According to Juniper research, sales of desktop 3D printers will exceed 1 million units by 2018, from an estimated 44,000 sold annually in 2014.
The newly opened Ford 3D Store – 3d.ford.com – sells printable files of F-150 Raptor, Shelby GT350R, Focus ST and Fiesta ST, with more models coming. When a buyer purchases a model or digital image, he or she must register with the site and agree that the item will not be used commercially.
The 3D-printed models available to order are 1/32nd scale in plastic. However, purchasing a digital image allows users to have a Ford model printed to the scale and of the material they choose, either from their own printer or from an outside source. Professional 3D printers can create a model in materials ranging from soft plastics to sandstone and even some metals.
“3D printing at home is a growing trend, and it makes sense for us to offer our customers a chance to make their own 3D Ford models,” said Mark Bentley, licensing manager, Ford Global Brand Licensing.
