Apologies if this has been covered
ad nauseam before but I have a question (or maybe a request) about the volume discount for WSF.
I have a model
https://www.shapeways.com/model/960681/ which has the following characteristics:
Oriented Bounds (used for determining printability)
Cm: 18.1 w x 0.3 d x 11.3 h
Vol: 27.08 cm³
By my calculations the volume of the bounding box is 61.4 cm3 so the effective density is 44.1%.
If I add 1mm of empty space either side, the new density becomes 26.4%
Given that the model has 162,000 triangles (and neglecting file sizes) and that mutiple unsprued parts are allowed for this material and size of model, I could fit 5 of these into an order and save a decent chunk of money.
My questions:
1. Is a 2mm gap between such items sufficient, or even too much? What is the optimum for Shapeways?
2. If, instead of putting multiple parts in a file, I have a single part but order it 5 (or more times) can I get the same volume reduction if I am prepared for them all to be shipped together in one bag? If so how?
It would seem to me that many people would like to access these discounts in this way and that it might benefit SW too: if I have a big volume packed with several parts it restricts the layout of other items in the print volume, but if I say I want 5 versions of a single item then SW have the flexibility to arrange them however they wish.