My journey 'to' and possibly 'from' the MakerWorld Exclusive Program

MakerWorld MakerWorld General
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I wanted to share an experience that happened to me this week and the journey that has resulted in me losing most of my Maker World points and having me reconsider the program.

Mid last year my 5 year old son requested that I make him a train switch for his track. I wanted it to be a learning experience for me that would allow me to learning CAD software as well as nurture his love of engineering.

After a few months’ worth of work, trying different software I finally released my first model on MakerWorld, my original train switch. While similar to other models, it was something that I completely developed myself, especially that snap fit arm that connected the parts. This model popular and was appreciated in the community.

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However, I noticed a minor flaw in the design that bothered me. If the arm was set to guide a train to the side, occasionally a heavy train would be able to come along and push switch back to its original position, resulting in the train moving forward down the incorrect path. Friction is all that was keeping the switch in place.

I then embarked on creating a new version that would allow the switch to lock in place. After a few more months’ worth of development I created a Lockable switch that I was immensely proud of.

It was unique for the following reasons:
1 – I implemented the locking mechanism that no other similar switches used.

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2 – I made use off all female design connectors. This may seem trivial, but I believe it is what sets my train designs apart from others. My son is not able to plan a complicated layout, but he loves adding complexity. However, when switches are involved, he always ends up with connectors that don’t meet, as they are both male or female. By switching to all female connectors with drop-in adapters, he is able to build more complicated tracks, knowing the switches would always connect.

3 – I halved the numbers of models required to build a switching layout. Where you would normally require 4 differently shaped switch models, mine design resulted in you only needing 2.

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However, when I released my model, I was concerned that the tolerances used in the locking mechanism would not print well on other’s printers. In order to mitigate this risk, I released the new design as a new model, with the intent of not ruining the reputation of my first design, just in case the locking mechanism was not printing universally. The two work very differently internally.

Initially the original model remained popular, and no one showed interest in the improved lockable version. I even went so far as to place a notice on the main image of the original version to download the lockable version.

For months things were slow but eventually after many red banners, deprecation warning and requests for customers to use the Lockable version, the lockable version took off and became more popular than the original version.

At this point I enrolled nearly all models in the Exclusive Model Program as I had grand visions of being the one stop supplier for Brio compatible train track and accessories. I dusted off my old G16 camera and took new photos of all my models, with a lightbox and went so far as to post process them.

My switches became the two most popular switches on MakerWorld. By my estimates I was going to make a few hundred in USD this month in Redeemable Cash. (Which for me is a significant sum).

Today when I woke up, I discovered that my new Lockable version was pulled from the Exclusive Model Program and that I was penalized for lack of creativity, and I lost a few thousand points. To rub salt in the wounds, they left the originally deprecated version in the Program.

I do believe that what I created in the Lockable version was unique and better than all other available switches. I understand that visually they may appear similar, but the mechanisms for both are different and unique.

I have created a support ticket to appeal, and requested that I would happily delete my original switch to have the new improved Lockable switch back in the program.

I also removed a large number of models from the Exclusive Program as I simply can’t take the point penalty again. Such a drastic action without warning feels like its punishing creators who simply want to make MakerWorld their home.

I plan to keep others informed of the process in case something similar happens to them. I will let others know if I am successful in my appeal.

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Remix of a exclusive model
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It looks like your second model has been determined to be a remix.

I too make a second version of an Exclusive Model of mine. Asked MW about uploading it and they said that it sholud be uploaded as an another printer profile of the initial model. So no risk taken.

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Seems your appeal was successful. Were your points re-instated too?

For those considering the same move, can you explain how that works.
Can you remove models without penalty and keep the additional 25% exclusive points you gained?

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That is great advice and what I will do going forward

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My appeal was successful and the model was deemed different enough not to be a remix, however it was recommended that I use different images for the models as they look very similar.

I redeemed all my points before removing my older less original models from the program.

My understanding is that I don’t think you lose those points when enrolling or unenrolling models from the program

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Still, this is a topic that is recurring in MW. Models being removed without any warning given or any communication. You might have been one of the lucky ones to be honest.

Makerworld please improve this process and work with creators to make sure this does not happen. Without creators this page wouldn’t exist

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The easy answer is an application process for the exclusive program where all models need to get the green light from Bambu before they’re allowed in. For now, I would recommend publishing your models in private and submitting a ticket asking if there are any issues with your model entering the program. That way you know for sure before entering the program and making it public.

Also, if your model does get taken down in the future for whatever reason, you can always reference your ticket number where you were told it’s all good.

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I am struggling with similar changes on one of my models. I have created a far superior version of one of my exclusive designs, but I don’t dare add it as a new model because it would be seen as a remix. As such, I have added it as print profile on the original and updated all the photos and description.

This is all good and well, but it doesn’t get the exposure that a new model would get. So I ask myself, should I remove the older outdated model and upload the new one, losing all the existing history and comments? That doesn’t feel right either. So it is just a profile… and I hope others notice it…

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Not sure why you had to come back two weeks later only to bash one of your fellow creators, can we please stop that? Everybody can post variations of their models and list them as new models and exclusive. V2’s are not permitted in the Exclusive program by the guidelines but this is a grey line.

So every creator should assess the risk for themselves. Personally I upload V2’s and V3’s always as the same model but you do you at your own risk, and I also haven’t seen much difference in exclusive models and non exclusive models in the amount of traction I get

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It always annoys me seeing stuff like “The Last Filament Clip You’ll Ever Need!” and then a few months later “The Last Filament Clip You’ll Ever Need! (V2)”

if you need to update something, update the original, and rename it with “2025 Update” etc.

I’m not saying your intention was malicious, far from it. But MakerWorld has these processes in place because people abused it in the past.

Malc once made an excellent point about how it’s a one-sided relationship with how they deal with mistakes, their communication needs some work!

But on the flip-side, notifying a potential point farmer (again, not saying this was your intention) will just alert the farmer to fix an issue before they are dealt with, so a ‘remove first and ask questions later’ style has been adopted over the past year.

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Did any of those 50 reports been accepted?

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No.

They were removed from the Exclusive program or just four hours before the junior staff member who incorrectly took them out was overruled by a senior staff member and every single reported model that had always entirely met the standards required were reinstated with an apology.

Maybe that will finally settle this.

  • Bambu staff love them, and the variety I produce and the genuine help the provide to people with mental or sensory issues
  • They have all been reinstated as Bambu made an error following the suggestion of an individual
  • The well over a hundred thousand users love them for their individuality and uniqueness

Just because one person thinks they know more than others, doesn’t mean it is true.

My models were, are and always will be Exclusive program quality no matter how one individual might think otherwise.

They were pulled around 3:30am and every single one was reinstated by 7:30am.

11 hours ago (when the comment was posted), my 59 affected models hadn’t even been looked at, so, “successfully reported” isn’t true as they were still 3 hours away from being removed and no acknowledgement of any successful report would’ve have appeared until after each model was removed.

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As someone who previously, and shamefully, also once bashed malc for this, I apologise on this other person’s behalf

I didn’t understand before but I do now and taking it out on a fellow user that’s doing good, versus the plethora of actual garbage on MakerWorld.

Let’s keep it positive where we can!

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