous strides both in convenience and security beyond the online ordering methods used by competing bureaus.
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“Just from a day-to-day perspective, designers get more sophisticated pricing and greater control over the quality of the orders in far less time than they would exporting and uploading each part to a website,” explains Print3D CEO Ron Barranco, owner of the long-established rapid prototyping shops Stereolithography.com, and ZCastings.com. “For these reasons, we expect Print3D to quickly become the preferred rapid prototyping vendor across the CAD industry.”
Print3D offers next-day delivery on most simple SLA and SLS plastic prototypes, and two- to three-day delivery on more complicated orders, such as customized paint, dye, or metallic-plating finishes, or metal-casted components.
“Security of design data is significant advantage of the Print3D concept,” says Print3D CTO Deelip Menezes, owner of CAD software development firm SYCODE, and founder of the OpenRP Initiative.
“In the past, customers would have to pass their intellectual property through the World Wide Web just to receive a price quote,” Menezes explains. “With Print3D, you can check the price at anytime and your design data never leaves your computer. When it comes time to order, Print3D automatically packages your design into a password-encrypted data stream directly to our secure FTP site. Print3D is without question the most secure way to order prototypes.”
Today’s announcement includes the release of plug-ins specifically programmed for integration into the applications AutoCAD, Rhinoceros, SolidWorks, SolidEdge, Alibre Design, and SpaceClaim. The stand-alone Print3D 1.0 accepts 3D models from several vendor-neutral formats including IGES and STEP, allowing any CAD user to access the service. Print3D plans to release seven more plug-ins in the coming months for Pro/Engineer, Revit, Maya, 3DMax, IntelliCAD, IronCAD, and KeyCreator. The current software release is free and now available for download at: www.print3Dcorp.com.