3d printing with Shapeways
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 Shapeways site gives a capability to bring your 3d models to life using 3d printing.
3D printing is defined as any additive manufacturing process whereby one machine turns a digital file into a finished physical object by building up that object layer by layer.
There are a whole host of 3D printing machines & technologies: SLS (Selective Laser Sintering), SLA (Stereolithography), FDM (fused deposition modeling), LOM (laminate object manufacturing) etc.
There are also a bunch of machine manufacturers such as Object, Stratasys, 3D Systems & EOS. Shapeways uses FDM technics.
You can use Shapeways' Creator tools to make something within a few minutes.
With Creator tools you can in minutes make your very own Custom Cufflink, Bronze Ringpoem, Lightpoem, Fruitconfessions, Ringpoem or Photoshaper.
With the Photoshaper you can upload a photograph. This photo will then be turned into a 3D printed sculpture that has a great effect when lit from behind.
The Custom Cufflink Creator lets you make your own Stainless Steel or Bronze cufflinks. With the Fruitconfessions you can shape, dent & determine the layers of your very own 3D printed decorative bowl.
If you are a 3D modeler (work with AutoCAD, Blender, Maya, Rhino etc.) you can design anything you want and then upload the model to Shapeways in the STL, VRML, Collada & x3d formats. Servers then check your model to see if we can 3D print it and notify you if it doesn't conform requirements.
On the mydesign page you can look at all the models that you have made and their costs in different materials.
All prices include worldwide shipping. We deliver within ten working days. For the metal models you will need a little more patience, you will get them within 21 working days.
Pricing depends on the 'weight' of your model so the actual amount of material used in your final 3D printed model. A hollow model would be cheaper than a solid one and a smaller cube would be cheaper than a larger one. In the Creator tools you can immediately see how much a model would cost as you are making it.
Shapeways store also enables you to buy finished models and sell your own ones.
Links:
www.shapeways.com
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