Media loves the idea of 3D printing Nokia cases; gets the technology wrong

Many tech web sites are reporting this morning that Nokia has released STEP and STL files that would allow owners of 3D printers to print their own cases for the Lumia 820 cell phone. The catch to downloading the STL files is that you need to first register wtih Nokia:

• STEP drawings for Lumia 820 back shell for 3D printing (shell separated) http://www.developer.nokia.com/info/sw.nokia.com/id/90d754d9-2419-404d-a6d2-6ce1ff049a8f/Lumia_820_shell_STP.zip.html
  
  
• STL file for 3D printing (all parts)  http://www.developer.nokia.com/info/sw.nokia.com/id/42482850-b21d-48e8-a027-6b6453e19fa5/Lumia820_shell_allparts_STL.zip.html

As CAD users, we can amuse ourselves at the errors made in the reporting. I've highlighted the errors in bold, underlined, italicized text. Let's take a look, shall we?

Obviously, you’ll need a 3D printer – or at least access to one – in order to use the 3DK files in the first place [files are STL and STEP format].
      - SlashGear ("Feeding Your Gadget and Tech Obsessions")

Print your own Lumia 820 cover with this Nokia 3D schematic [schematics are 2D].
      - Verge headline 

Other sites note that you cannot sell the covers you print with these plans, and that 3D printing is rare enough to most of us won't be doing this work.

 

Comments

[Mike DeKoning]

Actually Nokia refers to the collection of 3D files as 3DK.

"We refer to these files and documents collectively as a 3D-printing Development Kit, or 3DK for short."
-Nokia Conversations blog

[David Brown]

That is some interesting thing that Nokia did. If 3D printer is as common as a desktop PC then everyone may have some use of it. Hope some manufacturers will come up with some nice covers with this kit.