As a 3D printing platform, Spark brings the power of 3D printing into other technologies. By pairing with Microsoft, Spark will enable Windows 10 users to directly access optimized and more reliable 3D printing experiences. Additionally, Microsoft's worldwide developer community can freely access Spark's APIs and development platform to create 3D printing enabled applications for the Windows platform. 

Steve Guggenheimer, Corporate Vice President of Developer Platform & Evangelism and Chief Evangelist for Microsoft explains it this way:

"We’re approaching a tipping point with 3D printing, which means there is a huge market opportunity waiting for companies developing applications for Windows 10. By providing the 3D printing building blocks found in the Spark platform and optimizing it for Windows 10, 

?Autodesk has empowered our global developer community to confidently enter this new world of additive manufacturing.”

All of this means that the steps between ideation, design, and physical creation in additive manufacturing have just become quite a bit more streamlined. The future is now, and it’s powered by Spark.

Eoin Treacy's view

Autodesk is making a big push to become the go-to company for 3-D printing. As a major manufacturer of Computer Aided Design (CAD) software one could argue that producing the tools necessary to take 3-D printing to the next level is a natural progression. Early 3-D printer manufacturers rallied impressively from 2012 and into 2013 but had to engage in an aggressive M&A battle to maintain their top position. Not only have they had difficulty integrating all of the companies they bought, but 3-D Systems and Stratasys now run of the risk of being left behind by evolving technological innovation they have no part in. 

Autodesk investing $10 million of its $100 million Spark fund on Carbon3-D in April. http://carbon3d.com/news/autodesk-backs-carbon3d/ The company’s Continuous Liquid Interface Production (CLIP) technology Is truly ground breaking; being quicker, stronger and potentially cheaper that present technology. 

Autodesk ranged below $50 between 2005 and 2013 before breaking out. It has held a progression of higher reaction lows since and found support on Friday in the region of the 200-day MA. A sustained move below the $55 area would be required to question medium-term scope for additional upside.