We’re happy to announce the AstroPrint integration with Tinkercad is finally live! This has been one of the most requested features on the AstroPrint platform from schools, students, and STEM teachers! And now it’s here!
The Basics
This gives students the ability to do EVERYTHING from 3D model creation => 3D Printing, in the CLOUD. Tinkercad allows them to 3D design in the cloud, and AstroPrint manages 3D Printing of those designs in the cloud.
Tinkercad users can now export their 3D designs directly into their AstroPrint account, right from Tinkercad. Of course, they can then start the 3D Printing process from within AstroPrint.
Why this is so important
As you may know, many schools require students to use web-based laptops such as the Google Chromebook. This means they cannot use downloadable software. They can ONLY use cloud (i.e. web based) applications and websites. For schools that teach ‘Frontier Technologies’ such as 3D Design and 3D Printing, this can be very limiting because much of the software available is download-only.
Almost all 3D design software is made for engineers (i.e. very complicated) AND has to be downloaded, which means these students cannot use it. Teachers therefore needed a 3D design software solution that could be used by kids AND can work on their Chromebooks. Tinkercad has ‘changed the game’ for students learning how to 3D design with their simple to use, state of the art, and web-based 3D design application.
The same is true of 3D Printing software. Almost all software that can manage the 3D Printing process (slicing, file delivery to the 3D printer, printer monitoring, Print Queue management, etc) is downloadable software. Again, this means that software is NOT usable by kids and teachers in most schools. AstroPrint has ‘changed the game’ for students learning how to 3D Print with our simple to use, state of the art, and web-based 3D Printer management software solution.
According to Drew Taylor, CEO of AstroPrint, “AstroPrint and Tinkercad coming together is kind of like when peanut butter and chocolate came together for the first time! The world will never be the same.” Drew continued, “We’re very excited about kids, schools, and STEM teachers now having a fully cloud based solution that takes them from 3D Design to 3D Printing. We can’t wait to see what these innovative folks are able to accomplish with this integration.”
The Head of Product at Tinkercad, Guillermo Melantoni, goes on to say, “We’re proud and excited to welcome AstroPrint to the growing list of companies who have added direct import from the Tinkercad ecosystem. Linked digital services like AstroPrint inspire our users to think beyond modeling and making to explore the greater possibilities of digital design and fabrication.”
With the integration of AstroPrint in the Tinkercad ecosystem, there is now a seamless pathway for schools, students, and STEM teachers to create and 3D Print right from their Chromebooks!
Click here to see a walkthrough of how the integration works.
🚀 🚀 🚀 Happy Printing! 🚀 🚀 🚀
