There’s been a lot of MakeVR in my life lately. After reading up on and finally getting exposed to MakeVR’s virtual reality 3D modelling system, the software (and accompanying hardware) has finally launched on Kickstarter. I have a feeling that it might reach its $250,000 goal pretty quickly.
If you missed my first post on the topic, MakeVR is an immersive, gesture-based 3D modelling program from developer Sixense. Using two gesture-sensing controllers, the STEM System, the software tracks your movements inside of a 3D, virtual world. Inside of the world of MakeVR, users can pick up a number of primitives, and not-so-primitives, like blocks and cylinders and mechbots and assemble them into their own shapes. Because the software relies on a CAD engine, you can take a cylinder and take a cylindrical slice out of some cube hanging out in the MakeVR world. Or you can take a mechbot and attach it to a blank iPhone case primitive to customize your own iPhone case. The only drawback is that the system doesn’t offer the same fine detail that other CAD programs might. It’s much more difficult to go into MakeVR and draw fine lines and create complex components the way you might in Zbrush or Maya.
On the other hand, you don’t have to learn an extensive set of menus and submenus, as with other CAD programs. Instead, you just have to learn the buttons on your STEM controller. You pinch and stretch objects with ease. And their new co-op mode allows multiple users to model together. This is ideal for designers who may be working on a project with someone on the other side of the planet. The whole process is extremely intuitive, which I can attest to after using it in person.
After rotating and flipping objects with your two handheld controllers until you’ve created an object you’d like to print, you can print within the MakeVR world. With its native 3D printing capability, there’s no need to export – though you can – in order to 3D print your object. All of the objects are watertight, with extremely clean geometries, so you don’t have to worry about whether they’ll print or not when you send them to Shapeways or to your 3D printer. Steve Hansted, of MakeVR, explained to me at the 3D Printer World Expo that the daughter of Sixense CEO, Amir Rubin, went into the office one day, learned MakeVR after about 15 minutes and, not long after, had created her own swiss cheese iPhone case which was printed in the office and given to her the next day.
The Kickstarter offers MakeVR in a variety of packages. Early-birds can get the software alone, without the STEM System, for $169. Packages including the STEM controllers begin at $399. The non-early bird – your average bird – can get the complete package starting at $479. If you purchase the complete package, you can go out and get yourself a virtual reality head mounted display, like the Oculus Rift, and immerse yourself completely in the 3D world. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to try the full 3D feature out at 3D Printer World Expo, so, that, in particular, is exciting to me.
Check out the Kickstarter video below and head over to their campaign if you’re thinking about supporting them:
