Autodesk steps into the hardware business: It’s making a 3D printer

Autodesk is no longer focusing exclusively on software for designing real places and things — it’s jumping into hardware business.

Chief executive Carl Bass announced Autodesk’s plans to build its first 3D printer, along with a new Spark platform for connecting hardware and software, in a blog post today. Designed with businesses in mind, the device will cost several thousand dollars when it becomes available in the second half of this year, according to the post.

But the goal might not be what you think : “We don’t necessarily expect to be in the top three 3D printing manufacturers,” an Autodesk spokesman said in an interview with VentureBeat. “There are great companies out there, and we want to see a lot more great companies come into the market.”