Anycubic is bringing selected Thingiverse designs into MakerOnline through an exclusive partnership aimed at reducing the work between finding a model and printing it in multiple colors. The program is scheduled to launch on November 17, coinciding with the opening day of Formnext.
Under the arrangement, Anycubic will adapt participating designs for multicolor printing and convert their STL files into 3MF files for compatible printers. Tom’s Hardware reported the announcement, naming the Kobra X as one example of compatible hardware.
The deal gives Anycubic permission to share those files directly with its users through MakerOnline. Thingiverse remains part of MyMiniFactory, which purchased the platform from UltiMaker roughly eight months ago.
Selected designs get a multicolor conversion
The practical focus is preparation. Anycubic will take selected models from Thingiverse and handle their conversion for the MakerOnline workflow, with the goal of reducing manual setup for printer owners.
Romain Kidd, CEO of Thingiverse, told Tom’s Hardware that the collaboration would give Anycubic users something close to a “1-click” printing experience. That is the ambition for the integration, which is due to launch later this month.
The selection process also puts a boundary around the rollout: this is a program for participating designs, rather than a wholesale conversion of the Thingiverse library. Its usefulness to individual owners will depend on the models available and their printer’s compatibility.
For Anycubic, the partnership extends its effort to connect hardware with a ready-to-use content library. James Ouyang, the company’s co-founder, described simpler access to printable content as part of its long-term strategy for a more integrated printing experience.
“They also need quality content and simpler ways to turn their ideas into successful prints.”
James Ouyang, Co-founder of Anycubic
Designers must opt in, and licenses stay attached
Creator participation is optional. Kidd said Thingiverse designers would have to opt into the program before their work could be included.
Both companies say existing Creative Commons and Non-Commercial licensing terms will be preserved across the converted 3MF files. Kidd also said the collaboration would respect creators’ rights and licenses while showcasing their work.
That approach carries particular weight for a platform built around sharing designs. Thingiverse remains committed to the SoulCrafted human-made art movement under MyMiniFactory, and Kidd has previously described creators and users as central to the platform’s development.
A longer history of connecting models with printers
Thingiverse has pursued shorter routes from browsing to printing before. In April 2015, it partnered with 3D Hubs to let users send selected designs to a network of more than 15,000 printer locations. Participating designers added a “Get This Printed” button, and the arrangement included an optional designer tip.
Anycubic also has a previous connection with Thingiverse’s current owner. In January 2022, Fabbaloo covered its collaboration with MyMiniFactory on a limited Tribes edition of the Photon Mono X 6K. That project centered on a specially styled resin printer and MyMiniFactory service extras.
The November 17 program instead puts model preparation at the center of the relationship. Anycubic gains a route to offering existing Thingiverse designs within MakerOnline, while participating creators gain another way to reach Anycubic printer owners. The first selection of converted models will be the practical starting point when the program launches alongside Formnext.
