Snapmaker Opens a Beta for Snapmaker Space, a Place for Sharing Validated Multi-Material FFF Models

3D-printing specialist Snapmaker has announced the launch of an open beta for Snapmaker Space, a curated platform designed for sharing verified multi-color and multi-material models made with tool-changing fused filament fabrication (FFF, also known as FDM) printers, in particular the company's own Snapmaker U1, firmly in mind.

"Snapmaker Space is our new 3D model platform, built from the ground up around the Snapmaker U1," the company says of the community-driven platform. "And now, everyone's invited. We want Space to be a place where you can discover a great model and feel confident hitting 'Print.' That’s why every featured model is reviewed and test-printed before publishing, with U1 profiles tuned for its color and material assignments. Our focus is on quality and successful prints, with designs that look just as good on your build plate as they do on your screen."

The idea of carrying out a test print on every item before it's published for the public to download is only part of what Snapmaker hopes will help its file sharing platform stand out in an increasingly crowded market. The second is an algorithmic creator rewards system, which is based not only on the number of times a model is printed but also its complexity — by tracking total print time across all users, rather than just the number of downloads.

"This means a quick, useful model can build rewards through many successful prints, while a more detailed or involved project can earn meaningful rewards through fewer prints when each print represents more time and effort," the company says. "Most importantly, the system is designed around real user demand. A model does not earn more simply because its print time is longer. If a design does not solve a real need or deliver an experience users value, users ultimately decide whether it gets printed."

These creator rewards will be joined by a community rewards system, Snapmaker says, designed to give back to those who create print profiles for existing models and who rate and review others' models. Reward points can be redeemed for gift cards valid in the Snapmaker Store — but not extracted as their equivalent cash value.

Snapmaker Space is now live, in beta form, on its official website. "We're shipping it now because we think the core experience is already useful," the company says, "and because the fastest way to build a great platform is to build it together with the people actually using it. But many parts of Space are still evolving. We're working quickly, and you'll see the platform change substantially over the coming months."