Pretty Graffiti has designed a 3D Printed Stand for the OP-1 Synthesizer to raise it up and put it on the perfect angle for performance.

Earlier this year the designers of the OP-1, Teenage Engineering released the 3D files for accessories for the synthesizer when they could not find an affordable distribution channel for their international community.  This was the first time we have seen a manufacturer releasing 3D printable files so that their users could 3D print their accessories, either with a desktop 3D printer or via a 3D printing service such as Shapeways.  Now we see Pretty Graffiti may be the first user to carry on the momentum of adding value to the synthesizer, without Teenage Engineering investing in design time or manufacturing.  

GoPro users have already been taking this tack for a while now with around 80 GoPro related products in the Shapeways gallery with everything from 3D Printed GoPro Nerf Mounts to a 3D Printed GoPro Kite Mount.

I am sure this is the very first ripple of a tidal wave of 3D printed products we will see on Shapeways that add value to an existing product with little or no investment by the original manufacturer.  When manufacturers do get on board and start making 3D printed parts available we will see the same speed of innovation and product diversity as we already see happening within the Shapeways community.

Who do you think will be the first manufacturers to really take the opportunity and run with it?  How can we help them to understand it is in their best interest to start releasing accessories to be 3D printed on demand?  

There is little more rewarding then giving a loved one something that you have made especially for them. The value of the item far exceeds the sum of it's parts, as the act of making embeds meaning into the object far beyond a mass produced item, or a unique item you may have chosen from as artist or craftsperson. Your participation in the item adds a level of depth to the story and meaning behind the gift, that simply cannot been bought.  The item becomes priceless, not in a Mastercard advertisement kind of way, but the item is embedded with genuine meaning.

Designing a gift using on demand 3D printing with Shapeways may not mean you are hand forging every atom in the item, but the thought and emotion behind your design, the time spent 3D modeling (if you can), along with any post production you do increases the social value of your gift.

There are many beautiful stories in the Shapeways forums of people 3D printing gifts for loved ones. One of the most recent stories to capture our hearts at Shapeways is an age old story:

• Boy meets girl 
• Boy falls in love with girl
• Girl mentions she loves a pendant that is no longer for sale (the impossible mission is set) 
• Boy becomes the hero, locks his mission into his sights and decides he must design, 3D print and assemble the pendant to give to her (in 2012 the hero fabricates the Holy Grail) 
• Not knowing how to 3D model so well he enlists the help of a designer from the Shapeways forums (cutting the Gordian Knot with a little help from 3D superstar Kevin Wei)
• Shapeways 3D prints the design in Sterling Silver and sends it to our hero's door where he then has a crash course in setting jewels as he glues 150 Swarovski Crystals into the pendant
• Once complete he packages up the pendant and sends it across the ocean, nervously anticipating how she will receive the gift he has invested with so much time and energy.

Oh well, right now it's being transported... so I don't know yet whether she likes it. But honestly, when I send it off... it felt like I was sending a piece of myself... the amount of work and dedication that goes into making this... really made it the most special gift I have ever given somebody.

To help you make the most of the current discount on Stainless Steel we wanted to share some of the all time most popular products 3D printed in Stainless Steel.  Of course if there is nothing that tickles your fancy you can also (quickly) design your own as long as you get your order in before the December 31st at 04:59 GMT. Enter code jv9dv at checkout where it says "Promo Code" (not "Apply Credit").

A favorite in the Shapeways office, especially on Friday afternoon, the Klein Bottle Opener.

One of the most popular items of all time on Shapeways, the Thorn Dice Set with Decader.

We see waves and waves of the Explorers Ring - U3 Version rolling out of the Shapeways 3D printers.

With MILLIONS of views on YouTube, we had to include the Twin Rail Mobius can-take-a-ball - Pendant

3D Printing is not always about the new, sometimes it is about repair the old, like a (very) personal favorite of mine, Repair Part for a Bugaboo.

If you are designing something new to be 3D printed in Stainless Steel, be sure to pay close attention to the design guidelines for stainless steel. A few of the most important things to keep in mind: 

• Your design must have a minimum thickness of 3mm.
• The entire part must be bigger than 3x3x3mm and smaller than 750x381x381mm.
• No interlocking or moving parts.

it's a Zombie Santa Claus Christmas tree ornament!

I haven't been able to find any in stores, and it seems mind-numbingly obvious that this is what people really want on their tree. A limited time offer, this model is available THIS YEAR ONLY. A perfect, unique gift for zombie and tech enthusiasts. Digitally sculpted from scratch, this is not a modification of any existing design.

3D Printing on Demand and Building out the Factory in NYC.

We were honored to have Andy Greenberg of Forbes visit us at our production facility in NYC to see our 3D printers in action, discuss the way in which the Shapeways 3D printing marketplace works and the way access to a desktop 3D printer can help to make you a better designer. Take a look at the video and slideshow to see the discussion along with some of the 3D printers and the Shapeways team in action.