Seems that 3-D printing is all the rage now. From guns to evening gowns, 3-D printing is finally seeing its time in the limelight, and Microsoft is hopping on the bandwagon with a 3-D printing app for Windows 8.1 users.
That's right, a 3-D printing app. Called 3D Builder, the app has hit the Windows Store and is downloadable for free.
"A few months ago, you may have heard that Windows 8.1 makes 3D printing possible because it is native to the operating system, meaning the OS offers plug-and-play support for printers, understands 3D file formats, and connects lots of apps with lots of hardware to deliver offering a seamless printing experience for customers," Kristina Libby wrote in a Microsoft blog post.
"Now, with the 3D Builder app, we've made it even easier for people to create and print objects in 3D."
Among the items already preloaded into the app's library are simple household objects such as stationary, small toys like a tiny train, and ornaments. People will even be able to create jewelry and small parts for household repairs, Microsoft wrote.
Of course, you're going to need a 3-D printer to go along with that, and Microsoft has you covered. The software giant sells the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer for a cool $2,199 through the Microsoft Store. Well, at least the app is free, and if 3-D printing turns out to be as useful as it's made out to be, it could be a money saver in the long run.
Let us know if you snag this nifty little app and the objects you 3-D print with it in our comments section below. Don't be afraid to send in pictures!