Printing in 3D just got even easier, claims MakerBot. With the recent launch of Microsoft Windows 8.1, MakerBot owners can download the MakerBot 3D Printer Driver for Windows 8.1 and with a quick click inside an application, can print directly to their MakerBot® Replicator® 2 Desktop 3D Printer. This built-in support in Windows 8.1 uses the new 3D printer driver, available for download via the Windows Update Service, which MakerBot developed so customers could experience plug-and-play and seamless end-to-end printing from a wide variety of applications directly to a MakerBot.

With Windows 8.1 and using the MakerBot 3D Printer Driver, users can open a 3D design in a program like 123D Design or SolidWorks, and tell the file to print directly to a MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer; it’s as fast and easy as printing a Word document on a 2D printer.

“We are pretty excited to have our 3D printer driver included in this recent Windows 8.1 release,” noted Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot. “We have been working closely with Microsoft to prepare the printer driver to provide the familiar plug-and-play capabilities of Windows with the MakerBot Replicator 2. Having the 3D printer driver be a part of Windows 8.1 rounds out even more of the MakerBot 3D Ecosystem that is designed to make 3D design and printing super easy and accessible.”

“Working with MakerBot on creating the 3D printer driver has been a great education in 3D printing and all the technology involves,” noted Shanen Boettcher, general manager of the Microsoft Startup Business Group. “Many 3D printing customers use Windows as their platform for design and 3D printing, so it is a natural progression for Windows to offer native 3D printing capabilities right from the Windows platform.”

The MakerBot 3D Printer Driver on Windows 8.1 works with the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer. The MakerBot Replicator 2 features a 100-micron layer resolution and has a large build volume of 410 cubic inches (11.2” L x 6.0” W x 6.1” H) and is optimized for printing in MakerBot PLA Filament.

MakerBot
www.makerbot.com