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ShapeWays: Print 3D Designs Fast and Easy + Beta Invites

Started by Josh M · 11 months ago

Hold on to your 3D lovin’ hats people. Shapeways is about to change how you feel about 3D Printing… and also how you go about doing it.
The issue is getting a quality 3D Print of your design fast and cheap. ShapeWays is aiming it’s 3D hearted plastic extruders right at that market and plans to take it layer by plasticy layer, so ... Continue reading »

14 comments

  • Marijn

    11 months ago

    Yes, it is Dutch!
    Marijn makes a dance around his laptop!
    I already have a confirmation mail back :)
    reply
  • Josh M

    11 months ago

    Are you proud or something :)
    let us know what your experience is like Marijn.
    reply
  • Tabz

    11 months ago

    Thanks for the article Josh! I can't wait to see what the SolidSmack readers design!
    reply
  • Josh M

    11 months ago

    No problem, I'm looking forward to how you guys grow in the marketplace.
    reply
  • Bruce Buck

    11 months ago

    Cool beans, but it'll be interesting to see how competitive it will get in the coming years. I see you being able to buy your own 3D printer from hp within 5 years, 10 at the most, at walmart. This is going to get big, fo sho!
    reply
  • Josh M

    11 months ago

    Buy! heck you can replicate your own right now with the RepRap 3D printer. True, though, I see this getting real big once it hits... Kid's making the'yre own toys, hobbyist making their own hobby stuff.
    reply
  • Daniel

    11 months ago

    Josh, the community page for Shapeways is really cool. I like how you can rate other people's models and make comments on it. (Think Flickr-like)

    You can even view the file in 3D ala 3Dcontent Central style but even order the part! (Granted the original uploaded allows such things) =P
    reply
  • Josh M

    11 months ago

    I wonder if it will go toward the hobbyist crafter or 3D animation industry. Ponoko has been leaning toward the jewelry industry for the obvious reason that it's just more popular that having other items, like furniture or lighting designs, laser cut.
    reply
  • jeff b

    11 months ago

    what about pairing up with Spore and being able to buy your own scaled down creatures. that would hit a wide audience.
    reply
  • Josh M

    11 months ago

    Jeff, you win the prize for awesome cross-promotional ideas. Tabitha did you see this? watcha think?
    reply
  • Tabitha

    11 months ago

    That's fascinating, I'll have to send it on to the powers that be. :)
    reply
  • aldean

    11 months ago

    This stuff looks pretty cool - and there are a whole host of service providers out there - is there a price war coming in the RP/direct part print world I wonder dude? Problem is that the direct nature of these machines (whether commercial or home built) mean that you can't do so much with economies of scale.. the part costs the same whether you order 1 or 100 off.. There also seems to be a good lead from the europeans on this front (something which makes my heart sing a little).. you should also check out people like Materialise and their NextDay service (www.materialise.com) or Protomold (protomold.com - who do injection moulded parts in 24 hours if you need them that quick)..

    The video also shows the shapeways guys using Materialise Magics, which is an incredible peice of tech for those working with these manfuacturing systems - I did some tests on STL data that the various CAD applications churn out and the results from some system, even with a close solid, where sketchy to say the least - and one of the only ways to fix them and make them usable, is with Magics.. its also got loads of tools for chopping up STL data so you can build bigger parts in sections and the tool can build in keyways and slots for connecting them up once they're built..

    Just to geek out for a minute, I've also been over to the materialise HQ in Leuven - incredible facility - their Mammoth SLA machines are a thing to behold.. check it

    http://www.materialise.com/materialise/view/en/...
    reply
  • John

    11 months ago

    Hi its John from Shapeways. It's awesome to see all this great feedback for Shapeways. Shapeways is definitely appealing to all the markets from crafts to the 3D industry. It's exciting to see what kind of designs will be produced.
    reply
  • marc

    10 months ago

    Also take a look at the german startup fabidoo (www.fabidoo.com) where you can design key-rings and usb-memory-sticks online and have them printed by a color 3D printing process at really low prices.
    Cheers
    marc
    reply

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