The Shapeways Blog: 3D Printing News & Innovation
Shapeways Blog
Friday, June 14. 2013
Weekend Contest #16: Get Your Summer On!
The first day of summer is June 21st. Finish up your spring cleaning, and get ready for some summer fun!
What makes summer fun even more fun? 3D printed accessories that make your time outside more enjoyable! So what would make your summer activities more enjoyable? Running, sun bathing, swimming, biking, even spectating some sports.
Whatever it is that you do, improve it!
(Check out the NanoClip by VapourStudios for some inspiration!)
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Wednesday, June 12. 2013
Public Knowledge/Eyebeam Residency Program
Shapeways is proud to annouce that we are sponsoring a residency program jointly hosted by Eyebeam and Public Knowledge.
The purpose of the Public Knowledge/Eyebeam Artist Residency is to make policy issues more engaging by creating a new work that raises awareness of an issue with the wider public, and compels people to investigate the issue further.
- Keeping the internet innovative and open
- Promoting creativity through balanced IP policies, including in the 3D Printing sphere
- Open and Accessible Technology
- Advocating consumers right in international forums
Read More »
Friday, June 7. 2013
Weekend Contest #15: Get Your Squishy On!
Monday, June 3. 2013
Weekend Contest #14: Post Process
We started something new last week: Maker Materials, starting with the new Elasto Plastic. These Maker Materials give us a better opportunity to learn from you! To a regular person Elasto Plastic may look dull and useless, but to our creative community, the possibilites are endless.
Michael Mullers Snake ring, with black patina
You probably don't have your own Elasto yet, but we want to know your favorite post production techniques on any material. Share your tips for a chance to win a $25 voucher. Head to the forums for more details... This weeks contest has been extended to EOD Wednesday! (Midnight US Eastern Standard time)
Tuesday, May 28. 2013
Contest: Design an iPhone case with Graft Concepts and win $500
When we designed the Leverage i5, we had 3D printing in mind. We specifically made the thickness of the backplate to match the tolerances of popular 3D printing materials. We wanted anybody to be able to design and print backplates for our Leverage i5 case. So here we are, releasing 3D fies of our backplates free of charge. Anyone may share, modify and make commercial use of the work, all we ask is that you drop a link in your file description to our site at: http://www.graftconcepts.com. That means anybody can create a backplate that fits on our Leverage i5 case. We are really excited with this experiment and can’t wait to see what innovative ideas people come up with!
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Friday, May 24. 2013
Weekend Contest #13: Connect It!
(Image: MagSafe Adapter Key Ring by jbobrow)
Have you seen the The Free Universal Construction Kit? It's a super-clever set of connectors that allow you to combine different types of toys. Like hook up your Lego to Fischertechnik. Needless to say, kids love it!
What's interesting to me is that the individual manufacturers would never create these connectors. But as soon as you have access to a 3D printer, it's easy to make it yourself!
Taking this one step further, I'm curious what other kinds of objects you would like to connect? The Magsafe Adapter Key Ring is one of my favorites (and its creator Jonathan Bobrow just finished a successful Kickstarter campaign with it, congrats!). Let's see what you guys can come up with during the weekend 
Friday, May 17. 2013
Weekend Contest #12: Create Your Own Lego-compatible Add-on
(Image: Lego Ring by MulderandSkully)
I was browsing the list of Lego-compatible add-ons on Shapeways earlier this week and couldn't believe my eyes - the list DOESN'T STOP! It really got my ideas going, and I'm wondering if it will for you, too. Check out Triangle Lego, the Lego Barrette Clip, the little Electric Guitar or this Lego Arduino Brick. What can you think up that will connect with your Lego?
Head over to the forum for the full details of this weekend's contest. Have fun!
Friday, May 10. 2013
Weekend Contest #11: Custom Character
Have fun!
-Mike
Friday, April 26. 2013
Weekend Contest #10: Combining Materials
What can you make with muliple materials? What's possible if you make a product that is part nylon and part full color? MAGIC! Show us your creatvity and win fame and a $25 gift voucher.
For full details, head over to the forum.
Monday, April 22. 2013
NASA Space Apps Roundup
This weekend we sponsored the NASA International Space Apps Challenge in New York. All around the world, over 9000 people collaborated to work on 50 different challenges ranging from a chicken farming in your backyard to lassoing asteroids.
Read More »
Saturday, April 20. 2013
Weekend Contest #9: Curate our Homepage - the Best of 3D Printing
(Image: Crania Anatomica Filigre by Joshua Harker)
Do you have what it takes to curate the coolest Shapeways products for our homepage? Take a shot and the homepage could be ALL YOURS for a full weekend! So show us your impeccable taste and win fame and a $25 gift voucher.
You have until Tuesday morning, 10am GMT+1 to come up with your selection.
For full details, head over to the forum.
Friday, April 12. 2013
Weekend Contest #8: Product Photography
This weekend's contest is slightly different: we're not going to design anything. Instead, I'll assume that you already have an amazing collection of Shapeways prints at your place. The challenge then is to make the best product photograph you can! Here are some great pointers to get you started. Experiment with lighting, setting, composition, and create the best entry.
Thursday, March 28. 2013
Announcing the Winners of the 3D Printed Wedding Contest
We had over 70 entries to the 3D Printed Wedding contest and with so many fantastic designs it was really hard for us to chose winners among the entries. With the help of Kelly Phillips Badal, senior editor and in-house crafter at Country Living magazine, we were able to narrow it down and are very excited to announce the winners of our 3D Printed Wedding contest!
From cake toppers to table settings, we’ve gathered all of the entries for decor, party favors/gifts and bridal accessories and with help have selected the winners for each category. See Kelly's picks below!
Decor: The ball and chain wine glass charm. "This clever little charm made me laugh out loud -- and instantly covet it. And would I use it post-wedding as a sly statement? Absolutely."
Party favor: The 'Suit Up' iPhone case. "Truly classy groomsmen gifts are tough to find, but if Don Draper owned an iPhone, this sharp case would be his top choice."
Bridal accessory: The phoenix hair clip. "The complexity of the design is impressive, and there's a lacy quality to it that reads bridal. Plus, it's a keepsake: You'll want to pass this beauty on to your daughter."
We wanted to make sure each item was actually fit for a that special day, so naturally, we threw a wedding! Additional images from the shoot can be found here.
Designs by Naaaut, Nervous System, Dario Scapitta Design.
We had some really spectacular submissions and want to thank all who participated as well as highlight a few more of our favorites!
Flamingo Cake Toppers, these two lovers are nothing short of precious.
Skully and Murrder cake toppers, the Tim Burton fan in us is squealing!
Have ideas for the theme of our next contest? Let us know!
Friday, March 22. 2013
Weekend Contest #6: Reuse a plastic bottle
Picture: Bicycle Bottle Fender Mount by Michael Mueller
For full details, head over to the forum.
Friday, March 15. 2013
Weekend Contest #5: 3D Scan to 3D Print with 123D Catch
This week for our weekend contest we challenge you to 3D Scan to 3D Print using Autodesk 123D Catch.
Take up to 40 photographs around an object with your iPhone, iPad or your camera and 123D Catch will take the photos and stitch them together in the cloud using photogrammetry to create a 3D object. You may need to give the 3D file a little love to make it ready to 3D print then upload the file to Shapeways with the tag '123D Catch' and we will give our favorite entry a $25 Shapeways Gift Card.
