Shapeways: Bring your creativity to life in 3D http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php Shapeways: Bring your creativity to life in 3D More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20236&th=3906#msg_20236 Step Twin D6 arrived!
Why the Step Twin?
Well, because it's the complimentary twin to my Stepped Die D6


http://www.stop4stuff.com/shapeways/stepped-edge-d6/images/step-twin-2-sml.jpg

http://www.stop4stuff.com/shapeways/stepped-edge-d6/images/step-twin-4-sml.jpg

I think this model is really pushing the boundaries in what can be acheived in stainless steel... the 1.2mm steps are only joined by 0.2mm strips and as can be seen the model is slightly skewed.

http://www.stop4stuff.com/shapeways/stepped-edge-d6/images/step-twin-skew-sml.jpg

Also, in the same box...

http://www.shapeways.com/model/162900/]Twin rail mobius with ball pendant


http://www.stop4stuff.com/shapeways/mobius/images/twin-rail-mobius-front-sml.jpg

http://www.stop4stuff.com/shapeways/mobius/images/twin-rail-mobius-back-sml.jpg

The ball supplied with the model should have been 5mm diameter, it came in at about 4mm (by eye), so I grabbed a 6mm ball and retro-fitted it.

http://www.stop4stuff.com/shapeways/mobius/images/twin-rail-mobius-front-retrofit-6mm-sml.jpg]]> stop4stuff 2010-11-08T16:45:56-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20242&th=3906#msg_20242
-G]]> GlenG 2010-11-08T17:28:38-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20243&th=3906#msg_20243 GlenG wrote on Mon, 08 November 2010 17:28
Definitely a better idea to add you own ball! Better action, fewer failed prints. A glass ball might look sharp too.

-G


Own ball is the way forward... from now on I'm making all my 'can-have-a-ball' models so they can take a 6mm ball of whatever material... and maybe some speciality steel printed balls too Wink]]> stop4stuff 2010-11-08T17:40:05-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20254&th=3906#msg_20254
These prints look very slick. Are they exactly the way they came from SW, or have you polished them?

Lincoln
www.Craftosterone.com
]]> LincolnK 2010-11-08T22:53:10-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20269&th=3906#msg_20269 ]]> stop4stuff 2010-11-09T06:21:52-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20270&th=3906#msg_20270
Lincoln
www.Craftosterone.com]]> LincolnK 2010-11-09T06:25:04-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20283&th=3906#msg_20283 -G]]> GlenG 2010-11-09T14:33:48-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20284&th=3906#msg_20284 GlenG wrote on Tue, 09 November 2010 14:33
Why don't you try to insert some of those " Reuleaux Triangles" instead of spheres? The faceted surfaces of these shapes would add some flash and even more mystery.


Interersting idea! But the problem might be that such objects wouldn't smoothly roll along a track of wires, although maybe this is the point. If you put them on a flat surface and put a plate on top of them, they always have the same width, just like spheres. But if you tried to roll them down a gutter they would have to bounce around because there would be two points of contact on the sides rather than top and bottom.

How do you get the ball in there if it is not made as part of the object? I assume you have to force it in there?
]]> gibell 2010-11-09T14:56:22-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20290&th=3906#msg_20290
-G]]> GlenG 2010-11-09T18:52:05-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20291&th=3906#msg_20291 Youknowwho4eva 2010-11-09T19:03:33-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20340&th=3906#msg_20340
Whatever; I think it should work.]]> clsn 2010-11-10T22:35:32-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20466&th=3906#msg_20466
I bought in some 6mm chrome steel ball bearings and fitted 31 into my Twin rail mobius pendant. The balls really help accentuate the shape of the pendant.

http://www.stop4stuff.com/shapeways/mobius/images/twin-rail-mobius-front-retrofit-6mmx31-sml.jpg]]> stop4stuff 2010-11-13T17:53:06-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20468&th=3906#msg_20468

]]> virtox 2010-11-13T18:00:56-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20488&th=3906#msg_20488 Cobalt blue glass balls would be amazing too.]]> GlenG 2010-11-14T20:28:50-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20492&th=3906#msg_20492 GlenG wrote on Sun, 14 November 2010 20:28
Niiiiice!
Cobalt blue glass balls would be amazing too.


Cheers Smile
[adds cobalt blue glass balls to wifey's friend's skills shopping list]
]]> stop4stuff 2010-11-14T22:42:30-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20495&th=3906#msg_20495 pete 2010-11-14T23:46:31-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20503&th=3906#msg_20503
Twin Rail Mobius pendant with balls! Wink]]> stop4stuff 2010-11-15T09:31:25-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20506&th=3906#msg_20506 GlenG wrote on Sun, 14 November 2010 20:28
Niiiiice!
Cobalt blue glass balls would be amazing too.


How about blue steel balls?

http://www.stop4stuff.com/shapeways/mobius/images/twin-rail-mobius-front-retrofit-6mmx31-blued-sml.jpg

I heat treated some chrome steel balls to make them change colour... Video here]]> stop4stuff 2010-11-15T12:03:32-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20534&th=3906#msg_20534 ]]> GlenG 2010-11-15T18:03:08-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20535&th=3906#msg_20535 GlenG wrote on Mon, 15 November 2010 18:03
SWEET



Cheers Glen.

My wife just got in from work and told me I'll be getting a few sample cobalt blue glass balls when her friend can fit them into her schedule in the next few weeks.]]> stop4stuff 2010-11-15T18:23:38-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20538&th=3906#msg_20538 Shuggster 2010-11-15T19:23:42-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20540&th=3906#msg_20540 ]]> pete 2010-11-15T19:45:13-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=20552&th=3906#msg_20552 GlenG wrote on Tue, 09 November 2010 14:33
Why don't you try to insert some of those " Reuleaux Triangles" instead of spheres? The faceted surfaces of these shapes would add some flash and even more mystery.
-G


If it helps, try these out. They are not technically surfaces of constant width, they're just intersections of spheres, but the difference between them and true Meissner bodies ought to be insignificant at this scale. There are 36 in this item.]]> clsn 2010-11-16T02:02:13-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=38439&th=3906#msg_38439
The video Twin Rail mobius pendant with balls! is now getting about 9k views per day... and this is translating to 70-90 model page views per day, but no recent reported sales Sad

Does anyone have any pointers how I can (or what I might need to change) to increase the sales?

Cheers,
Paul]]> stop4stuff 2011-11-12T08:13:01-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=38441&th=3906#msg_38441
I have been designing and selling jewelry for some time, and have found that people generally don't like buying a piece that requires any thing that isn't included. Even a lack of chain can, in many cases, kill sales. So since yours needs both the chain and the balls, my guess is that that is the reason for a lack of sales.

Another possibility is that people don't like to wait. So it's possible when they go to order it and realize that it could be a month before they get it, they give up.

Sadly, I don't have an easy solution for you since, obviously you can't include that stuff via shapeways. You could however get a bunch made, buy a bunch of chains, and bearings, put them together along with a gift box, and then sell them yourself.

You could put a link to your own site that sells them on your youtube page. Of course then you need to lay out a bunch of money, and keep stock as well as mail them out yourself. So, it is a lot more work.

Lincoln
www.craftosterone.com]]> LincolnK 2011-11-12T08:47:26-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=38443&th=3906#msg_38443
It's looks a bit too much DIY/experimental now.

And if you don't already have, I would put up a pack of matching (S&F) balls in your shop.

If you stack them closely with enough space and a mesh cube around it, it would make it easy for handling and shipping to make sure none go missing.

Perhaps also offer quarter/half-packs so people can mix and match colors.

The (short) description on your model page is a bit dry:
Quote:


A pendant incoporating a double mobius style loop to take a 6mm ball.

A 6mm steel (or other) ball bearing can be retrofitted, as seen in the default photo.
The updated model has a 4mm loop for attaching to a necklace.



And on youtube you also have an elaborate description where the link is not visible in the shortened version.

As far as I can tell from my experience, long and elaborate descriptions are not very useful in promotion and sales.

I recommend adding only the following line to the youtube video description:

"Info and purchasing: http://shpws.me/D6g"

And remix your current descriptions to a short and snappy one.
Perhaps followed by the more in depth description below the more button and a separate <h1> heading or similar.

I think the first four lines of text are crucial to making a sale or stir interest.

A twin-rail mobius pendant<br>
An endless and mind-warping cage for a train of 6 mm ball-bearings. Or better yet, or get the colored </link>supermarbles</link><br>

<h1>
What why how.
Etc

And then read it back as if you are completely new or find someone who is Wink
Do the sentences read swiftly?
Is it to the point?
Does it say what you mean to say?

Cheers!
]]> virtox 2011-11-12T09:29:10-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=38476&th=3906#msg_38476

Carrying stock is something I am trying to steer away from, but it is looking like I must go that way to succeed!

@virtox, the long & elaborate youtube description is for matching the keywords for advertising revenue purposes - I have added the short "Info and purchasing: http://shpws.me/D6g" so that it is the only thing visable before clicking more info Smile



]]> stop4stuff 2011-11-13T05:52:55-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=38529&th=3906#msg_38529
just sharing ideas...

]]> jeff 2011-11-14T13:20:53-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=38559&th=3906#msg_38559
Paul]]> stop4stuff 2011-11-14T21:18:15-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=38562&th=3906#msg_38562
One thing that always catches my eye whenever I'm browsing is products which are presented with some sort of story.

Doesn't have to be elaborate, but something that paints of picture of the product in the context of everyday life. For example, Paul, what inspired you to make this particular design? You say you wear it often. What have people's reactions to it been?



]]> ana 2011-11-14T21:34:55-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=38568&th=3906#msg_38568
The inspiration for twin rail came from TerraCotta's One ring to rule the ball - Twin Rail is a take on that but with 6 3 wires that have loads of balls.

When I'm wearing the pendant, people's reaction vary from wtf to wow, where can I get one... but sadly as yet no one has walked up to me and said I've seen that on the internet as happened with one of my LEGO creations at an exhibition a few years ago.

Paul

[edit] call it what you want... maybe cynical, but, what kind of story need to be attached to a product? Surely, it is what it is, how do stories affect sales?

]]> stop4stuff 2011-11-14T21:46:49-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=38576&th=3906#msg_38576
Lincoln
www.craftosterone.com]]> LincolnK 2011-11-14T22:53:19-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=38577&th=3906#msg_38577 stop4stuff 2011-11-14T23:00:08-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=38587&th=3906#msg_38587

@stop4stuff Certainly no one would want you to fib. Don't stress it if you don't have the perfect "story" to tell about this particular design. I just wonder if there's some written way to share what you think is so awesome about it, which helps others to understand why they NEED to get their hands on it.






]]> ana 2011-11-15T00:12:28-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=38589&th=3906#msg_38589 denali3ddesign 2011-11-15T00:14:30-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=38590&th=3906#msg_38590
Ana, Lincoln, Marcus & Stijn, thank you for your help. ]]> stop4stuff 2011-11-15T00:33:03-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=38608&th=3906#msg_38608

Quote:

Inspired by the well known mobius strip (discovered by August Ferdinand Möbius in 1858), an interest in the unusual, and 3D modelling, I created the Twin Rail mobius pendant.

A half shell and 3 rails form a bearing-like structure to encapsulate a train of 6mm balls in a mind-warping cage with a twisting, fascinating movement bringing to life the only pendent of its kind in the world.

Includes a 4mm loop for attaching to a necklace or leather cord.

See the photographs with retro-fitted 31 6mm chrome steel ball bearings... in the bottom photo, the balls have been heated until they 'blue'... check out the video to see how they move by clicking on the little icon below the camera above.


Comments welcome.
Paul]]> stop4stuff 2011-11-15T10:57:31-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=38625&th=3906#msg_38625 "Mediocre artists borrow, great artists steal"

Meaning, it is a delusion to think that anything a person does is completely without influence or inspiration. How a person interprets, employs and expresses these messages will always separate the wheat from the chaff.

-G]]> GlenG 2011-11-15T17:33:10-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=41302&th=3906#msg_41302 Twin Rail Mobius Pendant - with Balls! 3D printed metal @shapeways is fast approaching 1 million views with still a sustained 10k+ views per day.

I've made another video, Twin Rail Mobius Pendant - with Balls! - Answers., that answers some questions from the comments left on the first video. The good news is that 1/4 inch balls also fit!

As yet, I've not added a model for the balls, but an experimental 'ball dispenser' will be in my next order along with another mind bending mobius design Wink

Cheers,
Paul]]> stop4stuff 2012-01-06T07:53:16-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=53419&th=3906#msg_53419 Twin Rail Mobius Pendant - with Balls! 3D printed metal @shapeways, has now had an astounding 2.6million views. Shocked

The view count fluctuates a bit from 2.5 to 8k per day, but its looking good for 3 million views by Christmas time Smile

Paul

]]> stop4stuff 2012-08-31T11:45:53-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61488&th=3906#msg_61488
Paul
]]> stop4stuff 2013-02-06T20:23:22-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61494&th=3906#msg_61494 ]]> pete 2013-02-06T21:53:27-00:00 Re: More in stainless http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61535&th=3906#msg_61535
Paul
]]> stop4stuff 2013-02-07T17:50:11-00:00