After ordering a first print of my belt buckle 'connect' in polished bronze steel (left model) I got in touch with the SW team, because it had a dent (upper left corner of left model) probably from rough handling (certainly not from the model or the printing itself)
SW offered to reprint the model, on which I happyly agreed as I planned to use this model as a showcase for a potential whole sale. Though the model itself printed fine, the printability rate dropped down to 67% with the second print.
When the reprint arrived, I was disappointed to see it wasn't polished at all (right model). So I made yet another complaint to the SW Team. (By then the potential customer was put off by the time all this took and the extreme variation of quality.)
SW team checked with the printing facility and came back with this comment:
"I got a reaction from our printing facility regarding the model.
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The edges are rounded, so this was polished. Polishing varies based on how it is hit by the media.
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I hope this clears things up for you regarding the polished model.
Regards,"
the polishing must have happend in the lower right corner (right model) as I couldn't find another shiny bit on this model. (the edges are rounded in model itself btw)
As this now happened at least three times (second print not polished, remarkable lower quality) I can't explain it away as bad luck.
So long story short: you never know, what you get and you certainly will never know (or have any kind of control of) what your customers get.
I will refrain ordering or offering any models in polished steel. As unpolished steel looks pretty crude for jewelry I will not offer that either. Which leaves plated (I saw models that close to my second print) or solid precious metals.
Considering how much hassle it is/was to get something printed in the relatively economic priced metal, I dare not go through the whole process again where there is more money involved.
disenchanted regards
tina