{"id":2321,"date":"2013-10-30T03:00:05","date_gmt":"2013-10-30T03:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/archives\/2321-shop-owner-challenge-day-19-selecting-the-best-material-for-your-product.html"},"modified":"2017-04-17T12:26:11","modified_gmt":"2017-04-17T16:26:11","slug":"shop-owner-challenge-day-19-selecting-the-best-material-for-your-product","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/shop-owner-challenge-day-19-selecting-the-best-material-for-your-product","title":{"rendered":"Shop Owner Challenge Day 19: Selecting the Best Material for Your Product"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

We’ve recently launched a bunch of new materials at Shapeways, so for today’s Shop Owner Challenge, Raphael, one of our Materials Geniuses, shares tips for selecting the best material. Enjoy!<\/p>\n

When picking materials for your model, think about how the material will help to position it as a product. Is it an exclusive piece that you want to only offer in Premium Silver<\/a>? Or a versatile design that looks great in a range of materials and price points? Using different materials, a single design can become a variety of different products. For example, a model of a ring could become a fun, inexpensive piece of costume jewelry Alumide<\/a>, or a precious keepsake in Polished Brass<\/a>. Each deserve unique photos, descriptions, and price points.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Choosing the right materials for your products isn\u2019t always easy, and has a huge impact on the value and success of your product. Here are some tips from the materials team to help you make the best choices.<\/p>\n

\"Gotham<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Bicycle Chainring Cufflinks by GothamSmith in Stainless Steel, Raw Brass and Polished Brass<\/a><\/p>\n

Brass, Bronze, or Steel?
\n<\/strong>With our recent launches, there are a wide range of steel finishes, and high-detail cast metals available. Both make for great products, but at different price points and levels of finish. Steel tends to be a bit rough, almost vintage looking, and lower resolution, with a lower price point to match. Our various steel finishes, including Gold and Nickel and Bronze<\/a> offer the highest surface quality and consistency, while Patinas such as Matte black, and the basic steel is better for more rustic or steampunk pieces. To achieve much higher resolution and surface finish, our Brass and Bronze use the same casting process as Silver, and reproduce the finest details at high-end shopper ready quality.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Polished vs. Raw<\/strong><\/div>\n
While all our steel finishes are polished to improve print quality, Brass, Bronze, and Silver use such a high resolution production product that we\u2019re able to offer both Raw and Polished version of these materials. Both are shopper ready materials, so the choice here is mostly an aesthetic one: Raw is rugged and rustic, while Polished is elegant and refined.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
While we offer unpolished WSF and Alumide, you should think of these as low-end materials for prototyping and functional parts. Aside from special cases such as large or delicate designs and functional parts, we\u2019d recommend disabling WSF for shoppers and directing them to polished materials, including Polished WSF, Polished Alumide, Black Strong and Flexible, or Colored Strong and Flexible.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Polished vs. Premium Silver<\/strong>
\nThe difference between Polished and Premium Silver often causes confusion. Both are polished, but the key distinction is the amount of polishing time invested in polishing internal details and hard to reach spaces. A simple ring may look very similar in both finishes, while something like Bathsheba\u2019s Ora pendant will look very different;<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"\"<\/div>\n
Ora Pendant by Bathsheba in Premium Silver (left), Glossy Silver (right)<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Miniatures as Products<\/strong><\/div>\n
Many successful shop-owners already have amazing miniatures on Shapeways that they offer in FUD or Detail Plastic. With cast brass and bronze, you can now offer these models in all their glorious detail to a much wider range of customers, and at a higher price point. When we launched these materials, we bought some popular miniatures in brass and bronze, and they haven\u2019t left our desks since!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
While you\u2019re at it, you may want to consider enabling you models in Detail Plastic<\/a> as well. While FUD offers stunning resolution, functional parts and supports the fine parts that miniatures enthusiasts love, our black and white detail materials offer a more shopper ready finish that can make these designs accessible beyond the finish-it-yourself market.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n

Schlepper RS01 “Pionier” (M 1:120) by Engineer in Raw Bronze<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Choosing Materials that wear well<\/strong><\/div>\n
While great for visual models and items which don\u2019t see extensive wear, our Black and Dyed Strong & Flexible aren\u2019t recommended for things like iPhone cases which see constant surface wear. They look great at first, but eventually the dye can wear through, creating lighter spots in the finish, and potentially disappointing your customers. White Strong & Flexible doesn\u2019t wear through in this way, but because it\u2019s white it can look dirty with wear. For functional parts, or things where you don\u2019t mind a bit of a worn-in look, this can be just fine. If that\u2019s not what you\u2019re looking for, Polished Alumide is a great alternative.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
On the materials team we\u2019re surprised Alumide<\/a> isn\u2019t a more popular material: it\u2019s relatively inexpensive, polishes up to be very smooth, and wears well. The speckled grey color hides wear and helps to prevent discoloration, making for long-lasting products. The powder has the same color throughout, unlike our Dyed Strong & Flexible plastics; you can keep it in your pocket all day and the color will stay consistent. All that, and it sparkles too!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
For smaller and more precious items, Brass and Bronze, in both Raw and Polished finishes, are durable solid metals that will wear beautifully, adding to their character. Steel is similarly long-lasting, but offers lower resolution, and a lower cost. Gold Plated Brass, is durable, but can eventually wear through if exposed to constant rubbing on clothing, skin, or when used as functional parts.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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