Microsoft said the 3D Builder, the company's first 3D printing application for Windows 8.1, which lets you create almost anything, is available for free.
The company is also selling MakerBot 3D printers via its online stores as a one-stop shopping solution to a user's 3D printing needs.
Windows 8.1 was officially released in October 2013, which makes 3D printing for PC users very easy. Users of Windows 8.1 can also email 3D printing files to computers using the same platform, who can then print the 3D files from their 3D printers.
"3D Builder has a catalog of objects you can create from ornaments to toys and more. The clean, simple user interface lets you scale, rotate and adjust what you want to print. Add multiple objects to a single print - even stack or push objects into one another to create new ones. Printing 3D objects created in other applications or ones that are downloaded from the Internet is really easy with the 3D Builder app and touch as well," per Windows Blog.
Microsoft's plan to launch 3D printing should not come as a surprise. In July this year, Microsoft announced that Windows 8.1 makes 3D printing possible as the operating system (OS) offers plug-and-play support for printers. The OS also understands 3D file formats and connects many apps with an array of hardware to deliver a smooth 3D printing experience to its customers. Microsoft says that the 3D Builder app makes it even easier for users to create and print objects in 3D.
However, the 3D Builder app is aimed at novice users rather than experts. The app can create objects such as toys, tools and nearly anything a user may think of. Users can also create multiple objects together.
Microsoft's 3D Builder as well as other Windows 8.1 printing apps can work using both the keyboard- and-mouse, and touch interfaces.
MakerBot, the producer of 3D printers, said users can download the MakerBot 3D Printer Driver for Windows 8.1 and print directly to their MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer.
The 3D printer manufacturer said that it is working with Microsoft to prepare the printer driver, which will enable the company to provide familiar plug-and-play capabilities of Windows with the MakerBot Replicator 2 printer.
The app, whose size is 22.1MB, is available as a free download from the Windows App store.
