We spoke with Lisa Harouni (yes, the Lisa Harouni of TED fame) regarding her new venture, Digital Forming. It’s a cloud service that provides an ability to interactively generate 3D models, which of course, can then be 3D printed.
How does it work? After a designer develops a 3D model of an object or product, Digital Forming’s ODO desktop software can enable variability in the design for these aspects:
- Text: Text can be added to surfaces based on customer input
- Assembly: Multiple parts may be selected from a library and added to the design
- Skin: Textures (and colors) can be selected from a library and applied to various surfaces on the object
- Shape: Regions within the 3D model can be dynamically adjusted based on customer selections
The result is quite incredible. Complex models can be rapidly changed into a custom version by simply adjusting sliders and typing text using Digital Forming’s service. If we were able to do this within seconds, so could anyone.
The idea is that any company providing a digital product could offer a means of customization on their web page. Imagine being on a web page from a shoe store, where you could pick styles, colors and adornments – and then size the shoe perfectly to your foot. Check the video to see how it works:
Digital Forming also provides a means for sending the resulting 3D model to a number of 3D print services for actual physical production.
If you’re not sure about this, we recommend trying out the service. Digital Forming offers a free subscription tier where you can try out the service and its software at no charge.
Expect to see some very interesting business models emerge using this technology in coming months and years.
Via Digital Forming
