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=35371&th=6544#msg_35371
My design is basically a electronics enclosure, it will have buttons which will also be 3D printed

The material I will choose will probably be the black detailed plastic

I did consider another company, they had a minimum volume requirement that made it annoying to create buttons. Do you have any such requirements?

I am using SolidWorks. Which axis do I need to specify as the vertical axis? Or is this determined by your machine automatically?

Is the volume of the design calculated using the amount of model material or the model material plus the supporting material? If it is the combination of the two, is it possible to optimize the cost by putting multiple designs into one file in a compact way?

Is it better to upload each solid object as a single file? Or can I combine all the solid bodies into one file?

Thank you.]]> frank26080115 2011-09-28T23:33:01-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=35373&th=6544#msg_35373 frank26080115 wrote on Wed, 28 September 2011 23:33

The material I will choose will probably be the black detailed plastic.

Depending on the grade of detail you want/need, and the volume of your model, I would suggest to think about "polished White, Strong & Flexible" (respectively the black dyed pendant)... it might be cheaper, and would also offer better mechanical characteristics...

frank26080115 wrote on Wed, 28 September 2011 23:33

I did consider another company, they had a minimum volume requirement that made it annoying to create buttons. Do you have any such requirements?

The minimum dimensions are regulated by the material that you want... but take a look at this (e.g.) ^^

frank26080115 wrote on Wed, 28 September 2011 23:33

I am using SolidWorks. Which axis do I need to specify as the vertical axis? Or is this determined by your machine automatically?

Don't worry about that, they'll determinate the axis.

frank26080115 wrote on Wed, 28 September 2011 23:33

Is the volume of the design calculated using the amount of model material or the model material plus the supporting material? (...)

Only the amount of the model material.

frank26080115 wrote on Wed, 28 September 2011 23:33

Is it better to upload each solid object as a single file? Or can I combine all the solid bodies into one file?.

Today ('til 30.09.) it won't make a difference (in your prefered material, BlackDetail)... but due to the the new price structure ex 1.10. there'll be a $2.50 "handling fee" (per file) for BlackDetail... as long as they don't refuse your file, you should try to order your model in one file...



]]> pfeiffer stylez 2011-09-29T01:13:36-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=35376&th=6544#msg_35376
You guys are significantly cheaper than the other company.]]> frank26080115 2011-09-29T05:00:58-00:00