DDD acquires My Robot Nation

The move to bring ever more technology into the hands of makers picked up a bit more steam yesterday, as 3D Systems Corp. (DDD) announced that it has acquired My Robot Nation, a web platform that enables users to design and manufacture their own toy robots. It’s quite a cool little site: for anywhere from $17.99 to $169.99 (plus shipping), one can design and have delivered to them a robot that’s 2 inches to 6 inches tall, put together from a catalog of heads, torsos and other body parts, customized with all sorts of doodads and then printed on a Z Corp printer. My Robot Nation is very easy to use, as icons and mouse clicks drive the designer through the process in logical “pick and place” order. Pick a head, move on to the torso, add a cyclops-like eye, position some widgets on the robot’s chest, pose the ‘bot … Within a couple of minutes, I’m sure just about anyone could quickly create their own, unique robot from millions of possible combinations, then make it real with 3D printing. DDD already owns Z Corp, so this was a natural next step — and indeed, DDD plans to integrate My Robot Nation into Cubify.com, DDD’s platform for creating printable objects. This addition “enhanc[es] Cubify with hundreds of new fun and easy 3D creation and printing applications [and] engaging play spaces, social features, and intuitive user interfaces resulting in a visually stunning creative process with limitless opportunities for unique expression.” But what’s really interesting is what DDD gets out of this. Abe Reichental, CEO of 3D Systems, said in the press release announcing the acquisition: “We believe that this investment will accelerate the gamification and democratization of the entire Cubify experience, and at the same time, facilitate our expansion into 3D hosting, publishing and the production of licensed content for other global consumer brands.” Note the last bit: “3D hosting of licensed content”. I first talked to Z Corp about the idea of enabling consumers to make their own action figures, super heroes and toys a couple of years ago. It seemed like such a good idea idea: Take the kids to see a movie and make them an action figure personalized for them in some way. The biggest question was how to make the design technology simple enough that anyone could do it, no CAD required. My Robot Nation clearly is one answer to that problem. What to you want to bet that the “licensed content” is a movie action figure or Disney character? My Robot Nation’s founders, Mark Danks and Sarah Stocker, will join 3D Systems with the acquisition. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.