We have seen online services for T-shirts, mousepads and tea. Techcrunch pointed us to a new Dutch webservice that can create 3d sculptures, the service understands various forms of CAD drawings, “print” them in 3d, and ships them globally within ten working days. Ever wanted to create advanced objects yourself, organizing an event and looking for cool custom awards? Now it’s possible!
How it works
Shapeway offers an online service with a community, users can find drawings and upload their own. After the user selects a model, the online service verifie if the model can be made, and provides a realtime cost estimation. Shapeways will tweak and print the model, and packs and ships it globally within 10 working days. The average cost of an 3d object is $50 – $150, objects are created one by one, so there is no “batch discount”. On the other hand, the service is cheap and costs per object might leave the creativity to create variations for your production.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQoTro9WfbQ]
Technical developments
Jochem de Boer explained to thenextweb that the techniques on 3d modeling are developing very quick. The materials that Shapeways used are particularity useful for product designers. At this moment, there are four kinds of plastics to choose from, other materials including metal are planned.
The fun thing is that Shapeways can create models from all CAD drawings. Currently, you create your own 3d model and export it to industry standard files as STL, Collada or X3d. Around fall 2008, Shapeways is announcing easier ways to produce 3d objects. (read more)
helaas: “* The coupon code and/or your E-mail address is incorrect.”
Overigens is in het filmpje Blender gebruikt, wordt dat niet ondersteunt…?? (– gevonden: “There are now two ways to get your design from Blender into Shapeways: either by exporting as X3D or as STL.”)
Hey Tonci thank you for your response, it should work by now!
Hi Tonci,
In het Shapeways filmpje wordt inderdaad Blender gebruikt. Sinds de Blender 2.46 update met de vernieuwde X3D exporter sluit Blender prima aan op Shapeways. Voor meer details, zie onderstaande link.
http://www.shapeways.com/blog/archives/35-Blender-2.46-X3D-Import-Good-to-Go.html
Also take a look at fabidoo ( http://www.fabidoo.com ) who offer 3D printing for the masses. They have nice community features like weekly design contests, a simple to use editor and high quality 3D-printouts.
Cheers Marc
Shapeways move over…there’s a new kid on the block! Press Release: Kraftwurx.com, a Texas-Based company has launched a truly global social network and community for 3D printing. The business model is a bit different than Shapeways and includes some very interesting features. Kraftwurx has sellers accounts where you can upload and sell your models to others as well as purchase them yourself, printed in 3D of course. They also have a request system called Alchemy that lets you ask for designer help to create your item. Kraftwurx also has a very interesting chat system that converts what everyone else says to your language (set in your preferences) allowing you to make friends globally without the language barrier.
Kraftwurx operates more like Facebook in the community but they also have forums. They also have over 40 materials to choose from and a global network of over 600 bureaus signed up to participate and produce products for Kraftwurx members and retail customers alike.
Kraftwurx is powered by Digital Factory from Digital Reality, a software package based on a patent called Made-To-Order Digital Manufacturing Enterprise. It appears to be a very robust system with a lot more dynamics and controls to enable quality control on products you sell to the general public.
Some other interesting features of Kraftwurx include the fact that Kraftwurx will absorb shipping damage charges and reprint products that are defective, meaning you can sell your products and always get paid regardless. Kraftwurx also has taken out a rather large product liability policy and implemented some significant quality control measures built into Digital Factory to ensure consumers get good quality merchandise.
What does this mean? It means that Kraftwurx is aiming at taking the maker movement mainstream and enabling you to turn your ideas into products that others want to buy and letting you earn money doing it.