Anycubic and Thingiverse together for multicolor: ready-to-use 3MF models from November 17
Anycubic and Thingiverse announced on October 23, 2026 an exclusive collaboration to simplify multicolor 3D printing. The goal is to reduce the time between finding a model and physically producing it, eliminating part of the manual work required to assign colors and materials.
The first concrete result will be a dedicated section on MakerOnline, Anycubic's sharing platform. It is scheduled to open on November 17, 2026.
- Exclusive collaboration between Anycubic and Thingiverse announced on October 23, 2026
- Dedicated section on MakerOnline from November 17 with preconfigured 3MF models
- Selection of projects from over 2 million Thingiverse models adapted for multicolor
- No new printer: the agreement affects the digital workflow
What changes for users
The agreement does not introduce new machines but changes the process many users already know: finding a file, preparing it, and turning it into instructions for the printer.
Currently, printing a model in multiple colors requires several manual steps. The user must divide the object into parts, select surfaces, apply digital painting operations, or reconstruct portions of the geometry in the slicer.
The process can be quick for simple geometries such as a layered logo. It becomes complex when color boundaries cross irregular three-dimensional surfaces.
The collaboration aims to provide models already prepared in 3MF format, with colors and materials preassigned. This should reduce preparation work for those using compatible printers.
From STL format to multicolor 3MF
The transition from STL to 3MF represents an evolution in the representation of 3D printing projects, but it does not automatically solve all operational problems.
An STL file represents the surface of an object through triangles. It does not contain structured information to assign materials and colors to different regions.
The 3MF format allows richer projects to be represented: meshes, dimensional units and, depending on the implemented extensions, attributes referring to materials and colors.
However, the format alone does not guarantee printability. A slicer must interpret the information and link it to the actual capabilities of the printer used.
The numbers and limits of the announcement
The Thingiverse library contains over two million models, but the initiative concerns only an initial, unquantified selection.
The figure of two million refers to the entire Thingiverse catalog, not to the number of objects that will be converted immediately.
The agreement provides for a selection of projects, and only a portion will be set up for multicolor. The initial quantity, selection criteria, and complete list of supported printers were not specified in the press release.
At the time of the announcement, the service is not yet operational. There is no independent evidence of use regarding the quality of color profiles, the time actually saved, or the accuracy of reproduction on different machines.
November 17 is a future date relative to the announcement. No schedule for subsequent additions to the catalog is available.
Implications for the industry
The collaboration should be evaluated for its potential to simplify the workflow, not as an operational result already measured.
The agreement does not introduce technological innovations in printers or materials. It acts at the level of digital content and its preparation.
The success of the initiative will depend on the quality of the preconfigured profiles, the actual compatibility with different machines, and the breadth of the available catalog.
It remains to be verified how the licenses of the original authors of the models will be managed and what conditions will apply to commercial use of the converted projects.
The availability of ready-to-use models could lower the entry barrier for less experienced users, but advanced users may continue to prefer full manual control over the preparation process.
article written with the help of artificial intelligence systems
Q&A
When will the dedicated section on MakerOnline be available?
The launch is scheduled for November 17, 2026. The section will contain 3MF models preconfigured for multicolor printing, the result of the exclusive collaboration between Anycubic and Thingiverse announced on October 23, 2026.
Does the collaboration introduce new 3D printers?
No, the agreement does not introduce new machines. It intervenes exclusively on the digital workflow, providing models already set up with preassigned colors and materials to reduce manual preparation work.
Why is the 3MF format important for multicolor printing?
Unlike STL, which represents only the surface via triangles, 3MF can include meshes, dimensional units, and attributes referring to materials and colors. This allows colors and materials to be assigned to different regions of the model in a structured way.
Will all two million Thingiverse models be converted?
No, the figure of two million refers to the entire Thingiverse catalog. The initiative concerns only an initial selection of projects, the number of which was not quantified in the announcement.
Does the 3MF format guarantee that the model is printable in multicolor?
Not automatically. The slicer must interpret the file's information and link it to the actual capabilities of the printer used. The format alone does not guarantee printability, but it reduces preparation work for those using compatible machines.
