Shapeways Blog - Gadget Lab

Kelecrea: Design and 3D Print Jewelry from Your Android

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:48:00 +0000

Create your own silver ring on your Android device and 3D Print it with Shapeways!

kelecrea is developed for the Android platform by Shapeways community member Lajos Kelemen that lets you add text as engraving or embossing to 3D models. Currently you can modify a choice of rings, pendants, nameplates, coins, brooches and hairpins. You can already see some of the designs generated in his shop gallery.

Check out the video of the app in action then download it from the Android market.

It is applications like kelecrea, ShapeMe, Endless Forms, 3DTin and Tinkercad that will really bring 3D printing to the masses.

Awesome work Lajos

3D Print Yourself with Just Two Photos and ShapeMe by Archipelis

blog@shapeways.com (Nancy Liang) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:27:00 +0000

3D print a miniature version of yourself with just two photos and ShapeMe (developed by Archipelis).

Shapeways community member Archipelis has developed a really fun and mildly addictive app that lets you make a miniature version of yourself with NO 3D modeling skills needed. You simply download the ShapeMe app, take a front on and profile head shot of yourself, use the simple interface to map your head onto a range of bodies and you are ready to 3D print in our new full color... You can also add other elements such as hair, glasses and a base.

ShapeMe is currently only for Windows but soon to be released in the Apple app store so you can also use ShapeMe on your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch.. Being so easy to use it is a perfect way to get friends and family to start playing around with 3D printing. What better gift for grandma than a miniature grandchild to put on the mantlepiece, or perhaps you could do a personalised wedding topper, with the bride and groom imortalised in full color. Whatever you choose to do the ShapeMe is fun and easy. Take a look at the gallery of ShapMes so far.

Check out the tutorial page (download link is in the tutorial page), and the video below to get started.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/center&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; Few things we noticed while playing with the app:&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 1) It's very important when constructing your face, to place the red dot on the tip of your nose. Don't worry about the face frame, you can adjust it later&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 2) If you find that your face shape looks odd in the end, click the &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;back&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; button and readjust your face frames. Usually, it takes a few go to get it perfect&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 3) At the last screen (the one with the spinning head), try to eliminate as much flash as you can, and brighten the colors. It's very important for print quality to take the picture in a well lit room and/or adjust the color well. Most cameras we find take too dark of pictures to be printed at a realistic quality. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; We hope that you find this app nifty, and let us know if you are making or know of somebody making apps that would nicely plug into Shapeways.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; Enjoy!&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; Nancy &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/body&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/html&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
Continue reading "3D Print Yourself with Just Two Photos and ShapeMe by Archipelis"

How To 3D Print High Polygon Models with Shapeways

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:07:00 +0000

Ok Zbrush users, organic algorithm artists and character modelers, Shapeways have developed a workaround so that your models can now exceed the ~~500,000~~ 1,000,000 polygon limit currently in place.

It is not elegant, and takes some negotiating, but if we get enough demand we will try and automate the process to make it easier for everyone. Let us know what you think, is this something you would like to see as standard?

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3D Printed PC Case

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Sun, 22 May 2011 22:02:00 +0000

An awesome industrial design project that uses 3D printing to construct a custom PC case from scratch. Very ambitious and very impressive project by Pazu....

We see many projects on Shapeways where a 3D printed component is combined with a single other component to improve or extend the capability of a product. We see a lot of protectors and stands for mobile gadgets, especially the iPhone and iPad. We see occasional projects that combine multiple 3D printed materials together to make the most of there different material properties, but we rarely see them combined in one big project. Pazu aka ArkAngel has spent a couple of months designing, detailing and constructing a stunning custom PC case that utilizes 3D printing in an intelligent, efficient and aesthetic manner that is a great example of how to realize a relatively complex item.

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Like a Gramophone for Your iPad

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Tue, 24 May 2011 10:10:32 +0000

Simple, 3D printed coolness.... The Mega Toot by cheewee2000

So your iPad is not quite loud enough, you want to stay wireless, don't want to plug into external speakers and don't want to wear your great grandfather's old ear trumpet? Then we have the solution for you, the Mega Toot turns you iPad into a digital gramophone with no additional batteries, no hand crank and 120% style....

Rock on.

Nintendo Graduation Ring and Atari Miniature Disc Drive

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Sat, 07 May 2011 00:39:00 +0000

Get your Geek on with Shapeways.

Designed as a custom graduation ring for a client in the game design field by Action N

A tiny working model of a retro computing icon offers a blend of nostalgia and sillyness by Rossum.

My first computer was an Atari 400. My first disk drive was the magnificent Atari 810. Overwhelmed by a recent wave of nostalgia from playing Zork for the first time in 30 years I have built a working model of an Atari 810 that uses 8Gig microSD cards instead of 5 1/4 inch floppies to emulate up to 8 drives. Maintaining the relative dimensions of drive to media, the model is somewhat smaller than the original.

3D printed by Shapeways then hand painted, this is by far the cutest external drive, ever.

What other retro devices could be 3D printed in miniature to act as housings for electronic devices with thousands of time the storage and processing capability of the original in some kind of size reduction = capacity multiplication equation?

3D Printed 3-axis Camera Gimbal for GoPro

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 05:14:50 +0000

Stabilizer For Remote Controlled Airplane for FPV and Aerial Video

So many cool things about this project I don't know where to start.

This (if I understand fully) is a beautifully designed pan-tilt-roll gimbal for a GoPro HD camera to attach to a remote control airplane and stabilize the footage.. Ok, already very cool. SFX is using servos from Hobbyking (MKS470) or other places, and you can use a remote control with v-tail or elevon mixers to drive this as a 3-axis pan tilt unit. For the gyro stabilization you'll need some 3-axis gyro and micro-controller to generate the servo signals.

Plenty of things I know nothing about but get excited when I see a video of the unit in action like this.

&amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;p /&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;/body&amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;lt;/html&amp;amp;gt;

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An Awesome Month of March at Shapeways

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 02:11:00 +0000

What a month March was for the Shapeways community.

We started the month with an invite to join us at Makerfaire UK in Newcastle, which turned out to be a great success with Ralph and Bart joined by community members Euphy and Stop4Stuff who had an awesome time talking until their throats were hoarse about 3D printed coolness.

We launched the ICFF contest to give you the opportunity to have your 3D printed designs on show in NYC, already the contest is hotting up with some great entries, make sure you get yours in soon.

Shapeways updated it's dyed strong and flexible range to include Dark Grey and Indigo to Winter Red and Night Black.

We made it possible for you to log in to Shapeways with Facebook and Twitter making it easier for new users to sign up and purchase your designs, Like your items and tweet the love.

The Stainless Steel Design Rules were given a tweak to ensure that there is greater consistency and reliability with the stainless steel process.

SILVER made a long awaited comeback after months of being sorely missed with a better pricing model for you, tell us what you think and show us your stuff...

Continue reading "An Awesome Month of March at Shapeways"

3D Scanning Begins to go Mobile!

blog@shapeways.com (Christina Westbrook) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:25:00 +0000

At the moment Trimensional (a mobile device 3D Scanner) is only available on the iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4th Gen. The main reason it's only currently on these two devices is because the way it works is that while the screen of the mobile device faces you it flashes some fancy lights at you while you stare unmoving at the front-facing camera in a dark room (try not to creep everyone out who lives with you, unless you want to).

I saw this 3D scanning application mentioned initially on my feed from the Smithsonian 3D Digitization page that I "like" on Facebook. It was only 99 cents, so I figured it wasn't a big monetary risk to try it out. It was pretty entertaining if not with wonderful accuracy (above is a less than flattering low-res 3D scan of me). But hey, it just came out and the creator himself said he's going to pimp it out a lot more as time goes by. I'm sure most of you reading this blog want to know how these 3D scans apply to 3D printing. There are export features in the works, go to the end of this blog for more info on my email exchange with the creator of this app.

Continue reading "3D Scanning Begins to go Mobile!"

Large Scale DIY 3D Printer

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 10:24:00 +0000

With a maximum build area of 403.00 x 403.00 x 322.70 mm [15.86 x 15.86 x 12.70 inches] this may be one of the bigger DIY 3D Printers (but not as big as this one) currently out in the domestic wild. The above image is My Machine by Jim at Grass Roots Engineering cradling a Fab@Home Model 2.0.

So…It all began in late 2008/early 2009 when I really wanted to build a 3D printer. There were not as many choices in DIY 3D printer designs then as there are nowadays. I could not find a machine design that I really liked that was capable of printing with ABS plastic. So I set off to design my own and ended up designing something like this:

Happy Holidays From Shapeways

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:50:30 +0000

Wishing you all a happy holidays on behalf of the entire shapeways team!

Thank you all so much for being part of such a creative community of makers, we look forward to providing you with more exciting ways to realize your ideas in the new year.

Santa Girl by Kaetemi

kinect augmented reality multi touching

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 15:33:38 +0000

Ok, this makes the Wii hacks look old school.

&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://vimeo.com/16992651&quot;&gt;kinect augmented reality multi touching&lt;/a&gt; from &lt;a href=&quot;http://vimeo.com/dvjdust&quot;&gt;dustin o'connor&lt;/a&gt; on &lt;a href=&quot;http://vimeo.com&quot;&gt;Vimeo&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/body&gt; &lt;/html&gt;

Check out dustin o'connor's Vimeo for more!!

More 3D Printed Gifts Than Can Fit On Santa's Sleigh

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 01:01:00 +0000

The rush to get all of the packages out in time for the holidays is now over with Monday's shipment of 396 packages going to destinations all over the globe. Perhaps one of them is yours?

A big thanks to all the production teams who worked so hard to get all of the packages out in time...

And a massive thank you to everyone who is giving a 3D printed gift this year....

The CardCase for IPhone 4

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:57:00 +0000

Love this design, now I wish I had not featured the Minimalist first, but I know that this was in prototyping before the post. I wish there was one for the iPhone 3G so I can stop walking around with my creditcard held onto my phone with a rubberband like some sort of hightech hobo..

The CardCase for the IPhone 4 does what other card carrying IPhone cases can do and then some!

The sleek snap-on case not only protects your IPhone, but also replaces your wallet. The CardCase can comfortably hold 2 credit or ID cards and the integrated card slot on the side allows you to use any available card as an instant stand!

Available in White, Black, Green, Red or Silver Alumide.

Multitasking with Multiple Devices Made Easy(er)

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 07:15:34 +0000

So you are on the train to work and you want to check your email while browsing through RSS feeds but the app switching is too slow and if you try and you lose where you are exactly in each thread so you break out 2 devices at once. So you prop one device precariously on your lap whilst the other you hold in your left hand while you gingerly reach for your coffee. This is bound to end in tears, until now.

John Tokash has come up with a clever solution to make multitasking on multiple devices that little bit easier with the help of some 3D printed neatness..

A series of clips that lock devices together, genius! And of course made possible by 3D printing with Shapeways.

Continue reading "Multitasking with Multiple Devices Made Easy(er)"

3D Printed PC Mouse

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 02:31:00 +0000

OK, Those of you who roll your eyes every time we feature an Apple Gadget protector, stand or shrine, now it is time for the PC accessory to have it's moment to shine thanks to Dimitri Kobzar's 3D printed PC mouse. Perhaps next we will see a full color bust of mass customization trailblazer Michael Dell?

Read on to get Dimitri's take on the process and result.

Continue reading "3D Printed PC Mouse"

3D Printed Gifts For Him

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 04:23:00 +0000

Don't put fill his stocking with socks and jocks this year when you can surprise him with toys for boys, masculine accessories and geeky gadgets. To make gift giving a little easier this giftmas we have put together a few galleries of 3D printed items that are guaranteed to please*. And of course shapeways always include free shipping for any order over $25.

3D Printed Customized cufflinks are a great way to add some subtle flair to a business shirt. If he doesn't have a shirt with french cuffs why not combine it with a custom Blank Label shirt?

No need for him to wear a cumbersome tool belt to fix broken toys or assemble ikea furniture with A Bit Cross

Give a gift within a gift this giftmas with the Gift Cube. One of many puzzles available on Shapeways.

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Ponoko Launches 3D Printing Service

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:44:00 +0000

A big welcome to Derek, Dave and the rest of the team at Ponoko who have made the move into the third dimension by adding 3D printing to their 2D laser cutting service.

Realized in partnership with Cloudfab, Ponoko are offering a range of 3D printed materials from their US hub including white polyamide, UV curable acrylic resin, ZCorp, stainless steel and gold plated stainless steel. They add 3D printing to their existing service which includes laser cutting of a vast range of materials along with electronic components via Sparkfun.

It is exciting to see another voice emerge along with Shapeways to promote the huge potential of 3D printing to independent designers and 3D printed products to potential buyers. We are sure to see much comparison between Shapeways and Ponoko on quality, price, service and shipping which will only drive everyone to work harder to provide a better experience for you the community of makers who use these services.

Let us know what are the most important factors to you? is it cost? quality? delivery time? delivery method and cost? range of materials? service? ease of use? Mesh Medic? shop presentation?

Also let us know how Ponoko's service compares to Shapeways when it comes to 3D printing? is it easy to upload, do files that upload to Shapeways get rejected by Ponoko or vice versa? is the quality of prints comparable? how is the price once shipping or membership is included? how does their customer service respond to your queries? let us know where we can improve.

It is a very exciting time for the democratization of design through digital manufacturing, be it at home or via online services. It is VERY early days and it is great to be part of a movement that is growing so quickly that just might change the way we interact with manufactured objects forever.

3D Printed Gifts for Apple Enthusiasts

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 14:05:00 +0000

The 12 days of Christmas are covered with 12 Apple Geek gifts on Shapeways..

Looking for the perfect gift for the Apple obsessed in the gifting season? Check out some of the products for the iPad & iPhone along with a few beautiful oddities designed by the Shapeways community that may just hit the mark..

iPad.

Stabilize, cover & protecting the Apple iPad the Shapeways community with some of the coolest designs online.

Kitchen stand for iPad from $29.83

PadFoot - stand for iPad from $25

Canvas Wrap - Pixel from $50

Continue reading "3D Printed Gifts for Apple Enthusiasts"

Friday Feature: Minime, Silver Rings & Giant Miniature Ants

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:11:00 +0000

After a brief intermission filled with trade fairs, flu and flights we return to our regular friday feature of the latest amazing models to be shared on the It Arrived forum by the Shapeways community. If you would like to be featured next week be sure to post your clear photographs and descriptions....

First up and quite mind blowing is the Minime by Tristan Bethe from a full body 3D scan. Can't wait to see the results of the 3D scan of his wife in her wedding dress!!

Stunning first attempt at 3D printing is the Pilot and accessories for an Remote Controlled Mustang by Lupus. Amazing level of detail achieved using Softimage XSI and Zbrush with clean and clear detailed prints.

The first silver prints have started to be shipped with Václav Mazaný's Holey Ring showing the polished finish you can expect with Shapeways silver.

Continue reading "Friday Feature: Minime, Silver Rings & Giant Miniature Ants"

Stripes 4 iPhone by Salokannel

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:02:22 +0000

Next in the line of Apple accessories designed by the Shapeways community comes Stripes 4 iPhone by Salokannel.

Picking up from his Stripes for iPad, the iPhone4 snap case features a striped motif across the back Salokannel has developed a perfectly fitting case that may also solve the Antennagate issue.

Now with the iPhone, iPad, iPod and shuffle being well represented, what apple products can we see accessorized next? What about a HTC or Blackberry case, or even a Dell widget of some kind?

3D Printing With Lego, Not 3D Printed Lego

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 01:01:37 +0000

Will Gorman of BattleBricks has built himself the MakerLegoBot, constructed of Lego bricks it constructs with Lego bricks.....

The MakerLegoBot uses 3 Lego Mindstorms NXT Bricks, along with 9 NXT motors, and is inspired by the by the MakerBot and RepRap teams. A Java Application that runs on the PC takes an .ldr MLCad file, determines a set of print instructions, and then sends the instructions via USB over to the MakerLegoBot for printing. The current design works with 1x2, 2x2, 3x2, 4x2, and 8x2 Lego bricks. Once a brick is grabbed, the next brick in line falls into place. Once a brick is retrieved, the printer head rotates vertically and moves to the exact location where the brick should be placed. The printer then places the brick, and uses an axle based release mechanism to leave the Lego in place. Immediately after placing the Lego, the bottom of the printer head applies pressure to the brick to ensure its proper placement. Once each layer has completed printing, the printer rotates up a single brick height. It can print objects that are up to 12 bricks tall.

the MakerLegoBot, a Lego Mindstorms NXT 3D Printer will be appearing at LegoWorld October 22nd through October 26th, 2010 in Zwolle, The Netherlands. Of course if you cannot wait till then you can always follow the 447 step by step (brick by brick) instructions to make your own...

Thanks to Hack a Day

Overwhelming Success with Kickstarter

blog@shapeways.com (Duann) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:08:45 +0000

This project has been bouncing around the internet a little but it is well worth mentioning here on the Shapeways blog.

A couple of guys designed an iPhone 4 accessory with two primary functions: mounting your iPhone to a standard tripod, and acting as a kickstand to prop your iPhone up at an angle. They made their first prototypes with Shapeways (having to order a couple to make the minimum $25 order).

Cool idea, nice design, they were interested in taking The Glif into mass production so they put it along with a quick video on Kickstarter seeking $10,000 in backing to get it into production. Those who pledge $20 or more get an injection molded plastic version when it goes into production, those who back $50 or more get a 3D printed version (way cooler).

Continue reading "Overwhelming Success with Kickstarter"