A farewell to 3D Builder

Large corporations are systematically withdrawing from 3D printing, but they are doing so quietly

Did you know that there was a time when Microsoft believed in the great consumer revolution that 3D printing was supposed to bring?

They believed in it so much that they became one of the main promoters and innovators in 3D printing. Their contribution to its development was unprecedented and invaluable.

Microsoft invented the 3MF format.

They then created the 3MF Consortium around it. Brought together the largest companies making CAD design software and manufacturing 3D printers, to make a PDF for 3D printing.

Now the Consortium has a life of its own. Microsoft is just one of its members…

They introduced native 3D printer support in Windows 8.1, which meant that 3D printer users could start 3D printing directly from third-party applications by clicking “print.” Just like with documents sent to ink or laser printer.

Even if it still works in Windows 11, no one uses it.

They promoted 3D printers in their stores in the USA — in 2013, you could buy a MakerBot Replicator 2 and a set of filaments in 18 Microsoft Stores on West Coast of US.

So they were, and so they disappeared. No one remembers it anymore.

They finally created 3D Builder — one of the best 3D modeling applications for beginners, which they made available for free. Which had far greater capabilities than most users ever realized.

And now, it’s dying a silent death…

Because Microsoft — like many other large corporations, has stopped believing in 3D printing and is quietly withdrawing from it.

Which is quite understandable, and I have no problem with that.

But 3D Builder’ demise is really a pity.

This is my official farewell to this app. Although I still have it and will continue to use it, I will feel like I’m listening to cassettes on my tape recorder or watching movies on my VCR.