Decentralized manufacturing network 3DOS recently launched its peer-to-peer 3D-printing network on the Sui blockchain.

3DOS, a company that dubs itself the “Uber for 3D-printing,” announced the launch on Sep. 12. According to the company, it now boasts 79,909 3D printers in its ecosystem in more than 120 countries. 

A heat map of 3DOS’s decentralized infrastructure. Source: 3DOS

Decentralized manufacturing

Founded in 2019, 3DOS is a peer-to-peer commodities sharing network. Its protocols and software allow anyone with a compatible 3D printer to accept network requests for print jobs. 

This model is similar to those used by services such as Uber and Rappi in that it allows individual owners to provide services to a network of customers within a single ecosystem. 

Per company founder and CEO John Dogru:

“3DOS is a 3D Operating System, bridging the digital world to the physical world, allowing anyone to access manufacturing capacity and 3D printers anywhere empowering local producers and eliminating waste, inventory, and the carbon footprint associated with international shipping.”

Where 3DOS differs in its use of digital asset tokens and blockchain technology. The 3DOS network utilizes its own digital asset, the 3DOS token, to incentivize creators to upload designs and manufacturers to participate in the peer-to-peer pool. 

Creators and engineers can upload their designs for free with the potential to earn royalties on individual prints and, according to the company’s website, no fees are charged until a product is ordered for printing. 

Blockchain and onboarding

According to documents published by 3DOS, the company previously explored developing its own blockchain to support its 3D printing network. However, the strategic partnership with Sui provides a layer-1 networking host with the benefit of low-friction onboarding. 

Sui’s zkLogin tech, a Web2-to-Web3 bridge protocol, allows users to login via their Google or Twitch accounts.

As Cointelegraph recently reported, the Sui team has been exploring the use of radio waves to conduct blockchain transactions. This could allow people in areas where internet access isn’t available to remain connected to the global financial system. It could also provide a failsafe for transactions against power and internet outages. 

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