Under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license, Autodesk is now sharing the formula for its Polar Resin Number 48 (PR48) printing filament.
Regarding the polar resin, Eric J. Wilhelm, Head of Autodesk’s hardware group says: "We’re explicitly inviting you to understand, remix, and remake our resin." The 3D printing resin will soon be available for purchase on Autodesk's site, although it will be possible for makers to create their own from the formula. Since we wouldn't have the desktop 3D printer without open source technology, it's exciting to imagine the possibilities that sharing this resin will have on the maker community.
It's also worth noting that Autodesk is now taking orders for Ember, its stereolithographic 3D printer. Priced at nearly $6,000, this is not the most accessible 3D printing tool, but this open-source resin certainly is.
What's Driving This Trend
- Open-source Filament
- Open-sourcing the formula for printing filament enables innovation and customization in the maker community.
- Remixing Resin
- Inviting users to remix and remake the resin formula encourages experimentation and the development of new materials in the 3D printing industry.
- Accessible 3D Printing
- The availability of open-source resin provides a more affordable option for makers who may not be able to invest in expensive 3D printers.
Who This Affects Most
- 3D Printing
- The open-source resin formula opens up new possibilities for materials innovation and customization in the 3D printing industry.
- Chemical Manufacturing
- The sharing of resin formulas creates opportunities for chemical manufacturers to develop and produce alternative 3D printing materials.
- Maker Community
- The availability of open-source resin empowers makers to experiment and create customized 3D printing materials, fostering innovation within the maker community.
