http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php Shapeways: Bring your creativity to life in 3D http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=6468&th=1358#msg_6468
Could you support composite models, please?

My 3D puzzles have many identical pieces. Now I have to include many identical copies in the STL, which significantly increases the triangle count. In order to stay below the 500.000 triangle limit, I have to reduce resolution. Unfortunately, even a slight reduction in the number of triangles means a significant deterioration of resolution.

My Slice Kilominx design (see below) illustrates the optimization problem.
Res: 0.02 mm --> 1.185000 triangles
Res: 0.05 mm --> 736000 triangles
Res: 0.10 mm --> 629000 triangles
Ideally, my puzzles require a 0.02 mm resolution. I had to revert to 0.15 mm resolution to make the design fit within the 500.000 triangle limit.
http://www.shapeways.com/model/49957/slice_kilominx.html
I am afraid that the design doesn't work with this poor resolution.

I could try and move the problem to my customers and scatter the pieces around my shop page. It would then be up to my customers to collect and order the right types and numbers of pieces. This is not something that my customers would appreciate, which is why I always collect composite designs in a single STL.

So can you help me solve this problem, and add the option of offering composite models, please?

Thank you!

Oskar

]]> Oskar_van_Deventer 2009-09-12T12:16:52-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=6527&th=1358#msg_6527
By the way Oskar, I just discovered the function ReduceMesh in Rhino, which allows you to enter a number of triangles to reduce the mesh to. That way you can easily hit the 500k limit spot on.]]> TomZ 2009-09-14T17:38:01-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=6528&th=1358#msg_6528 Youknowwho4eva 2009-09-14T17:52:03-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=6533&th=1358#msg_6533
i've been thinking about it too,
but the other side of the story is that you order some models, but you won't be really sure everything is going to be sold!]]> Jettuh 2009-09-14T20:35:00-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=6704&th=1358#msg_6704
-Whystler]]> Whystler 2009-09-21T02:12:47-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=6733&th=1358#msg_6733 Youknowwho4eva 2009-09-21T13:20:41-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=6801&th=1358#msg_6801
You create an item to sell that doesn't have a model attached.
Then add each model that is a part of it TO that item.
Then add your profit on top.
Voila!]]> randomblink 2009-09-24T18:09:34-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=7589&th=1358#msg_7589 So please develop a tool to combine different parts in predefined amounts, so puzzles can only be ordered in complete packages!
Theo]]> TheoGeerinck 2009-11-03T09:50:12-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=9007&th=1358#msg_9007
There is one thing that worries me: what about the $1.50 fixed cost for WSF? Putting many solid bodies into one file sort of bypasses this. If you were allowed to compose many models into one, how would the pricing work out. Most puzzles have many pieces, having to pay an extra $1.50 per piece would make it very unattractive for me. That would most likely make me ignore the feature altogether and do it the old fashioned way.]]> TomZ 2010-01-16T15:27:57-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=9014&th=1358#msg_9014 dadrummond 2010-01-16T17:23:58-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=9017&th=1358#msg_9017 With these puzzles there are often hundreds of pieces and I'm concerned that even if an assembly function is made within Shapeways it won't be used because it will force the $1.50 fee for every part, making it too expensive compared to the time it takes to make a composite model.]]> TomZ 2010-01-16T20:20:42-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=9021&th=1358#msg_9021 steryne 2010-01-17T00:07:35-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=9026&th=1358#msg_9026
My shop is a complete cluttered mess because of this.

It would be so wonderful to have a way to group models into a composite for ordering and sales!

Please? ]]> PuzzleForge 2010-01-17T03:07:21-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=9082&th=1358#msg_9082 Bathsheba 2010-01-19T01:30:19-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=9195&th=1358#msg_9195
we are working on this. Please be a little more patient!

regards,
Peter]]> pete 2010-01-24T12:33:18-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=10039&th=1358#msg_10039

]]> PuzzleForge 2010-02-19T05:37:33-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=10155&th=1358#msg_10155


Setting up models in "groups" would be pretty sweet. Especially cus I have some ideas for parts that would have something made in Sandstone, something in W Detail and/or something in WSF.

yup yup

SW Just keeps getting better doesnt it?]]> rawkstar320 2010-02-23T19:19:21-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=40962&th=1358#msg_40962
Support Composite Models

Thanks,
Carl

pete wrote on Sun, 24 January 2010 12:33

HI guys, we are working on this. Please be a little more patient! regards, Peter

]]> wwwmwww 2011-12-30T21:20:56-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=43019&th=1358#msg_43019
I've learned from my discussions that:
- it's important for shapeways to have a connected set of items
(that reduces the handling costs)

Therefore we discussed also sprues very intensively.

My idea is to have an item connected to a sprue with an anchor on one side.
Thus placing two items on the left or right anchor position would make it easy to connect (when placed in the printing area but could also be done automatically)

Here's a picture how that may look like.


This feature could be set during upload. Afterwards shapeway's can enable:
- storing the anchor position for internal usage
- reduce the handling costs for items using this feature

Woody64
]]> woody64 2012-01-29T10:03:29-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=43041&th=1358#msg_43041
looks like a interesting idea. Would be glad, if the can realize something similar.

Greetings
Michael]]> mo-design 2012-01-29T16:17:44-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=47686&th=1358#msg_47686
I know that's also on the feature list but this proposal would be much easier to implement in the first step.

Any comments from shapeways.

Any other shop owner comments if that would also be helpful for them.

Woody64]]> woody64 2012-04-30T19:39:41-00:00