3D Printing News

A roundup of the top 3D printing news from May 20 to May 26:

Monday, May 20

• “Invent To Learn” Shows Impact of 3D Printing and Makers on Education

Wednesday, May 22

• 3D Systems Issues New Common Stock; Watch Out for M&A
• Cubify Draw App for iPad and iPhone: 3D Print Your Sketches

Thursday, May 23

• 3D Printed Lightclip Lets You Signal Batman With Your iPhone and More

Saturday, May 25

• 3D Printing Saves Baby’s Life with Biopolymer Tracheal Implant

 Sunday, May 26

• Top 10 Countdown: Most Popular 3D Printing Stories in April 2013

3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) launched today Cubify(R) Draw, a mobile 3D printing app for iOS. Cubify Draw empowers anyone with an iPhone(R) , iPad(R) or iPad Mini(TM) device to create printable content with their fingertips. Users can digitally doodle with their finger or trace an imported picture and then enhance it with features like adjustable line thickness and height, auto-fill and auto-connect. Users can upload their drawing directly to Cubify or have the STL file emailed to them for printing. Cubify Draw is available in the App Store today via free download.

“Cubify Draw takes digital doodling to printable reality” said Sarah Stocker, Senior Director of Cubify for 3D Systems, “This boundary breaking app is our latest gamified installment in our commitment to democratize content-to-print entertainment on Cubify.”

Our Review

Cubify Draw is a very simple and straight-forward app. You trace or draw with your finger, and it creates a file for you to print. With this simplicity in mind, 3D Systems shared that “the app is ideal for drawing and printing cookie cutters, pendants, ornaments, bracelets and simple toys.”

We tried out the app and found it very easy to navigate, but hard to create models of any precision. Similar to an Etch-A-Sketch, you have one try to get your lines right or you have to clear the canvas and start over.

We imported the On 3D Printing logo in an attempt to trace the “On”. The results are in the gallery below.

It’s great to see the Cubify team extending into digital and competing with other apps like Autodesk 123D Catch. While this first app feels a bit limited, it’s free and easy to use. So if you have a Cube 3D printer, or want to quickly print a design via Cubify.com, give the app a try!