Today I’m looking at taiyaki, a startup offering “text to product” services.
You’ve probably heard of “text to 3D”, where a text prompt is used by an AI model to generate a 3D model. There are several of these services available today, but taiyaki takes it a step further by offering the ability to manufacture the item as well.
Here’s how it works:
“Type in what you want in words, inspiration pictures, or exact images of what you would like your product to be.
Our AI tools help bring your vision to life, generating stunning visuals tailored to your ideas. Use our editing features to refine and perfect your designs.
Using cutting-edge AI, we create 3D renderings of your final product. Customize your design with a range of materials and manufacturing processes.
Buy it and get it shipped and delivered to your door, in your hands.”
The company offers three services at the moment: a 3D model generator, a design-for-manufacturing inspector, and a design store.
I tried the generator with several example prompts to see what would happen. This is what I get with the prompt, “cuddly panda bear in a dance pose”:
It looks quite good (image at top)! However, this is a 2D image that must then be converted into 3D form. This approach is frequently used by text to 3D services: image first, then the image is used to generate the 3D version. I looked at the 3D preview of the panda, and it seemed okay. However, I saw this interesting caution:
“Note: This is an AI-generated preview. The actual 3D model will be professionally optimized for manufacturing with cleaner geometry and proper dimensions.”
It’s also possible to edit the 2D image before generating the 3D model. This is done entirely with prompts: you just ask for changes to the image, and they are made.
While the site is mostly set up to accept manufacturing orders based on the generated designs, it’s also possible to download the STL 3D model at no charge. However, you must sign up before doing so.
The manufacturing orders are quite flexible, as taiyaki has quite a number of materials in their portfolio: PLA, Wood PLA, TPU, “High Detail Resin,” and aluminum. It’s also possible to make the object with CNC machining and injection molding if desired. These represent a range of different 3D printing processes, and taiyaki must have some arrangement with a print farm behind the scenes.
Here’s the Panda 3D model as downloaded, and it looks very good. The surface quality is excellent, and the model has appropriate structures on all sides. I’m quite impressed, as often these generative services produce wacky models. This is apparently not the case with taiyaki.
I’m also impressed with the user interface designed by taiyaki. It is hands down the easiest workflow I’ve seen for text to 3D generation, and should be suitable for virtually anyone to use. They seem to have spent considerable effort making the interface extraordinarily useful.
But what about mechanical parts? Could taiyaki produce dimensionally accurate parts? I gave it a try with the prompt, “one inch to two-inch adapter”.
Well, it didn’t turn out too well, but I wasn’t expecting it to. There is no hole through the center, and I have no idea about dimensions. I have yet to see any text-to-3D service correctly generate proper mechanical parts. I suspect this will require training an AI model extensively on CAD designs. It’s likely this is not going to be the market taiyaki pursues.
I tried generating a bust from a portrait image. This one didn’t turn out too well, as the AI seems to have added weird panels in front of the face.
This service looks quite promising, and seems to organize all the latest technology in a way that should make it quite easy for anyone — and I mean anyone — to design (really generate) and manufacture their own custom objects.
taiyaki suggests their service could be used for designing toys, fashion, artwork, architecture concepts, healthcare design, and educational items. I believe it could do at least some of these quite well, even at its current early state.
The company offers tiered pricing:
- Free: up to ten images + five 3D generations per month
- US$20: 60 + 50
- US$200: 500 + 400
At the moment, the service seems to be free, so feel free to try it out.
Via taiyaki
