Right now it feels like multi-extruder and multi-material printing is the next big thing in FDM. But while we are all talking about awesome hardware solutions, no one seems to be talking about the fundamental software problem for multi-extruder printing which is the file format.We have all stuck to the STL format and it is complete crap for what we are doing in 3D printing. We are representing 3D shapes in the form of triangles, which then must be translated into linear 2D flat planes layer by layer. Now we are talking about using that file format which contains no textures, no sense of color, no way to differentiate one material to another for multi-materials?Madness!Looking this up, two solutions have been put forward to replace the STL format. The AMF file and the 3MF file, with 3MF having the most likely chance to take the spot.Why should you care? Because the 3MF file format is a standard made up of the 3MF consortium which is Microsoft, Stratysis, 3D Systems, HP, Dassault, Autodesk, shapeways and the like. Only Autodesk and shapeways gives any attention to hobbyists and consumers who have made 3D printing mainstream. The rest are held by large commercial interest who could really give a shit about what you think should be in the file format. No big names from the hobbyist community like Ultimaker, or even Simplify3D company who actually progressed slicing software has any say in this format.We can’t stay with the STL forever, its too limited for what we will end up doing, but how do we move forward without this ending up like our $100 desktop 2D printers with DRM ink cartridges that run out before they are really dry? http://ift.tt/2cGpv3Z