In the comments Microsoft confirms that its 3D printing support in Windows 8.1 will

3D Printing
,
1

In the comments Microsoft confirms that its 3D printing support in Windows 8.1 will work with Marlin-based open source printers
http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Build/2013/3-9027

2

That’s interesting.

3

I really don’t know whether i should love or hate Microsoft these days.

4

This is a cool move.

5

Good thing is, there are digital signatures defined too - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/dn263137.aspx - DRM anyone?

6

Of course they would want to DRM your 3D printer files. Of course.

7

It’s wonderful that they’re treating printers as first class peripherals, and I’m impressed that they’re leading the way on driver support, but I don’t trust them to avoid heavy handed DRM. Their engineers know they should avoid it, but they can’t change the corporate instincts. Sad. I hope they can avoid it. Digital signatures could be fine tools to ensure your using a known version of a file, and that important in some parts whose design has safety or economic implications. You just need to ensure that you’re the one setting the policy for signing and running files.

Besides, I’m hoping for a more lightweight, web-based printer integration. Maybe a URL/N scheme for things to allow you to publish them in your own namespace (physible://org.example/containers/stacking-bins?scale=.8&count=3). Embed a link to each item’s source in a qr code or RFID tag allowing objects to describe themselves. Submit a job through a web interface with just a link.

8

I think it is very nice that microsoft wants to support 3d prism…oops, i mean printing :-s

9

Stop press, Microsoft can send ASCII down a serial port.

I still want to make something better than GCODE, I have a sliding window of some sort in mind. I want to borrow concepts like pages from SCSI/SES and primatives from SAS.