Shapeways Blog - Shapeways

Welcoming the Shapeways Mid-Atlantic Meetup!!

blog@shapeways.com (Ana) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:01:00 +0000

Shapeways NYC meetups have really started to pick up steam. In fact, last month we had 65 people join us at the Mason Jar in Manhattan to hang out with other Shapers in person. It's a testament to the simple act of bringing people together. But what's even better is when these things take on a life of their own.

We're excited to introduce the Shapeways Mid-Atlantic Meetup, the first member-led gathering in a local community. Todd Blatt (aka baltimore) and Mike Williams (aka everyone's favorite forums mod) teamed up to bring Baltimore-based members together to learn, share their creations, and get inspired.

Everyone will be gathering on Feb. 16th at 7pm at the Baltimore Node hackerspace, then enjoying pizza and local brew at the famous Joe Squared. And me? I'll be making my way down from NY to give the group a warm send-off, and stare in confusion as I try and decipher some accents (Mike's words, not mine…).

If you're in the area, don't miss this!

Friday Finds: 3D Printed Designs From the Shapeways Community

blog@shapeways.com (Ana) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:05:00 +0000

Hey friend! How's 2012 treating you? How are those resolutions hanging in? If the work of the Shapeways' community is any indication, I'd say the new year is coming along swimmingly.

Just a quick reminder that if you want to join the ranks of the 3D creatives, Shapeways NYC has an intro Design for 3D Printing class this Monday 1/16, and there's 1 spot left!

Hope you enjoy the inspiration, happy friday!

printedCat's Bird of Beauty is, well, really beautiful.

bobvanvliet's Minimal Piggy bank

Ein-Ajan Bliej's Family of Ghosts

Shopowners: Prepare your shop for Valentine's Day!

blog@shapeways.com (Carine) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:34:00 +0000

Now that the big holidays are behind us (though our behinds may be larger as a result), it's time to prepare your shops and products for Valentine's Day. Over the course of the month, we'll be featuring gift-worthy products, as well as the designers behind the beautiful creations.

Continue reading "Shopowners: Prepare your shop for Valentine's Day!"

Shapeways in AXIS Magazine

blog@shapeways.com (Carine) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:30:00 +0000

Shapeways is featured in the February 2012 issue of AXIS, the premiere Japanese design publication. The article discusses our vision and history as a company "supporting personal fabrication." it also highlights beautiful products by Michiel Cornelissen, Catharina F.M. van de Ven and DotSan, Nervous System, and Cunicode.

Thanks to Kyoko Nakajima for the inclusion!

Back to the Future: 3D printing and the rise of “creative commerce”

blog@shapeways.com (Carine) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:24:47 +0000

NY entrepreneur and tech guru Anil Dash wrote a much discussed post about his wishlist for the future of 3D printing, arguing that despite his enthusiasm, “I don't think we're on the path to widespread adoption and success for 3D printers yet.” Anil’s post focuses on the market for 3D printers as devices, and within that context, I agree with many of his sentiments. However, by expanding the focus beyond 3D printers for the home and considering all the ways in which everyday people can use the technology to make the stuff in their lives, it’s increasingly clear that the future of 3D printing – and moreover the future of stuff – is already here.

He encouraged us to open up the debate in our blog as well, so here goes…please share your thoughts and opinions in the comments field! Our CTO Robert Schouwenburg has already chimed in.

Please note, this represents my view and is not an official company statement.

Continue reading "Back to the Future: 3D printing and the rise of “creative commerce” "

A Discount To End 2011

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:27:57 +0000

OH Yeah, we are going to end 2011 with a 20.11% discount on White Strong & Flexible.

This is our way of saying thanks for your continued support over the past year.

Every model ordered in White Strong & Flexible will automatically be 20.11% cheaper for material cost (the designer's mark-up will not be discounted).

So if you order a little something for yourself it will be 20.11% cheaper, if you order a big something for yourself it will be 20.11% cheaper.

You got it, WSF, 20.11% cheaper until midnight, December 31st 2011 EST

How to Get Your Designs Promoted by Shapeways

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:07:19 +0000

We have thousands upon thousands of amazing products for sale in the Shapeways shops designed by the Shapeways community. We are always on the lookout for great products to put on our home page, to share with journalists and take to events to promote the amazing quality and breadth of items designed by you. For us to promote your designs it is essential that you have high quality photographs that properly capture your designs.

We have posted some tips on the Shapeways blog on the value of a great photograph along with how to photograph your 3D prints and how to make sure your best image is the lead image on your product page and in the Shapeways Galleries. Take a look at the previous posts, take a look at the successful Shapeways Shops, then take a look at your shop and consider how you can improve your presentation.

Continue reading "How to Get Your Designs Promoted by Shapeways"

A Touching Story of A 3D Printed Christmas Gift for a 4 Year Old Daughter

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:57:57 +0000

Possibly one of the most touching stories of using 3D printing to create a unique, personal gift and we are not just talking a photo printed on a cup...

Shapeways community member Phelicia Ramlogan created a gift straight from a child's imagination and 3D printed it in full color. Kira wanted a submarine duck, mocked it up in ZBrush and Photoshop (yes she is 4 years old), her father cleaned up the 3D model a little then had it 3D printed by Shapeways.

You must read the story below from the parents perspective.....

CUTE!!!!

When a 4 year old understands that they can 3D model to design and 3D print exactly what they want, nothing is going to hold them back....

Friday Finds: 3D Printed Designs From the Shapeways Community

blog@shapeways.com (Ana) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:04:00 +0000

The Xmas day festivities and food coma are less than 48 hours away. You might still be in the office, contemplating how much longer before you can break out the egg nog, and whether your boss will really mind… The Shapeways community has still been busy making awesome stuff these last few weeks though. So before you settle in, take a moment to marvel and get inspired for 2012.

Happy Friday, and happy holidays!!

TurtlesAreCool's homespun present for his brother Eric (nicknamed Eric the Red…) printed in WSF and hand painted:

thvoelker made a tribute espresso cup with the Sicilian symbol on the side, sitting atop a saucer shaped like the region in Italy. Pictured here in ceramics.

Happenstance Heroes recently placed their first order from Shapeways, including this Pressed Flower Pedant in Polished WSF. Hopefully they keep it up!

Geometricity's Dodecaball, in WSF, is looking good.

Under The Right Lighting, Albert Einstein Looks Like Marilyn Monroe

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:17:40 +0000

We all know nightclub lighting can play tricks on the eye, harsh fluorescent lighting may reveal a different face, but did you ever think you could mistake Albert Einstein for Marilyn Monroe?

Drzach & Suchy, (previously mentioned on the Shapeways blog) have been working on a series of 3D printed shadow casting panels that allows multiple images to be encoded within a single physical object, a white panel, which displays the separate images under specific lighting conditions.

"The underlying principle of our technique is based on a simple observation: the shadow cast by an object depends not only on the object itself, but also on the light; therefore the same object under changing lighting conditions can totally change its appearance."

With Conversation, the technique is used to make an image of Albert Einstein transform into an image of Marilyn Monroe. See the video below for a vaguely unsatisfying demonstration.

Continue reading "Under The Right Lighting, Albert Einstein Looks Like Marilyn Monroe "

Stunningly Beautiful Kite Constructed with 1700 3D Printed Parts and Aerospace Materials: Must Watch Video

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:15:00 +0000

Three Cubes Colliding is a beautiful project by Ivan morison and Heather Peak, in collaboration with Sash Reading and Queen and Crawford using 1700 3D-printed connectors linking carbon fiber rods that support cubenfiber aerospace fabric sheets.

Three Cubes Colliding from Jimandtonic on Vimeo.

Found via 3Ders.org

The Shapeways My Keepon Challenge

blog@shapeways.com (Carine) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:48:00 +0000

For those of you not familiar with the squishy yellow robotic wonder called My Keepon, brace yourselves. We just got one in the NYC office last week and have fully regressed into childhood glee. The robotic toy, which responds to touch or music, is a lovable, awe-inspiring dancing machine. And its size and demeanor make it perfect for photo shoots and late night digressions (e.g., our music video below).

We're even more smitten by My Keepon because of its fascinating history: the toy, which hit stores this October, is based on Keepon Pro, a research robot created by Dr. Hideki Kozima and Dr. Marek Michalowski of BeatBots. They have been using Keepon Pro in playrooms to study social development and autism. Just as Shapeways' goal is to make high-end 3D printing accessible to all, BeatBots wanted to make the Keepon character and technology more widely available to fans while advancing the use of research robots in therapeutic settings. So they partnered with toymaker Wow! Stuff to make this incredible, inspiring technology accessible to kids of all ages (including those in their 20s and 30s) in the form of the My Keepon toy. Meanwhile, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each toy is going to be used to distribute Keepon Pro robots to researchers and practitioners around the world.

Continue reading "The Shapeways My Keepon Challenge"

The Tidal Wave of 3D Printing Hits NYC

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:54:22 +0000

Shapeways Eindhoven had one of it's biggest days yesterday, today it is New York's turn to be hit by the tidal wave of 3D prints.

In November 2011 Shapeways 3D Printed over 80,000 products for the Shapeways community.

On December 16th we paid Shapeways shop owners over $26,000 in profits from the mark-up of their sales from August 15th to November 15th.

Thank You ALL for being so awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is such a buzz to see the pile of packages grow and grow.

Thanks to the Eindhoven team for working huge hours to get all of the orders processed (below).

Continue reading "The Tidal Wave of 3D Printing Hits NYC"

Shapeways Celebrates One Year In NYC : The Team Growing Fast

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:29:00 +0000

It has been just over a year since Shapeways moved it's headquarters to NYC and it has been an amazing ride so far. The New York office went from one solitary NYC hire (Dan) and three Dutchies (Peter, Robert & Marleen) to a team of twenty one over the course of the year and still growing FAST.

In addition to the NYC office we are gearing up to open our fabrication facility in New York City early in the 2012. If you want to be part of the Shapeways team we currently have twelve openings in NYC and another four in Eindhoven where the magic started. Join us to help people make the most awesome stuff.

Your Holiday 3D Printing Heading Your Way

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:21:00 +0000

Yesterday was the biggest single day for shipping with 594 packages of your 3D printed goodness heading out the door yesterday. Our friends at UPS had to bring two vans to handle the load and the very last box only just squeezed in. The record for last year was a peak at 396 packages but this year it is a more constant flow. If you have missed the chance to get your orders shipped in time for the holidays, you can always give the gift of indecision with a Shapeways Gift Card.

After all, it's never too late for a last minute gift.....