Shapeways Blog - What's Hot

Searching for Superman or Superwoman to Lead the "Factory of the Future"

blog@shapeways.com (Carine) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:53:00 +0000

NYC is increasingly becoming the global breeding ground of innovation and entrepreneurship. Unbeknownst to many, it's also becoming the hub for a radical shift in how things are made -- powered by 3D printing. In order to supercharge this shift, we're opening up production in NYC this year and will in turn make 3D printing faster, more affordable, and more accessible for everyone.

As we lay down the groundwork for the "factory of the future," we're hiring the team of all stars who will make this all possible, including the Director of Operations who will lead us into the future. This person (ehem, superhuman) will be tackling incredibly challenging technical and operational problems that have yet to be solved anywhere in the world, questions like: How do we produce, sort, and ship thousands of unique items in different materials to customers all over the world on a daily basis? How do we take best practices from traditional manufacturing and apply them in the context of 3D printing? How do we scale our efforts as demand and product complexity increase exponentially?

Continue reading "Searching for Superman or Superwoman to Lead the "Factory of the Future""

Join us for Material Monday on Shapeways

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:01:32 +0000

Inform your designs with the AMAZING new 3D Printed materials samples we have in the Shapeways office and take a look at some of the post processing techniques we have been experimenting with in the Shapeways Labs NYC version 1.0

Join Nancy and Duann on Monday at 1pm EST via our usual Shapeways Live portal to take a look at what we have been playing with.

As with the usual Shapeways Live set up you will be able to see us via U-Stream and ask questions via the chat.

We are really looking forward to sharing some of these cool materials and finishes, it is so exiting when they arrive at the office and we really want to share some of that excitement with you.

Join us, Monday 13th Feb 1pm EST via Shapeways Live for Material Monday

"for some designers... protection may be better achieved through instant prototyping and continuous product change rather than intellectual property law"

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:44:00 +0000

3D printing: saviour or piracy tool?, a recent article by Brad Howarth for Fairfax Syndicated media in Australia and New Zealand lightly touched on issues of 3D printing and IP.

The recent debate has been fuelled by The Pirate Bay's new Physibles section for product files with opinions ranging from 'the sky is falling' type declarations with demands that CAD files and products be embedded with DRM type devices to 'cue the worlds smallest violin' to copyright holders, even with disbelief and accusations that 3D printing is a hoax, again.

This is something that will require much more discussion to work through but what was interesting at the end of Howarth's article was a quote by Bruce Arnold, a lecturer in the School of Law at the University of Canberra:

"Just as with existing counterfeiting options, Arnold said that many consumers would still prefer to buy the original item. But for some designers, he said protection may be better achieved through instant prototyping and continuous product change rather than intellectual property law."

Continue reading ""for some designers... protection may be better achieved through instant prototyping and continuous product change rather than intellectual property law""

Designer Spotlight: Michael Mueller (aka Pookas)

blog@shapeways.com (Carine) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:32:00 +0000

Michael Mueller (aka Pookas) has taken us down memory lane with his whimsical and mythical designs. From nautical and animal-inspired jewelry to belt clips and key chains, the Wuerzburg, Germany based designer continues to ignite our imaginations. Michael shares his story, quirks, and where his thoughts are currently wandering.

Cheat Sheet:

Tech he couldn't live without: I like computers, Internet, and TV, but I could live without it...no, I won't try.
Favorite material: Stainless steel and silver. Robust and made for eternity.
Favorite font: Depends on the context.
3D software of choice: 3D Studio Max.
Most prized object: I collect a lot. Antique photos, snail shells, nixie tubes. No favorite, though.
Morning person / night owl: I don't like to see the sun rise when I get up, but before bedtime, it's okay.

How did you learn to design in 3D?

I started in the 90s when I was studying communications design. Since I graduated from university I have been working as a computer game developer, so working in 3D is part of my job.

Continue reading "Designer Spotlight: Michael Mueller (aka Pookas)"

Do You Want to Write for the Shapeways Blog?

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:30:00 +0000

If you have your finger on the pulse of all things related to design, 3D printing and the Future of Stuff, like to share your passion online with words and beautiful, beautiful pictures, then Shapeways needs you !!!

The Shapeways community is growing incredibly fast and we need to keep everyone up to date with the latest news surrounding such an ever expanding space. If you are interested in writing for the Shapeways blog send an email to duann (at) shapeways.com with a little about yourself, your education, your experience, links to your online presence along with why you want to join the Shapeways blogging team.

If words and pictures are not your thing but you still want to be part of the future of stuff take a look at our jobs page for more opportunities.

Join us..... The future is an awesome place....

Will Write Blog Entry For Money / voxeros / http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

Welcoming Assya Plavskina to the Shapeways team!

blog@shapeways.com (Carine) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:07:00 +0000

We're growing faster than a milk-chugging pubescent teen these days (we're hiring!), and every time someone joins the Shapeways team, we have the wonderful tradition of sending a welcome email to the entire company. It usually results in a steady stream of "WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!!!!" type messages.

This past week, we were joined by the wonderful Assya Plavskina, our new Shipping Specialist, who will help launch our NYC production this year, or as we like to call it, the factory of the future. Her introductory Q&A was so great that we had to share it with everyone...

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Quadcopters Assembling Architecture

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:28:19 +0000

The future of bricklaying. Quadcopters.

A project by Gramazio & Kohler and Raffaello d'Andrea in cooperation with ETH Zurich

Flight Assembled Architecture/Architectures volantes from FRAC Centre on Vimeo.

Furniture and Butter Knives: How To Assemble a 3D Printed Chair

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:05:24 +0000

As Shapeways prepares for an exhibition of 3D Printed products to be held at Material Connexion in New York we were lucky to have Chris Hardy allow us to 3D print his Cesca Chair interpretation to include in the show.

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Win A Massive Minecraft 3D Print with Curse, Mineways and Shapeways

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:37:36 +0000

One of the most popular gaming sites on the internet Curse is offering a massive Minecraft 3D print giveaway for it's premium members. One lucky winner will receive a free 3D Print of their favorite Minecraft model for up to a $630 value. Five runner-ups will be chosen and each one will receive a $50 gift certificate to Shapeways, enough to print a character or a small structure.

Join to win.

Continue reading "Win A Massive Minecraft 3D Print with Curse, Mineways and Shapeways"

Unboxing the Nanolet iPod Nano Bracelet

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:01:37 +0000

The team at Curve Creative has shared the unboxing of the very popular Nanolet 3D printed iPod Nano Bracelet.

Nothing fills our hearts with joy quite like seeing an 'unboxing video' on YouTube. Whenever 'unboxings' are posted the videos spread across the office from screen to screen as the team at Shapeways gets a peek into the other side of the Shapeways experience. Thanks to Ben, Alan and Paget at Curve Creative for sharing, we look forward to seeing many more.

If anyone else has an 'unboxing' video to share please tweet it @shapeways to ensure we see it. Thanks

What Color Do You Want YOUR Ceramics Designs to be 3D Printed in at Shapeways

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:03:29 +0000

3D Printed Ceramics is starting to look more colorful at Shapeways. Which is your favorite color and what colors would you like to start 3D printing your ceramics designs in?

Forget speakers. Check out this 3D printed gramophone for the iPhone that actually works!

blog@shapeways.com (Carine) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:12:00 +0000

When a power outlet is out of reach and you're in need of some loud jams, the iPhone speakers don't often cut it. Sigh no more.

Schreer Design has created an analog amplifier for the iPhone called the iVictrola Gramophone, based on the old Gramophones of the late 19th and 20th centuries. The amplifier comes in two parts, including a sound magnifier and horn, which is adjustable up and down.

We didn't believe it at first, but it actually works astonishingly well! See it in action:

The iVictrola Gramophone is also available in a stunning red.

Paris in New York via Minecraft

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:38:33 +0000

We just got a little piece of Paris for the Shapeways NYC office thanks to Mineways.

Have you got any cool images to share?

The Pan-NO-Head = Modding a Camera with 3D Printing to do Panoramic Interactive Photos

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:34:00 +0000

The Pan-NO-Head by BVR which (if I read this correctly) helps to make it possible to do a panoramic print with a digital camera and an 8mm fish eye lens.

The description includes a series of letters (npp/lpp/osp/GR) that may mean more to 'pano-heads' then it does to me but you can check out the process and the interactive images on the Buffalovr site.

Tinkercad Updates Their Browser Based 3D Modeler for 3D Printing

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:16:00 +0000

Tinkercad have made some advances in their quest to make 3D printing easy with their latest release of their browser based 3D modeling software.

The latest iteration of the free software includes more complex base geometry, letters, numbers and symbols to make it easier to personalize and 3D print a design.

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